The Green Bay Packers have lost six straight games dating back to the 2025 season. On Sunday, Matt LaFleur's team gave up a 22-10 lead in the second half, allowing 29 unanswered points in a 39-22 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 season opener. Of the Packers' six straight losses, four included giving up two-score leads, including three straight defeats to NFC North teams.
Melting down is becoming the identity of LaFleur's team. So, what did the Packers coach have to say after Sunday's latest collapse?
Some snippets of LaFleur's press conference from post-game in Minneapolis:
-- Opening statement: "Obviously, very disappointed. We were in command of the game. The fourth quarter, the big momentum shift happened when we went
for it on 4th-and-1 and didn't convert. They were able to capitalize...we didn't answer."
-- On what went wrong: "Coaching, playing, it's all of us. We have to do a better job of putting our players in position, and when we are in position, we have to execute. Far too many penalties tonight."
-- On taking the field goal off the board: "We're going to be aggressive. It was going to be an 8-point game. It would have been a two-possession game, I might have thought otherwise." The field goal would have pushed the lead to 25-17. Instead, the Packers went for it on 4th-and-1 and Jordan Love got stopped short. "We're going to be aggressive and go for the throat in that situation."
-- On the 4th-and-1 decision: "I'm sure the analytic people would say go for it. We liked our call. They gave us a look for the quarterback sneak, we checked into it, we didn't get it." LaFleur said the Packers got what they wanted but just didn't execute the play well enough.
-- On the penalties: "My point to the team was, you can't put it in the hands of the officials." The Packers were flagged three times for drive-extending penalties on Minnesota's go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, including a holding penalty negating an interception in the end zone.
-- On finishing emphasis: "It's going to be a topic of conversation for you guys until we do it. That's the bottom line."
-- More on the 4th-and-1: "I felt in my heart we could get one yard, and we didn't do it."
-- On facing Brian Flores: "That's a tough defense to go against. In the fourth quarter, when we had to start throwing it, when we got behind the sticks, it opens up the floodgates." Jordan Love was sacked four times and hit 15 times on Sunday.
-- On Donovan Jennings at left guard: "It was more time on task throughout the course of the offseason. He's done a nice job. We felt he earned that opportunity." LaFleur did not elaborate on Aaron Banks, saying only he wasn't ready to go.
-- On moving on from the loss: "It's get back to work. Be critical of the tape. Stay together. And you have to have a great week of prep...we have to rebound. It's always hard to go on the road in this league. We have a great challenge in front of us, and we have to pick up the pieces." The Packers will face the 1-0 New York Jets on the road next Sunday.
-- On the drive after going down 25-22: "You have to answer. I think we had a run for minus four yards, now you're behind the sticks. You're playing right into their hands. We have to look and see, I think that's a safe, downhill run, but it got blown up." MarShawn Lloyd got dumped for a 3-yard loss, and Jordan Love got strip-sacked two plays later.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur speaks to the media🎙️https://t.co/2adlfninXp
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 13, 2026
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: What did Matt LaFleur say after another Packers collapse to open 2026 season?
