Packers 33, Vikings 10
MATT LAFLEUR: Happy new year, everybody. Really proud of our team tonight. I thought that was a complete football game really in every phase for four quarters. We knew it was going to take a great effort. I think Minnesota, I've got a lot of respect for their coaches and players and what they've been able to accomplish. I know they were shorthanded a lot of guys, but we've been down that road, too, and we've had a lot of guys step up. It was great to see guys like Bo Melton get 100 yards and his first touchdown and CV go in there at corner and Corey Ballentine stepping up, getting the call last minute to go in there and start, and anytime you can come out a game and hold Jefferson to 56 yards, I think you've got a good chance of winning the football game.
A lot of great performances tonight, but we also understand what we have in front of us, and it really means nothing unless we take care of business next week in Lambeau. We were in a similar situation a year ago and couldn't get it done.
We know it's going to be a tremendous challenge. I think Chicago is as improved as any team when you look at them from week one to where they are now. Obviously they've done a really, really good job the last few weeks in particular, kind of gotten on a roll, so we know it's going to be a great challenge. We know they're going to get their best shot, and I'm sure they'd love nothing more than to knock us out of the playoffs.
Q. You guys had 13 different guys have pressures tonight. That's the most for any team in a single game in a season. What did you think of the defense tonight?
MATT LAFLEUR: Yeah, I thought our defense came ready to play. I think you've got to give hats off to Joe Barry and our defensive staff for coming up with a great game plan, and I know he's taken a lot of heat lately, and again, it's one game, but I was happy for him, our staff, our players to go out there and put on a performance against, I think, a really good offense.
I was just really proud of those guys.
Q. As much as Minnesota had struggled with turnovers, what did it mean to get a turnover so early in the game?
MATT LAFLEUR: Yeah, that was awesome. Corey Ballentine -- I'm not quite sure who got the deflection, but I think it was off their hands, whatever. But for him to make that play was big time.
I just thought -- and then Preston Smith with the sack fumble, obviously that was a critical play to turn that into seven points right there at the end of the half. Jaden read did a hell of a job on that play, and he's been battling all season, just fighting through -- he's had a lot of pain. Let's just put it that way. For him to go out there and put on a performance like that I thought was huge, coming away with two touchdowns, and just seeing how this guy, how gritty he is.
He's as tough as they come.
Q. How much did the fact that you guys (indiscernible) to keep Jaden out?
MATT LAFLEUR: He was ruled out. As a matter of fact, they took him -- I'm not quite sure where we're at with him. They took him for some tests and CT and scans and all that. We're hopeful. Hopefully he'll be all right for next week. I know if there's anybody that can get through it, it's him.
Q. What sort of work does Bo put in that we don't see to allow a guy who's up and down all the time to have a day like this?
MATT LAFLEUR: Yeah, from day one that Bo got here, just an unbelievable attitude, unbelievable approach. He's been team first all the way. Brings great energy. Takes great pride in his work, does a really good job when he wasn't up, just giving great looks and performing well on the show teams, giving great looks to the defense, preparing our corners, preparing our defense for whoever the receiver may be that the defense needs to take away.
Just really happy for him because he's earned it.
Q. I hate to ask it this way because it's almost negative, but looking at the offense where it was against Minnesota, are you even a little surprised with where you've gotten to these last few games?
MATT LAFLEUR: Yeah, I think it's a lot of hard work that's been put in. I think we've evolved as an offense. Obviously there's a learning curve anytime you've got a bunch of new players, trying to figure out what everybody does well. I think it's a credit to really everybody involved, from our assistant coaches down to our players.
I think Jordan Love is -- I can't say enough great things about him. Just his ability to hang in there versus some tough looks, drifting away from pressure, putting the ball in play, allowing his guys to go make plays. I think he is playing at an incredibly high level. I'm super happy for him because he's put in a ton of work to get to this point, and I really think the sky's the limit for him. I think he's just showing a glimpse of what he can ultimately be, and he's been more consistent as the season has progressed with a young group around him.
I think the guys around him have performed at a higher level, but all in all, just to see the progress that our offense has made, especially when we were going back, looking at the tape. I was kind of cautiously optimistic, I'll say, in terms of how we performed the first time we played these guys to where we are now, and I thought we could make the necessary improvements and the adjustments from a game plan perspective, but also...
Q. I know you always have calls that you wish you could have back, but it sure looks like you and Jordan are in a really good rhythm, play caller and quarterback. Do you feel that way right now, and what is the growth process? We've talked about the growth that he's shown, but in terms of knowing what he does well, do you feel like you two are in a really good place right now?
MATT LAFLEUR: Yeah, I'd say so. I think there's a lot of good communication throughout the course of the week, understanding why we're calling certain things and what we're trying to get to, and then what I think has been the biggest difference is just the trust in terms of the trust that I have in him for when it's not the right look, to go out there and not make a bad play worse or get us out of a bad play.
Then just him playing the position. I just think he does such a great job of reading whatever concept we have called for what the defense presents and him just going through it and just playing it true. I think he's done a really good job.
I think Tom Clements deserves a lot of credit for his ability to groom him and the work that Jordan has put in.
Q. Does that take time for you to have that trust? Do you have to see some moments to give you reason -- when did that start to maybe change?
MATT LAFLEUR: I really think the turning point was in the Pittsburgh game. I know we didn't win that game, but I just -- I was kind of cautiously optimistic when we came out of that game in terms of from an offensive standpoint that we were executing some things, and he was making some plays. I know the ending didn't go the way we wanted it to, but I think there was a little bit of a shift in terms of some of the things we were doing and just allowing him to go out there and be obviously the playmaker that he is definitely capable of being.
Q. I know you're coaching for 2023, but these are playoff-like games. How do you view this in the big picture?
MATT LAFLEUR: I think anytime you go through a struggle and you can come out the other side, you're usually better for it. We've certainly faced our fair share of adversity in all phases, and our guys continue to fight, they continue to battle, they continue to show up on a daily basis with a great attitude and the willingness to work.
I think when you do that, good things happen. They generally tend to happen that way. Just super proud of the effort of the men in the locker room. Just really happy for them.
Again, it means nothing if we don't take care of business next Sunday.
Q. I understand it means nothing if you don't take care of business next Sunday, but to be in this position, have the youngest roster in the league, first-year starter and traded away a Hall of Famer, what does it mean to you to be in this position to even have this opportunity?
MATT LAFLEUR: Yeah, I think it means everything. The season is obviously on the line. There's a lot of hard work and dedication that goes into it. It's not just us, it's every team in the league. But to watch and see the growth that our guys have made I think through the course of the season has been pretty remarkable, and I'm really proud of those guys in that locker room, and I'm really excited for next Sunday versus Chicago Bears at home, and hopefully our fans will show up and support us and give us that edge.
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