On Dec. 29, 2024, a frustrated Matt LaFleur lamented. His Packers , coming off a 27-25 loss to the Minnesota Vikings that eliminated them from earning a top wild card spot, had started too slow. They took too long to adjust, missed too many opportunities and were on the wrong end of a controversial call.

More than anything else, though, they were unable to put pressure on Sam Darnold. The Vikings quarterback completed 33 of 43 passes for a career-high 377 yards. Green Bay managed just one sack on Darnold's 44 dropbacks, its second-lowest sack rate all season.

"You gotta get pressure on these guys if they're gonna drop back that many times, and if you don't, it's gonna be a long day," Lafleur said, noting that it's simply too difficult to cover Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J.

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