A method and system provide for inline packet response generation implemented by a network device functioning as a switch in a software defined networking (SDN) network. The method configures the flow control pipeline to enable the inline response generation without use of the control channel and SDN controller after configuration. The method includes connecting with the SDN controller, receiving a packet out data packet from SDN controller with a template message and a buffer identifier (ID) for the template message, and identifying the received packet out data packet as containing the template message. The method further includes installing the template message into a buffer with corresponding buffer ID, receiving a first data packet from the SDN controller identifying matching criteria and the buffer ID, and updating a flow control pipeline to match on the matching criteria and to point to the buffer with the buffer ID.