Mike McCarthy Green Bay Packers Vs Chuck Pagano Indianapolis Colts: Worst 2015 NFL Playoffs Coaching Performance?

Who had the worst NFL playoff loss? Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy, or Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. After two wildly different games, as the Packers blew a 16-0 lead to lose in overtime to the Seattle Seahawks before the Colts suffered a hammering 42-7 beatdown at the hands of the New England Patriots, fans and analysts were calling for blood after two dubious coaching performances. Did Mike McCarthy cost the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers a trip to the 2015 Super Bowl?

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio mused on the idea as to whether Pagano's performance means his time could be up after "three years of blowout playoff loses", but eventually said that the Colts loss wasn't on the coach, and that it was more because "he needs the personnel."

But as Football Outsiders Assistant editor Scott Kacsmar points out, the Colts have the "Most games allowing 40+ points since 2012."

Most games allowing 40+ points since 2012 1. Colts - 10 2. Bears/Titans/Raiders - 7 5. Jags/Redskins - 6

— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) January 19, 2015

He went on to say, "Whether it's Pagano or Grigson, someone needs to be held accountable for why the Colts get roasted so badly in nearly 20% of their games."

Whether it's Pagano or Grigson, someone needs to be held accountable for why the Colts get roasted so badly in nearly 20% of their games.

— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) January 19, 2015

And then pointed out that "4 times this year the Colts allowed 42+ pts," where as New England's Tom Brady has "0 such games in 235 starts. 4 games w/40+, including two with a pick-6."

4 times this year the Colts allowed 42+ pts. Tom Brady - 0 such games in 235 starts. 4 games w/40+, including two with a pick-6.

— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) January 19, 2015

But the loudest criticism was reserved for Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy, whose conservative play seemingly cost the Packers a trip to the Super Bowl.

This was an incredible bad coaching performance by Mike McCarthy. We're gonna be telling our grandkids about it.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 18, 2015

 As NBC's Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith says, "The reality is that they were keeping the Seahawks in the game with overly cautious play calling and poor strategic decisions, particularly on fourth downs."

He adds that during halftime, "McCarthy told FOX's sideline reporter Chris Myers that you have to take the points when you can against a good defense like Seattle's."

Says Michael David Smith, "McCarthy was looking at it exactly the wrong way. When you're playing a great team like Seattle, you have to score all the points you can, not just settle for three when you're inches away from seven."

Think Mike McCarthy wishes he had gone for it on fourth-and-goal at the six-inch line?

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 18, 2015

He finished off by saying "even early in the game, when it appeared that everything was going right, McCarthy was getting a lot of things wrong. That cost McCarthy and his team a trip to the Super Bowl."

The Packers loss isn't all on Mike McCarthy's coaching decisions, but ... https://t.co/AhRjxR1Zpm pic.twitter.com/gfcNruNU4M

— SB Nation (@SBNation) January 19, 2015

SB Nation's Rodger Sherman summarizes the situation by saying "Did the Packers lose because of McCarthy's bad calls? No, of course not: there were a variety of other things they could've done to prevent the Seahawks from storming back. But they didn't maximize their ability to score points, which, well, is kind of the job of a football team."

Recapped the Conference Championship games and brought back an old favorite for Mike McCarthy: https://t.co/KkVqWptcqo

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 19, 2015

Grantland's Bill Barnwell, however, didn't mince words, saying "For whatever he offers as an offensive guru and a quarterback whisperer, Mike McCarthy is one of the worst in-game decision-makers in the league."

What do you think? Should McCarthy have taken a stronger stance on short yardage? Did he cost the Packers a Super Bowl berth?