- LaFleur was kicking himself because the offense didn’t put the game away, though.
After a Gary sack on third down forced the Chargers to punt, the Packers had the ball with 1:47 left, leading 23-20. LA had all three timeouts. One first down would’ve sealed the game.
Two AJ Dillon runs gained just four yards as the Chargers burned their first two timeouts. Third-and-6, 1:38 left, and another Dillon run gained just two yards. Final LA timeout at 1:35. Punt.
“That was on me,” LaFleur said of the conservative series, explaining he gave Love a running play on third down hoping for a certain defensive look, but with instructions to call a timeout if the look wasn’t there. LaFleur almost called the timeout himself and wishes he had.
“I’ve just got to be better in that situation and pop the timeout. I think that’s too much to put on his plate at this point in time where it wasn’t even something in the game plan. That was a bad deal.”
- Injuries continue to pile up, and a short week has arrived.
By game’s end, the Packers were down to just one healthy running back, as both Aaron Jones (knee) and Emanuel Wilson (shoulder) exited in the second half. LaFleur said Jones’ injury does not appear long-term.
Maybe receiver Jayden Reed will have to get even more involved in the running game. His 46 yards on the ground, including a 32-yard TD on an end-around, led the team in rushing. Reed added 46 receiving yards, too, as the rookie continues to develop into a major offensive piece.
But back to the injuries. Wicks also was being evaluated for a concussion, while LB De’Vondre Campbell left with a stinger, and TE Josiah Deguara was dealing with a bum hip.
Meanwhile, a flight to NFC North-leading Detroit is less just 2½ days away, and game-planning for the Thanksgiving clash began last Friday. The Dan Campbell-coached Lions will be looking to make it five straight wins over the Packers in the divisional rivalry.
“These guys gotta recover,” LaFleur said. “We’ve got a great task in front of us, a team that’s really gotten after us.
“Got a lot of respect for Dan and what he’s been able to establish there, the culture. They got a good thing going right now, so we’re going to need our best effort, no doubt about it, to go into their building and come out on top.”
