Matt LaFleur gives brutally honest response after Packers get 'humbled' in preseason

It's only the preseason, but it's never a good look when the head coach is questioning their team's effort.

Matt LaFleur wasn't happy with the Green Bay Packers' performance in their humiliating 27-2 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. With the starters rested, this was an opportunity for players on the roster bubble to prove themselves. We didn't see any of that.

LaFleur leaves Denver with more questions than answers. Both backup quarterbacks played poorly, Greg Joseph's only kick went wide-right by a mile, and the team lacked energy throughout.

It's hard to say any players won a roster spot, but several may have lost their opportunity, including quarterback Sean Clifford.

After an awful team performance, LaFleur didn't hold back in his post-game press conference.

Matt LaFleur questions Packers' effort after loss to Broncos in preseason

Losing a preseason game is no big deal, especially when it's your backups versus their starters in the first quarter. Winning the game isn't important. Taking positives from individual evaluations is what counts. The last thing you need is having to question your team's effort and fight, especially when many players are battling for roster spots.

"I was hoping that our guys would come out with more strain, effort, grit, after getting humbled the other day in practice. To have it happen again, it's not where we want to be," said LaFleur. "We've got to get better. We need that urgency from everybody."

It's an honest answer from LaFleur. The Packers have been outplayed by the Broncos twice in three days, beginning with Friday's joint practice.

The good news? It's the preseason. If you're going to put in a performance like this, make sure it's in August. Most of the Packers' starters didn't play. That matters.

However, Sunday's game raises more questions about the team's lack of depth at various positions, and the Packers still don't have answers to many of their biggest training camp battles. An important week awaits, with the Baltimore Ravens visiting for a joint practice and preseason game.

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