While Tom Brady didn't understand why the Packers would try a two-point conversion, Greg Olsen understood and supported the move. Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images (Tom Brady, left); Kirby Lee-Imagn Images (Greg Olsen, right). Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images (Tom Brady, left); Kirby Lee-Imagn Images (Greg Olsen, right).
By Michael Dixon on

Tom Brady and Greg Olsen — Fox’s top two NFL analysts — had dramatically different opinions on a decision made by the Green Bay Packers and coach Matt LaFleur during Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Green Bay scored a fourth-quarter touchdown, bringing the score to 27-16. Rather than kick the extra point make it 27-17, the Packers went for two. Brady, who was calling the game with partner Kevin Burkhardt, struggled to see the logic.

“I don’t understand this,” Brady said, before the ball was snapped.

The Packers did successfully convert the two-point try, bringing the score to 27-18.

“It’s a nine-point game,” Burkhardt said. “It’s still a two-possession game. I don’t know if that got you much. But gets ’em a little bit closer. I know that.”

“Yeah,” Brady added. “It could have cost you a lot had you not gotten it.’

One person who understood and agreed with LaFleur’s logic was Olsen, the man Brady replaced as Fox’s No. 1 color analyst.

“Love @packers going for 2 to make it 9,” Olsen posted on X.

After Green Bay scored again to make the score 27-25, Olsen reaffirmed his belief that the Packers made the right call.

“This is why,” Olsen said. “Now if GB gets the ball back a FG wins! Too often everyone worries about tying the game Win the game in regulation!”

It ended up being moot. While the Packers had a chance to get the ball back with plenty of time remaining, the Vikings sealed the game with a big third-down pass from San Darnold to Cam Akers.

As far as who was right, a solid case could be made for either.

Brady was right. It was a risky decision. An unsuccessful two-point conversion would mean either scoring two touchdowns to win the game, or needing a successful two-point try (plus a field goal) to even tie it. Conventional wisdom would have been to kick the extra point and make it a 10-point game.

Having said that, Olsen is also right. The successful two-point try gave the Packers a much clearer path to winning the game in regulation. Remember, even if they tie the game, the odds are still 50-50 that they’ll win in overtime. Also, as an unsuccessful two-point try would have kept the deficit at 11 points, Green Bay still could have tied the game with a touchdown and field goal.

There is plenty of logic in both arguments. It comes down to a preference of style.

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