Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur did not mince words in describing their pre-season game loss to the New York Jets over the weekend.
Green Bay Packers vs New York Jets
Green Bay Packers running back Amar Johnson (46) breaks away for a long touchdown run against the New York Jets during their football game Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
He thought it was a humbling experience as they came to the game with so much hype and optimism. Critics thought it was a game they should have won, too.
Packeres appeared listless in the game, giving up a touchdown on the first few minutes of the game cared of Justin Fields.
The first half finished at 17-3 in favor of the Jets. They tried to recover before the end of the fourth quarter but the lead was just too big to overcome and they eventually settled for a 30-10 loss.
LaFleur said it was not the kind of product they want to sell and thought they committed to many errors.
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New York Jets running back Donovan Edwards (40) runs for a gain against Green Bay Packers linebacker Jamon Johnson (48) during their football game Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
“It was just sloppy football,” he said.
“Too many penalties, drops, missed tackles, bad decision making, and it really showed up in every phase of football.”
Matt LaFleur found Anthony Belton promising
While some veterans flunked their pre-season test, LaFluer still has a good takeaway from it, especially from the young guns.
One of those is rookie Anthony Belton who they picked 54th overall in the recent draft.
Belton was used as a tackle and made a good account of his limited by being excelling in the position, especially as pass blocker.
Even fans and observers thought he did a great job as a tackle.
Anthony Belton did three things last night in 42 snaps that we haven’t seen a Packers offensive lineman do in a while.
— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) August 10, 2025
Anthony Belton
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Anthony Belton (71) hypes up the crowd during Family Night on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Amar Johnson picking up right where he left off at South Dakota State. 2nd round pick Anthony Belton demolishing a defender with the pancake 😤🧀🏈pic.twitter.com/ERj3cpM7dt
— Packerfan Total Access- Clayton (@packers_access) August 10, 2025
Packers second-round pick Anthony Belton played 42 snaps at right tackle and, like Jordan Morgan, did not give up a single pressure as a pass-blocker. Belton was also the offensive line’s second-highest graded run-blocker. A couple of encouraging performances from young OL.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) August 10, 2025
LaFleur is echoing these thoughts but there’s another thing he is demanding from the young player – consistency.
“There was some good and some thing that we absolutely have to clean up, just like many young players,” the coach said when asked about Belton’s performance.
“Consistency is one of the things we have to work on with him. He flashes the ability, he flashes the talent, it’s just a matter of time. He is getting better. There was some great plays in there.”
Packers will return to pre-season action on Saturday to face the Indianapolis Colts.
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