GREEN BAY − It took just three games of the season for the Green Bay Packers to experience life in the National Football League.
One minute, a team can be on top of the world. The next, it feels like the sky is falling.
The Packers started the season with two dominant wins against NFC contenders, the Lions and Commanders, and the hype and attention was focused on Green Bay.
Even some of the players might have been caught up in the fast start.
Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker told reporters before facing the Browns he felt the Packers could go undefeated.
“Pound for pound, I look at these teams, and I don’t really see who’s better than us honestly,” Walker said. “That’s why I can say that so confidently.”
That undefeated streak ended at the hands of the Cleveland Browns on a walk-off field goal.
“It’s always a good reminder, like, hey guys, pump the brakes on everything. We’re just trying to win one game at a time,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “If you’re thinking anything outside of that, you have your mindset on the wrong things.”
The Packers have proven through three games they’re more than capable of beating any team in the NFL, but if they’re not fully focused or prepared on the opponent, they can lose to any team as well. It’s a lesson LaFleur hopes his team learned after a disappointing outcome.
“This league is such a week-to-week league and you can never lose sight of that, and you can’t take any moment, any game for granted,” LaFleur said. “I’ve said it a million times to you guys. I don’t think, obviously, I’ve said it enough to our team — the goal is to go 1-0 every week and it pisses me off when we start talking about things outside the next game. Things that are way down the road.
“Keep the focus on the present, on the now, and worry about getting better each and every day.”
Here are other takeaways from LaFleur’s Sept. 22 news conference:
Zach Tom injury update, other injuries
The Packers had several players suffer injuries against the Browns.
LaFleur said he doesn’t feel that tackle Zach Tom suffered any setbacks with his oblique injury but dropped out of the game after one play.
“I wouldn’t say further reaggravated,” LaFleur said. “It’s more or less — it’s always hard to simulate what you’re going to face in the game and you have to ask him, but I think the force of the guy he was going against, it hurt him, so didn’t feel like he could go.”
Guard Aaron Banks was playing through a groin injury and also exited the game.
LaFleur confirmed that safety Javon Bullard is in concussion protocol after taking a big hit in the fourth quarter.
On the Packers radio broadcast, John Kuhn said defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt injured his knee late in the fourth quarter. LaFleur said he’ll be “day-to-day.”
Tight end Tucker Kraft injured his knee during the team’s Sept. 18 practice and was listed as questionable to play in the game. He played and had three receptions for 29 yards.
“It says a lot about him, just in terms of the competitor he is,” LaFleur said. “I think he’s feeling good.”
‘Catastrophic event’ on special teams cost the Packers
Despite the issues for the Packers on offense against the Browns’ top-ranked defense, they still had a chance to either take the lead or win the game, but Brandon McManus’ 43-yard field goal was blocked by Shelby Harris with 35 seconds to play.
The kicking battery of McManus, long snapper Matt Orzech and holder Daniel Whelan felt good about the operation, but the Packers had problems in the protection.
“I think it comes down to just being disciplined and trusting your technique and what you’re coached to do on a daily basis, and unfortunately, we got lifted,” LaFleur said. “We played with poor pad level. We didn’t take the correct steps. Just didn’t perform the right technique. If you don’t do that against a really good team that is going to rush hard, you’re susceptible to having a catastrophic event occur.”
