Matt LaFleur is heading into Week 2 with the temperature rising fast, and Colin Cowherd thinks the Packers’ trip to MetLife Stadium has turned into a much bigger deal than anyone expected.
Green Bay opened the season with a 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and that setback has only added to the pressure on the eighth-year coach. On Wednesday’s episode of “The Herd,” Cowherd said the Packers’ matchup with the Jets now carries real weight for LaFleur’s standing inside the organization.
“The part of why I think pro football is so much fun, is that not only the outcomes, you just never know,” Cowherd said. “But all of the sudden there's a game or two in Week 2 and you're like, I didn't have that penned as a big game.
Green Bay at the Jets now is suddenly gigantic. Not for the Jets, they won.
For Green Bay, they've lost six straight games. How many pro coaches can lose seven straight games without losing the trust and the faith of the front office or the ownership?
“I guarantee you some of that locker room has lost faith in Matt LaFleur. They're not just losing six straight games, they have the worst point differential in the league in that stretch.”
The Packers had control early against Minnesota, taking a 22-10 lead in the third quarter before things slipped away. Kevin O'Connell's offense pushed back hard, and Carson Wentz - who entered after Kyler Murray was injured in the first quarter - finished with two touchdowns in the second half.
Jordan Love’s numbers were loud, but the result wasn’t. He went 21-of-42 for 387 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and four sacks.
LaFleur, meanwhile, spent Wednesday praising the Jets as he looked ahead to the Week 2 meeting. Aaron Glenn’s team followed a 3-14 season by opening this year with a 23-10 win over the Tennessee Titans, and LaFleur said the roster looks improved on defense.
“I think they got good edge rushers and they're big inside,” LaFleur said. “So, you know, (Will) McDonald and then (David) Bailey obviously are very talented. ... I think they've definitely upgraded the talent on defense.
“We saw them last year in the preseason. But it's really tough to get a great evaluation on that.
But, I think they're a complete football team. I don't see any glaring weaknesses.
I think they're really sound, they play really hard. I think it's a complete team.”
The Packers and Jets are set to play Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. ET.
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