GREEN BAY — Matt LaFleur knew he had to change things up a bit.
During a normal week, the Green Bay Packers head coach would start Wednesday’s workday — which was what Tuesday technically was at 1265 Lombardi Avenue, with the Packers (9-5-1) set to face the Baltimore Ravens (7-8) on Saturday night at Lambeau Field — by rehashing a few selected plays from the previous game on film in the full-team morning meeting.
But LaFleur called an audible on Tuesday. Instead of taking another look at last Saturday’s 22-16 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears — a game the Packers gift-wrapped for their archrivals during the final five minutes of regulation and overtime — LaFleur wanted to send a message.
We’re on to Baltimore, as Bill Belichick might’ve said.
So LaFleur had the players go over any additional corrections from the loss to the Bears with their respective position coaches beforehand. Then, he addressed them as a whole.
“Hey,” LaFleur said he told his guys, “Our sole focus is on the Baltimore Ravens. And we’ve got to find a way to get a win. Bottom line.”
Although the Packers can clinch a postseason berth either by winning one of their two games (against the Ravens or the regular-season finale at Minnesota) or if the Detroit Lions lose one of theirs (to the Vikings on Thursday or in their regular-season finale at Chicago), LaFleur wanted his players to lock in on the Ravens and not any playoff scenarios.
“This team’s full of guys that are willing to do whatever it takes to get out of there with a [win],” said No. 2 quarterback Malik Willis, who may start against the Ravens if starter Jordan Love can’t clear the NFL’s concussion protocol and Willis’ injured right (throwing) shoulder is functional.
“Obviously, we didn’t [against Chicago] and that’s unfortunate, but I think we’ll move past it. Obviously, we have a game this week. We can’t sit and dwell on the past. We have to focus on going 1-0 this week. And do the same next week.”
The Packers did not practice on Tuesday, opting instead for a jog-through instead. They’re set to have a normal practice on Wednesday and figure to have a later-than-usual practice on Thursday with it being Christmas Day.
And if they can sustain the energy LaFleur saw from his guys on Tuesday, he believes they’ll be in the right frame of mind for the Ravens — and beyond.
“I do think the energy and enthusiasm that you attack the day with plays a big part,” LaFleur said. “I thought we had good energy this morning. Certainly it’s more of a mental day today [with] just how we’re practicing, but the meeting structure and all that has been pretty much the same. It’s just how we’re practicing. Tomorrow, we’ll get back more into our normal routine with [it] being a typical Thursday.”
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