At this point of the season, the Green Bay Packers can take a win however they can. After getting embarrassed by the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3, the Packers were back on the road to take on the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Not only were the Buccaneers without a victory this entire season, but they were trotting out rookie Jalon Daniels as the starting quarterback. On paper, this looked to be an easy win for the Packers.
The Packers did win, but by the narrow score of 17-14, while almost collapsing at the end of the game. Quarterback Jordan Love played as good of a game you could have asked for, throwing for 197 yards and two touchdowns while completing 22 of 30 pass attempts.
But if there is one thing that reared its ugly head for the Packers, besides nearly giving away another victory, it was their fumbling issues.
Green Bay's running backs Kaleb Johnson and MarShawn Lloyd each fumbled the ball once. However, Johnson's was lost, and gave Tampa Bay a chance to tie the game or potentially retake the lead. Luckily for them, the Buccaneers punted the ball away six plays later.
Even so, the fumbling has become an issue for the Packers just four games into the season. Let's just say that head coach Matt LaFleur is as fed up as everyone else in Green Bay.
"So, if guys don't start holding onto the ball, they're going to be sitting on the bench," said LaFleur.
Matt LaFleur threatens benching Packers players for fumbling
LaFleur said that "a great teacher is the bench" in regards to players who fumble the football.
He let it be known to reporters, and he undoubtedly told his team in private, that after four games, he's not going to be tolerating fumbles any longer.
Through four games this season, the Packers have 10 fumbles, which is the most of any team in the NFL. Half of those total fumbles arrived in the team's Week 2 win over the New York Jets, with five different ball carriers losing control of the football.
Granted, that was sloppy due to the pouring rain in New Jersey. The good news is that the Packers have just three fumbles lost, but that is tied for the second-most in the NFL.
Even so, LaFleur has become fed up with this consistent issue.
Packers need to put fumbling issues behind them with upcoming schedule
The Packers' schedule isn't getting any easier. It all begins next Sunday, when they take on the hated Chicago Bears. As much as Packers fans don't want to admit it, the Bears are probably one of the best teams in the NFC this season, mostly due to their offense being able to put up points with relative ease, regardless of who the quarterback is.
Following that rivalry game, the Packers face the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, and New England Patriots, all of whom have shown they can put up points on offense with relative ease.
That's bad news for the Packers, and fumbling possession away is not going to help their chances of winning any of those games. So, you can get why LaFleur is losing patience with his players about holding onto the football.
The message has been sent loud and clear by LaFleur. Now, we'll see if the players are able to put it into full effect and play a relatively clean game of football.
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