Stock up, stock down for Packers after Week 5 win vs. Cowboys

Stock up: Matt LaFleur

How can we not start with the head coach? Matt LaFleur deserves a ton of praise for the job he’s done so far. It’s easy to forget just how much this team struggled to win games a year ago. Yes, the roster has more talent than then, but LaFleur is the man who has made it all work. He’s the leader, and it sure looks like the players have bought in.

This team knows how to win games, and it all starts with the head coach.

LaFleur’s main job was to fix the offense. And while the transition hasn’t been as smooth as he’d have hoped, it’s clear they are making improvements week after week. It’s to be expected that an offense learning a new system will take some time, especially with limited reps in the preseason. But the Packers are making strides.

Their points-per-game has increased almost every week. They scored 10 points in Week 1, 21 in Week 2, 27 in both Weeks 3 and 4, and now 34 in Week 5.

Their third-down conversion percentage is also trending in the right direction. In the first three games, the Packers converted 25 percent of their third downs. In the past two games, that number is up to 39 percent.

Total yards per game? In the opening three games, the Packers were averaging 286.6 yards per game. That’s up to an average of 413 yards over the past two games.

Pass protection? That’s improved, too. Aaron Rodgers was sacked seven times in the opening two games of the season, but only three times in the past three games.

The offense needs to keep improving. But Sunday’s win was the most complete offensive performance we’ve seen from them this season, and they did that without star receiver Davante Adams.

More important of all is that LaFleur’s team has a 4-1 record. And it’s time to give him some praise.