Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-25 · by Rob Maaddi The Associated Press
The Green Bay Packers are off to a 1-2 start following a lackluster performance in a 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night in their home opener at Lambeau Field.
asserted
Packers → follow → Field
“It’s three games in.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
We’re nowhere where we need to be but there’s a lot of ball left in front of us,” LaFleur said.
asserted
LaFleur → ’re → us
Since losing Micah Parsons to a torn ACL last December, the Packers are 1-7.
asserted
Packers → lose → ACL
The only victory came last week against the New York Jets, who helped give the game away.
asserted
who → come → game
LaFleur’s offense has struggled without running back Josh Jacobs, who is on the commissioner’s exempt list and isn’t allowed to play.
asserted
who → struggle → list
On defense, the Packers made Michael Penix Jr. look like prime Michael Vick in his first game back from a torn ACL.
asserted
Jr. → make → ACL
They couldn’t stop Bijan Robinson, but that’s typical.
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that → stop → Robinson
Robinson had 194 yards rushing and two TDs.
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Robinson → have → yards
LaFleur began his coaching career with three straight 13-win seasons.
asserted
LaFleur → begin → seasons
But his tenure has been marked by playoff failures.
asserted
tenure → mark → failures
LaFleur’s first two seasons ended with home losses in the NFC championship game and then a home loss in the divisional round.
asserted
seasons → end → round
Over the next four seasons, the Packers had double-digit wins once and went 1-3 in the playoffs.
asserted
Packers → have → playoffs
Now, the Packers have opened the season with two losses in three games and have a tough road ahead in the NFC North.
asserted
Packers → open → North
Winning seasons and playoff appearances are expected in Green Bay.
asserted
seasons → win → Bay
Nothing less than another Lombardi Trophy is considered a success.
asserted
Nothing → consider → Trophy
That means LaFleur, despite his regular-season success, hasn’t delivered.
asserted
LaFleur → mean → success
In Tampa Bay, Bowles has been heavily criticized since the Buccaneers went 2-7 to end last season after a 6-2 start.
asserted
Buccaneers → criticize → start
There was surprise that management didn’t make a coaching change but Bowles signed a three-year contract extension before the 2025 season.
asserted
Bowles → be → season
The Bucs have opened with consecutive losses, including a 23-19 loss to the Browns last Sunday that increased the heat on Bowles.
asserted
that → open → Bowles
His three division titles in a weak NFC South have resulted in a 1-3 record in the playoffs.
asserted
titles → result → playoffs
“I think if you lose the first two games of the year, that doesn’t determine the other 15 games,” Bowles said.
asserted
Bowles → think → games
“Right now, we’re 0-2 — we’re not 0-9 or 0-11.
asserted
we → ’re → ?
That doesn’t bother me as much from that standpoint.
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That → bother → standpoint
We’ve just got to get better and win a ballgame.”
asserted
We → get → ballgame
The Buccaneers host the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) on Sunday.
asserted
Buccaneers → host → Sunday
“I think (there is) always pressure until you get your first win out (of) the way,” Bowles said.
asserted
Bowles → think → way
“You try to get it out the way at the beginning of the season so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.
asserted
you → try → it
It’s not a different kind of pressure, so to speak.
asserted
It → ’ → pressure
It’s probably a different kind of urgency — not that you’re not playing urgent already — but you just want to get that first win on the board.”
asserted
you → ’ → board
Steichen entered the season with a directive from Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, who made it clear the coach had to turn things around after Indianapolis lost seven straight games to end up 8-9 in 2025.
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Indianapolis → enter → 2025
The Colts got walloped in Week 1 by the Ravens but nearly upset the Chiefs on the road last Sunday night.
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Colts → wallop → road
“We’re battling like crazy,” Steichen said.
asserted
Steichen → battle → ?
“That’s the message and we gotta continue to grow and learn, and we got a lot of football left.
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we → ’ → football
Like I said last week, we’re right there.
asserted
we → say → ?
We gotta find a way to win at the end.
asserted
We → got → end
It’s a freaking hard league and you gotta find a way to win these tight games.
asserted
you → ’ → games
The Colts are home underdogs against Houston (0-2) on Sunday in a division matchup between two teams that came in with high expectations.
asserted
that → come → expectations
Jets coach Aaron Glenn also could end up on the hot seat at some point this season.
uncertain
Glenn → end → point
Dan Quinn and the Commanders are 0-2 but expectations are low after losing Jayden Daniels.
asserted
expectations → lose → Daniels
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
