“It just wasn’t good enough”: Matt LaFleur shuts down complacency claims after Packers’ crushing third straight loss to the Ravens

The Green Bay Packers walked into Week 17 knowing their postseason ticket was already stamped, but what unfolded in Baltimore made that fact feel almost irrelevant. Fans were not watching a relaxed team playing with house money. They were watching a group still fighting for position, pride and momentum. Instead, the Packers left with a 41-24 loss to the Ravens, their third straight defeat, and the uncomfortable sense that things were sliding at the worst possible time.The loss carried real weight. Earlier in the week, Green Bay clinched a playoff spot after the Detroit Lions fell 23-10 to the Minnesota Vikings. But the defeat in Baltimore opened the door for the Chicago Bears to officially lock up the NFC North. What could have been a confidence-building night turned into a reminder that the margin between contender and cautionary tale can shrink fast in December.After the game, head coach Matt LaFleur made it clear that the Packers did not treat Week 17 as a formality. “I don’t think anybody was relieved we made the playoffs,” LaFleur said in the presser after the Week 17 game. “We still had a ton to play for. It was the same routine with how we went about our process to prepare for a game. It just wasn’t good enough. That’s the bottom line.”It matched what played out on the field. Green Bay showed flashes, especially early, but could never control the game. With Jordan Love sidelined due to a concussion, Malik Willis stepped in and delivered a performance that stood out. Willis threw for 288 yards and one touchdown, completing 18 of 21 passes before leaving in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury. “He [Willis] made play after play after play out there,” LaFleur said after the game. “He was one of the few bright spots on the night. And he made plays, threw the ball accurately.”Unfortunately for Green Bay, the defense could not hold up. Baltimore controlled possession for more than 40 minutes and ran at will. Derrick Henry was the difference, rushing for 216 yards and four touchdowns as the Ravens finished with a massive 307-79 edge on the ground. Turnovers added to the damage. Two first-half giveaways led directly to points, and a late interception by Clayton Tune sealed the outcome after Willis exited.LaFleur rejected the idea that the Packers lacked effort. “That’s the natural thing to say, the easy thing to say,” LaFleur said in the post-game presser. “I don’t think I saw a team that was flat. I saw a team that just got beat. They got whipped. I would not say that because our guys did compete. They were battling, you saw it in the first half.”Now locked into second place in the NFC North and the No. 7 seed, Green Bay faces a road-only playoff path.Also read: What happened to Jordan Love? Why Packers’ franchise QB is sidelined as Malik Willis starts against Ravens