What did Matt LaFleur say following Packers' frustrating loss to Lions?

Green Bay Packers

coach Matt LaFleur answered questions on missed opportunities, penalties and officiating, missed kicks from rookie kicker Trey Smack, red zone failures on offense, Josh Jacobs' season debut, the decision point on Kevin Zeitler, injuries to Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk, the play of third-string center John Williams, bouncing back against the Carolina Panthers next week and where his team is at after seven games.

The Packers left too many points on the field, couldn't overcome questionable penalty calls and eventually lost on a walk-off field goal by Jakes Bates on Sunday at Ford Field. LaFleur was visibly angry at officials on several occasions over the course of the game, but the Packers coach kept his cool in front of the post-game

microphone.

Here's what LaFleur said immediately following Sunday's loss to the Lions:

-- Opening statement: "Obviously, very disappointed right now. I thought our team competed, they battled. It was just not capitalizing on premier opportunities right there. Great stop by our defense to give us the ball in great field position but we didn't capitalize on it and then miss a field goal. This is a tough one. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We have to learn, we have to move on. We have a tough opponent coming in on Thursday night.

-- On Devonte Wyatt penalty explanation: "I didn't get many explanations throughout the entire game."

-- More on Wyatt penalty: "Well, there was no whistle blown and the guy continued to run and our guy didn't hear a whistle and continued playing too and we get called for a penalty. I don't know. They were trying to tell me the play was obviously dead but I'm like how do you know if you don't hear a whistle? I don't know about you guys, but I didn't hear a whistle."

-- Will Trey Smack be the Packers kicker moving forward? "Yes."

-- On blocked field goal in fourth quarter: "I just saw it miss. I didn't see it blocked."

-- On Smack going through rookie struggles: "You never want to go through it. Trey is a guy who has proven he can do it. I know he can do it. We have to wipe this one clean and move on and hopefully we can be a little bitter."

-- On roughing the passer penalties: "I don't even want to comment on any of the penalties. It is what it is, you have to play above it. There were some tough calls but it is what it is."

-- On Josh Jacobs/run game: "He sparked some good runs, but ultimately we're still not running the ball consistently enough."

-- On not having Kevin Zeitler active/John Williams playing center: "I think all these guys are doing a pretty good job. Getting Banks back was part of that. And you have to have guys who can snap the ball and play center. We were down to our third center today. I can't say enough about the job John Williams did, coming in in a hostile environment, handling the operation, the communication. To lose two guys at center that quickly in the game was a little terrifying, but I thought he did a really good job."

-- On red zone failures: "I think usually the better red zone teams can typically run the ball in the red zone. Then you put yourself in more manageable situations. I have to go back and look at it, but it's not nearly as effective as it needs to be."

-- On Sean Rhyan/Jacob Monk injuries: "I wouldn't anticipate them (playing) this week. As far as long term, I couldn't tell you."

-- More on John Williams: "He's so intelligent. He's got great command. Understands all the calls. I commend him for the job he did, stepping in in a tough situation."

-- On red zone: "I'm kicking myself, I wish we would have kicked the field goal on the fourth down we didn't convert. But it is what it is."

-- On why delay of game happened before missing 26-yard field goal: "I couldn't even tell you."

-- Bouncing back on a short week: "You have to learn from it and move on. We're going to have a team that's pretty ticked off in their own right coming to Lambeau. It's going to be the team that bounces back the best."

-- On what he can do about officiating: "Sure, I can say what I really think, but I don't think it does any good. It is what it is. You just have to overcome it."

-- On where the Packers are at: "We've been building some momentum. Our defense has been balling out, doing some really great things. Hold them to 20 points, you have an opportunity to win the game. Offensively, we have to score points in the red zone, didn't do that, missed a few kicks, had a few drops. Defensively we have to do some things better too, the offsides penalties are killer. We keep having these repeat mistakes. We can't do it. We have to grow up and we have to grow up fast."

Head Coach Matt LaFleur speaks to the media🎙️ https://t.co/xPDJGQBvgO

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 25, 2026

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: What did Matt LaFleur say following Packers' frustrating loss to Lions?