Matt LaFleur admits the uncomfortable truth about why Packers came up short in loss vs. Browns they should have won

Put the Green Bay Packers and the Cleveland Browns on the field, and the Packers would probably win most times. But it's not how the NFL works, and Green Bay couldn't overcome its own mistakes and failures on Sunday, losing 13-10.

The offense was particularly infuriating, marked by a late Jordan Love interception in the fourth quarter and numerous other issues.

Following the game, head coach Matt LaFleur had a sincere admission about what the offense really looked like.

"One thing we have to get corrected is when you have 14 penalties in a game, it's going to be tough to overcome that," LaFleur explained. "We have to do a much better job of coaching the fundamentals, the details, and then lock in at a higher level in regards to some of the controllable penalties, whether it's false starts or offsides. Ultimately, this is a total team sport. I thought we played well enough defensively to win the game and didn’t do a good enough job on offense and special teams."

After two clean games that resulted in wins over the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders, the sloppy performance reminded fans of what the team looked like last year.

"Pre-snap penalties are about concentration, focus, and being dialed in at the moment. Post-snap penalties, like holding, come down to fundamentals and technique," LaFleur added. "We've got to coach it better and be harder on our guys in practice because that's where it all starts. Ultimately, we've got to do a better job across the board."

LaFleur's coaching job in Packers' loss to Browns

LaFleur has been one of the most successful coaches in the NFL since taking over the Packers in 2019, and part of that success is attributed to his ability to overcome poor team performances. He did that on Sunday, even though execution was probably a bigger issue.

"Look at how our defense played. You give up, it ended up being 13 points, but really there were no points after three quarters," LaFleur said. "I thought, yeah, certainly you could look at that. That's why it takes all three phases, but I don't think it was a lack of mindset. I really don't. We as coaches have to do a better job of putting our guys in better positions, and ultimately, they have to go out there and execute whatever we're asking them to do."

The Packers are still in a solid position to compete in the NFC North and reach the playoffs with two wins through three games. Next week, Green Bay plays a "Sunday Night Football" matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, and it's one the Packers have to focus on to get the momentum back in their favor, especially considering how important the revenge game is for Micah Parsons.