Packers lament difficult loss, but they're far from discouraged

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But after two rather listless performances at home and a lopsided loss a month ago at Tampa Bay to another playoff contender, the Packers looked like a different team in Indy, as Rodgers said.


They were prepared from the get-go and had a more determined approach. That had to be the case, or they never would have gotten off the deck late in the game, after taking everything the Colts could throw at them, and still give themselves a chance.


"The guys, you could tell just right from the first day on Monday that they were locked in ready to go," LaFleur said.


"There was great energy throughout all our practices and it translated today. That's why it hurts so bad when you get exactly what you're trying to get done and you don't get the results you want. But we're going to need more of that moving forward."


That's because if the Colts game was a big one, the next game is bigger.


At 7-3, the Packers hold a two-game lead on the 5-5 Bears in the NFC North. The Vikings and Lions both lost Sunday to stay three games back at 4-6.


With the Bears coming to Lambeau Field next Sunday night, it's pretty simple: The Packers can put a stranglehold on the division with a win to take a three-game lead with five games left. Or the Bears will get within a game and declare it's probably going down to the wire.


"It's a big division game, a big rivalry game, and we're going to need that same type of effort," LaFleur said. "We're just going to need better execution."


It'll start with stopping the flood of turnovers. The Packers have turned it over only nine times all season, but six times in the last two games. Last week, the giveaways ultimately didn't cost them against the lowly Jaguars. This week, the Colts did what good teams do when they win the turnover battle.