Packers fall to Browns after late collapse; LaFleur urges focus on the present
After blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, Green Bay emphasizes week-to-week focus as it heads to Dallas for a cross-conference test.
The Green Bay Packers’ bid for an undefeated start ended in Cleveland on Sunday when a late collapse allowed the Browns to steal a 13-10 win. Green Bay, now 2-1, squandered a 10-point advantage in the final four minutes and watched Cleveland drive for the decisive score as time expired.
Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that the league is week-to-week and that a team cannot lose sight of the present or take any moment for granted. “This league is such a week-to-week league and you can never lose sight of that,” LaFleur said. “And you can never take any moment, any game for granted. And the goal, and I’ve said it a million times to you guys — I don’t think I’ve obviously said it enough to our team — the goal is to go 1-0 every week.”
Green Bay’s schedule immediately shifts into a five-game stretch with just one home game, a reality that adds urgency to corrections after a game in which Cleveland’s pass rush exposed potential depth concerns on the Packers’ offensive line and the run game remained inconsistent. Penalties and special-teams miscues also plagued Green Bay in back-to-back losses. After a week in which the defense allowed 14.7 points per game, the Packers’ attention now turns to bouncing back against a Cowboys team that welcomes a familiar face back to Dallas and carries its own set of recent history with Green Bay.
The Packers entered the game with a mix of optimism and questions about their offensive line depth and run efficiency. Green Bay managed only 3.4 yards per carry on the day, down from 4.75 yards per rushing attempt last season, andRome was stifled by Cleveland’s edge pressure for much of the afternoon. Jordan Love was sacked five times and pressured on numerous other occasions, and a late fourth-quarter interception prematurely ended a drive that could have put the Packers in front. Love had gone nine straight regular-season games without an interception before the late giveaway.
Green Bay’s defense continued to hold relatively stoutly through three quarters, but the narrative shifted late as the Browns mounted a decisive surge. Cleveland outscored Green Bay 13-0 over the final 3:38, erasing a 10-point deficit and handing the Packers a bitter setback. The Packers have been defended well enough to keep opponents from reaching the end zone before the fourth period in most games this season, but the last-minute lapse underscored issues that show up in a compressed late-game scenario. A blocked field-goal attempt in the final minute prevented Green Bay from reclaiming the lead and allowed Cleveland to set up the game-winning 55-yard kick as time expired.
Among the other on-field notes, Green Bay’s depth along the line drew scrutiny, with left guard Aaron Banks exiting with a groin issue and right tackle Zach Tom leaving after one play due to an oblique injury. LaFleur said Tom did not re-aggravate the injury, but the team’s lineup once again faced upheaval as the game wore on. Safety Javon Bullard and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt were injured in the fourth quarter; Bullard entered concussion protocol and Wyatt was listed day-to-day afterward. The Packers also drew 14 penalties on Sunday and have been flagged 24 times over their last two games, a trend they will need to address quickly as they turn toward Dallas.
Offensively, Green Bay’s line and run game were imperfect matches for Cleveland’s front, and the Packers’ quarterback took several hard hits in a reminder that protection and rhythm matter in a league where thin margins decide games. Wide receiver had a modest contribution through most of the game, while tight end John FitzPatrick caught the first touchdown of his NFL career, providing a bright spot in a day defined by stubborn defense and missed opportunities.
Defensively, Rashan Gary continued his hot start with two sacks, bringing his season total to 4 1/2 and maintaining a league-leading pace through three games. Linebacker Quay Walker reached a season-high with 14 tackles, demonstrating that the defense remains active and productive even when the offense struggles to finish drives. Still, the late-game sequence overshadowed those performances and will serve as a focal point for adjustments this week.
As Green Bay looks ahead, the next test carries its own historical weight. The Packers travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys, a matchup that has typically favored Green Bay in recent years. Dallas visits with a 1-2 record, and the game marks a return for star pass rusher Michael Parsons to the Cowboys’ home stadium, a storyline that will be part of the broader narrative as Green Bay seeks to stabilize its own operation after two straight close losses. The Packers have won 10 of their last 11 regular-season or playoff meetings with Dallas and have not lost a road game to the Cowboys since 2007, a streak that will be tested this season as both teams refine their approach in week-to-week battles.