Matt LaFleur Responds to Criticism: "We’re Not Weak After the Bye, We’re Focused and Ready"
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has had enough of the criticism surrounding his team’s performance after the bye week. Following recent comments that the Packers struggle after their midseason break, LaFleur came out swinging, defending his team and assuring fans that they are more than prepared to get back on track.
“We’ve heard the noise, but let me make it clear—this team is not weak,” LaFleur said firmly. “We’ve used the bye week to refocus, get healthier, and come back stronger. We’re ready to prove it. The bye week is an opportunity for us to reassess, improve, and recharge, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
LaFleur’s remarks came in response to widespread criticism that the Packers have had difficulties performing after the bye week in recent seasons. The team has faced some tough losses after returning from the break, but LaFleur is confident that this year’s squad is different.
“This is a new year, with a new mentality,” LaFleur continued. “We’ve got a group of guys that are hungry and determined. We’ve been focusing on the right things, and I believe that’s going to show on the field.”
The Packers are looking to bounce back after a few early-season struggles, but LaFleur remains confident in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion. His leadership and belief in his players are key to the Packers’ resurgence, and the coach is determined to prove that they are ready for whatever challenges lie ahead.
“It’s about staying focused, staying disciplined, and taking it one game at a time,” LaFleur said. “We’re not going to let the past define us. The future is what we control, and we’re going to make sure that we’re ready for everything that comes our way.”
With LaFleur’s leadership, the Packers are gearing up to prove the critics wrong and make a strong push for the postseason. The team is fully focused on their next game, and LaFleur is confident that they’ll show their true potential moving forward.
“We’re stronger than ever,” LaFleur concluded. “We’re ready to prove it, starting this week.”
The Packers will aim to silence the doubters and show that their post-bye week performance will be a force to be reckoned with as the season progresses.
Steelers' T.J. Watt Could Make Very Rare NFL History
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best defensive players of the generation, and he seems to be finding his dominant groove as the season moves on. T.J. Watt may only be getting started in 2025, and there's still plenty of career ahead of him after signing a three-year contract extension this past offseason.
Well, if things continue the way they are, Watt could join incredibly rare NFL company, and even more, could surpass that company.
NFL's Rare Club
With his interception against Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings, Watt joined a group of players that holds 100 career sacks and eight career interceptions. That group includes Lawrence Taylor, Jason Taylor, Chris Doleman, Richard Dent and Rickey Jackson. However, there's more coming.
Watt currently has 111 sacks and eight interceptions, recording an interception all but three years of his career. He's also had two interceptions twice, back in 2019 and 2022.
Watt could join ever rarer company, though. According to Steelers Depot, Watt is three interceptions away from joining Julius Peppers as the only other player in National Football League history to record over 100 career sacks and 10 career interceptions. Peppers finished his career with 11.
Watt is known around the league as one of the most elite pass rushers out there but also one of the best players in coverage at the line of scrimmage.
"T.J. is a unique player in this league. There’s no other defensive lineman that I have to treat like a DB. I have to be conscious about where he’s at because he’s just going to jump up and catch it. And there’s nobody else who can do that. You have to be alert for him in the pass game, which is very unique, I would say," Joe Burrow said last year about Watt.
Can He Do It?
Watt's chances of getting to 10 interceptions looks pretty good. Averaging just under an interception a season, he's on pace to at least get to 10 in the next three seasons, but could surpise us and get to 11.
If he gets to 12, which isn't out of the question, he'd cement himself maybe as the best pass coverage edge rusher in the NFL history. And it's not like he needs much more to solidify him as a Hall of Famer, that would leave no question to if he's going to end up in Canton or not.
