Matt LaFleur’s raw reaction after the Packers’ win over the Lions hints at a fearless strategy brewing for what’s next.QQ
The Green Bay Packers beat the Detroit Lions 31-24 on Thanksgiving, improving the team’s chances to make the playoffs to an impressive 94 percent. But with five games to go in the regular season, Matt LaFleur knows there’s not much time to rest.
The Packers have a mini-bye now, but next week they face the Chicago Bears in a game between the two best records of the NFC North. It’s sweet to win a big game, but LaFleur highlighted there’s a long way to go.
It’s looking like the Buffalo Bills might be without Dalton Kincaid for another game
“Every game is a new challenge, and I just never want to feel like, okay, here we are, we’ve got it figured out, because you’ve got to put the work in,” Matt LaFleur said. “And there’s a lot of talented defenses in this league, and there’s a lot of challenges, there’s a lot of smart coaches that are going to scheme up stuff against you. So we’re going to continue to just try to get a little bit better each and every day, the same mindset that we’ve always had. That’s the only way I know how to approach it.”
Scheme evolution
The Packers were able to score 31 points against the Lions, who entered Week 13 as the sixth best defense in football by DVOA. But don’t think that LaFleur is satisfied — he knows each game will present a different challenge.
“Every game is going to have ups and downs, and I think you just got to stay tough,” LaFleur added. “You got to stay with it. You got to stay resilient. I think the best teams are able to do that and overcome their mistakes. There’s no game that’s ever going to be perfect in any phase. You just got to stay resilient. You got to keep that belief.”
On Friday, the Packers will closely watch the Chicago Bears for multiple reasons. First, a Bears’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles would put Green Bay at the top of the division. But also because the Packers face their biggest rivals in Week 14 and Week 16. While the Bears are 25th in defensive DVOA, LaFleur also wants more from his own team.
“I still don’t think we’re where we want to get to, certainly,” LaFleur explained. “I just don’t think you can ever be satisfied. You just got to keep fighting. You got to put the work in. There’s no substitute for the work. Thankfully, I’m around a bunch of guys that embrace the challenges, embrace putting in the work. There’s no shortcuts in this league. You just got to keep fighting.”
The Packers are now much closer to the postseason, but the job is not done.
