Packers coach Matt LaFleur 'embarrassed' after outburst against officials in Week 4

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur understands his team needs to clean up the penalties. He has reiterated it throughout the season.

However, he almost cost the Packers with a penalty of his own in their Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. As Green Bay attempted to rally to a dramatic comeback, Jordan Love connected with Romeo Doubs to get to Minnesota's 1-yard line.

LaFleur ran down the sideline to call a timeout, but after no officials saw him, his temper got the best of him. It cost the Packers 15 yards, turning a 2nd-and-goal from the 1-yard line into 2nd-and-goal from the 15. Fortunately, Love hit Jayden Reed for a 15-yard touchdown on the next play, but down 28-0, LaFleur almost ruined any chance of a comeback.

After the game, LaFleur expressed his embarrassment.

"I thought there were a lot of critical errors that we made. Not all, obviously, by the players," said LaFleur. "I'm absolutely embarrassed that I got an unsportsmanlike [conduct penalty]. When you expect composure from your team and then you're doing that, that's a bad look."

"We all can be better. Myself, number one at the forefront of that. This is a humbling league at times."

Matt LaFleur needs to fix Packers' penalty problems, and it starts with him

LaFleur is spot on. How can he expect his players to play disciplined football if he can't do the same from the sideline? His 15-yard penalty was almost the most costly of the game. Thankfully, his quarterback saved the day with a beautiful touchdown pass to Reed.

The Packers entered Week 4 with 26 penalties and they added another eight on Sunday. Green Bay's 34 is the third-most in the league. Penalties set the Packers back 68 yards. In a two-point loss, that can make all the difference. It's not good enough.

Green Bay has a lot to clean up after an embarrassing home loss to a division rival, but playing more disciplined football sits near the top of the list. It has now been a problem for the entire opening quarter of the season, with no signs of improving.

The players know they need to do a better job, but it ultimately falls on the head coach. And when LaFleur is costing his team 15 yards, it's time to look in the mirror, reflect, and make improvements entering a huge game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5.

More Packers news and analysis