Matt LaFleur has spent the last week making one thing clear: he has no interest in feeding the noise.
That was obvious before Green Bay’s blowout win over Chicago, when the Packers had plenty of reasons to get caught up in the disrespect coming their way. LaFleur didn’t take the bait then, and he wasn’t about to start now with Sunday Night Football bringing a reunion against two familiar faces in Dallas.
This week, the Packers head coach was asked about Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark, both former Green Bay defenders now on the Cowboys’ roster. LaFleur had the perfect kind of answer - straightforward, respectful and completely uninterested in turning the matchup into a revenge-fueled storyline.
"I expect them to be playing with their hair on fire. I would expect to get their best shot this week. I got a lot of love for those guys"
Matt LaFleur
LaFleur could have gone a different direction. He could have steered the conversation toward Micah Parsons, the player Clark was dealt for, or leaned into the chance for Gary to have a bigger role in Dallas. Instead, he kept it simple and made sure the focus stayed on how hard those players are likely to compete.
That approach fits the way LaFleur has handled the spotlight over the past week. He’s not creating distractions, and he’s not giving the media or the fan base extra material to chew on. For Green Bay, that matters.
The Packers have had their share of concerns this season, but LaFleur’s handling of these moments is not one of them. After the way last year ended, and with questions hanging over the start of the 2026 season, there was reason to wonder about the head coach’s urgency. The blowout against Chicago changed the mood, and the way he’s managed the buildup to this matchup only reinforces that shift.
Dallas brings a difficult test, even if the Cowboys are trying to stop their season from sliding further off course. Green Bay enters as the favorite, and LaFleur’s calm, controlled tone has helped keep the focus right where it belongs.
In Other News...
Packers Defense Suddenly Looks Thin At The Worst Possible Time
The injury report landed at a tricky time for Green Bay, which is trying to get through Week 6 with its defense already under pressure. Nose tackle Jonathan Ford and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste are among the players ruled out, and receiver Skyy Moore will also miss the game, leaving the Packers to sort through some real depth concerns before facing the Cowboys.
The problems are most pronounced in the secondary, where the Packers can least afford to be stretched thin. Keisean Nixon is expected to play, but Brandon Cisse remains questionable, along with defensive tackle Anthony Campbell and wide receiver Savion Williams, so Green Bay is still waiting on a few key decisions before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Face A Risky WR Trade Debate As Injuries Keep Mounting
The Packers have steadied themselves lately, but the injury pileup at wide receiver has still left the roster with a familiar question: whether to stand pat or look for help. With the group thinned out, any trade chatter around a receiver feels more relevant than it might have a few weeks ago, especially for a team trying to keep its recent momentum intact while protecting its depth.
One name floating around is a young pass catcher whose NFL start has been uneven, which is exactly why this kind of discussion is tricky. Green Bay can use the conversation as a reminder of how thin the margin is at receiver, but it also has reason to be careful about paying meaningful draft capital for a player who has not yet put it all together. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Face A Sunday Night Test With Plenty To Prove Against Dallas
Sunday night brings a familiar kind of spotlight to Lambeau Field, with the Packers set to host Dallas in a game that ought to say plenty about where this team stands. It is the kind of matchup that invites big-picture questions, and the discussion around it has already turned to how Green Bay can make a statement against a Cowboys team that will demand a clean, physical performance.
The projections for the game lean into that idea, with Green Bays edge rush and ground game viewed as the clearest paths to control. A breakout night from one young pass rusher would go a long way toward changing the feel of the matchup, and the same can be said for a tight end who has already become a steady part of the offense. If the Packers are going to come out on top, they may need both of those elements to show up in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]