Defensive coordinator Joe Barry of the Green Bay Packers faces a crucial Week 18 matchup, striving to secure his position for the 2024 season. The Packers’ playoff hopes hinge on a victory against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
This showdown involves two of the NFL’s least favored assistant coaches. Barry, under scrutiny throughout the season and widely unpopular among Packers fans, has received support from head coach Matt LaFleur, attributing the New Year’s Eve defensive game plan against the Minnesota Vikings to Barry.
In Week 18, Barry will lead the defense against a familiar figure for Packers fans, Luke Getsy, who transitioned from the Packers’ quarterbacks coach to the Bears’ offensive coordinator in the 2022 offseason. Getsy, facing criticism from Bears fans since Week 1, is also on the hot seat.
Both coordinators have much at stake in this pivotal week. For Barry to secure a return in 2024, the Packers must excel in the playoffs with a strong defensive performance, thwarting Getsy’s offensive strategies featuring quarterback Justin Fields.
On the other side, Getsy’s potential to remain in Chicago depends on orchestrating an upset against the Packers. Reports suggest the Bears might retain head coach Matt Eberflus if the coaching staff finishes the season strongly, but a repeat of the embarrassing Week 1 performance could jeopardize this.
Getsy’s argument for staying in Chicago hinges on continuity for quarterback Justin Fields, who would experience his third offensive coordinator in four seasons if not paired with Getsy in 2024. The coordinators, acquainted with each other’s systems from coaching together in 2021, will vie to out-scheme their counterpart on Sunday, potentially impacting their former colleague’s job security. The outcome of this matchup raises the question: will it be Barry or Getsy who emerges victorious?
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