Packers returning home after humbling experience in Denver

The Green Bay Packers are returning home after a humbling couple of August days in Denver. Coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t particularly pleased with the performance of starters and veterans in a joint practice against the Broncos on Friday, and then his team — with 31 players sitting out — lost 27-2 in a lopsided preseason defeat on Sunday night.

“Not good enough. We got humbled in practice, and we certainly got humbled again today in the game,” LaFleur said post-game. “Looking for a certain style of play…not up to the standard. It got a little better in the second half, but still not good enough.”

On Sunday, the Packers fell behind 10-0 after two drives, trailed 17-0 at halftime and only avoided a shutout with a Zach Morton sack resulting in a safety in the third quarter. The offense got next to nothing accomplished in the passing game, finished 3-for-16 on third or fourth down and didn’t make a trip into the red zone.

“We didn’t block well enough up front in the run game or pass game,” LaFleur said.

LaFleur was expecting a better response from his team after a disappointing practice on Friday. The backups — given an opportunity to play snaps against the Broncos starters — didn’t rise to the challenge.

“I was hoping our guys would come out with more strain, effort, grit after getting humbled the other day in practice. To have it happen again, not where we want to be,” LaFleur said.

Context is important. The result of a preseason game in which Jordan Love and almost every other starter on offense and defense didn’t play is inconsequential. The Broncos played starters throughout the first quarter and contributors on both sides of the ball well into the second half. The Packers’ depth was tested and mostly failed.

LaFleur was more worried about the process.

“I think it’s a good lesson for our guys in terms of, it doesn’t matter who is out there, if you don’t put your best foot forward each and every time you go out on that field, these things happen to you,” LaFleur said. “We’re going to have to re-group, take a long hard look at the mirror, and we have to get better. We need that urgency from everybody.”

The Packers have an important final week of the preseason ahead. The team will have an open practice on Tuesday, a joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday and the preseason finale against the Ravens at Lambeau Field on Saturday.

LaFleur wasn’t sure if starters would play against the Ravens in the finale.

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