Heat is increasing on Matt LaFleur
as the Packers visit the Giants
[November 14, 2025]
By STEPHEN WHYNO
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers are in a
precarious position and coach Matt LaFleur is under the microscope
after two straight losses with a combined 20 points scored.
They can stop the skid Sunday at the New York Giants, who have
interim coach Mike Kafka making his debut fresh off the firing of
Brian Daboll. LaFleur said this week he'll continue to call plays
for an offense that is struggling to produce as the pressure mounts
to get back on track.
“As frustrated as anybody may be out there, I promise you that
you’re not as frustrated as I am,” said LaFleur, who led Green Bay
to the playoffs in five of his first six seasons. “We’re working
hard at it. I promise you. We’re working hard, and bottom line is on
Sunday, we have to go out and perform better.”
The good news for the Packers (5-3-1) is they get to face one of the
NFL's worst-ranked defenses, which is allowing over 27 points a
game. The Giants (2-8) in have struggled especially against the run,
giving up an average of just over 152 yards — 31st out of 32 teams.
“They’ve given up a lot of explosive runs, but I think we’ve got to
come into it with the mindset that we’re going to play our game,”
said Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love, who was 20 of 36 for 176
yards with a fumble in a loss Monday night to Philadelphia.
“Obviously, we want to establish the run and be able to take
advantage of that, but also at the same time, I want to be able to
throw the ball.”
Safety Xavier McKinney, part of a defense that has been a strength,
called this a must-win game after he and his teammates fell into a
sticky situation — the Packers trail the 6-3 Detroit Lions and
Chicago Bears in the NFC North. The top-five unit certainly has the
chance to be a difference-maker at New York, which is starting
Jameis Winston at quarterback with rookie Jaxson Dart in concussion
protocol.
“Their defense is a true bend-but-don’t-break defense,” Winston
said. “This is one of the fastest defenses that we’ve seen in terms
of how they run to the football. They’re high energy, and they’re
very sound.”
Giants could get a new coach bump with Mike Kafka, but they'll
miss Jaxson Dart
The Giants blowing another late lead for their fourth consecutive
defeat contributed to Daboll losing his job, as ownership decided it
was time for a franchise that had only fired a coach midseason twice
over the previous 90-plus years. The game at Chicago also came with
Dart hitting his head and exiting with a concussion that will
sideline him against the Packers.
Green Bay is a 7-point favorite on BetMGM Sportsbook, slightly down
after opening at 7 1/2. Winston will make his debut for the Giants
while Kafka auditions for the full-time job.
“I’m excited for Kaf,” said Winston, who last played 11 months ago
for Cleveland. “I know he’s been waiting on this moment — not
waiting but preparing for this moment to be a head football coach.
And I know he’s going to do the best that he possibly can.”
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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur talks after an NFL
football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Monday, Nov. 10, 2025,
in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Xavier McKinney faces the Giants for the first
time
McKinney played his first four NFL seasons with the Giants from
2020-23 before signing with Green Bay. This is his first game
against his former team.
“I don’t get into all that,” said McKinney, who earned All-Pro
honors in '24. “I just try to go out there and play a good game
regardless of who I’m playing, try and go out there and be
productive and be the player that I know I am. It’ll be fun just to
be back in the city, though, and get to see a lot of old faces and
familiar faces. But it should be fun, though."
A second-round pick, McKinney had nine interceptions in 49 games
with New York.
“This is my first time playing the Giants since I’ve been gone, so
I’m going to definitely be juiced up, but it’s all out of good
intention and just looking to have a good game," McKinney said.
Packers will be without starting center Elgton Jenkins
Green Bay's offensive line took a hit when Jenkins went down with a
left ankle injury against the Eagles. He went on injured reserve,
and LaFleur called it “highly unlikely” Jenkins is able to return
this season.
Sean Rhyan filled in and is expected to take over at center moving
forward.
“He’s got a lot on his plate, and we’ll just kind of work through
the week,” Love said. “We’ll get another week this week to kind of
hone in all those things. Obviously, we’ll be on silent count with
the away game, that plays a whole other factor in Sean’s thought
process being at center.”
If the Giants' last home game — a sea of red San Francisco 49ers
fans — is any indication and “Cheeseheads” fill the stadium with
green and gold, the Packers may not need the silent count, after
all.
___
AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee in Green Bay, Wisconsin, contributed
to this report.
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