Matt LaFleur identifies critical area Packers’ defense must improve

The Packers staved off a second loss to 40-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco, hanging on 27-18 over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field where a punishing offensive attack paved the way to Green Bay’s first victory since Week 2 of the season.

After dropping to Flacco’s Cleveland Browns in Week 3, and tying the Dallas Cowboys the following week, it was Josh Jacobs’ bruising ground game and Tucker Kraft rumbling over Bengals defenders and into the end zone late the put the game out of reach.

However, as the Packers’ pass rush seems to have evaporated in recent weeks, there’s another concern bubbling for head coach Matt LaFleur.

“That would be nice, to get a takeaway,” LaFleur told reporters following Sunday’s game. “If we can do that — and there was opportunities out there — but I thought that was the difference from really allowing us to put the game out of reach. And credit to them, they did a good job of holding onto the ball and not putting it in harm’s way.”