The Sconi

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur is remaining flexible with his game plan, even after his team’s 23-7 season-opening loss to Central Division rival Minnesota as Vikings’ All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson abused the Green Bay defense for nine catches, 184 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think that’s something we’ll talk about each and every week, and every week’s a little bit different,” LaFleur told ESPN. “But we have a lot of confidence in our other corners out there too. It’s how exotic do you want to be and exactly what do you want to do?”

LaFleur’s defiance comes in the face of his team having to spend most of their postgame news conference defending its questionable defense in matching up against Jefferson. While some of the team’s defenders complained that they could have slowed Jefferson and maybe even won the game if they could have been moved, LaFleur said that sticking to Green Bay's zone plans for games would pay off eventually.

“If you want to change the structure of your defense, you could certainly do that,” LaFleur said, adding that he backed defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s decision to play zone, in part because of how Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell decided to run his offense and use Jefferson.

“There were many times throughout the course of that game where it wasn’t just a single motion, it was a double motion,” LaFleur said. “Now you’re talking about trailing a guy, whatever it may be, but you would have to commit to man coverage. I don’t know how else you get it done.”

After the game, Packers MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers complimented Jefferson, marveling he was the best in the game that day.

Later in the week, Rodgers, who lost his favorite target DaVante Adams in an offseason trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, continued his praise of Jefferson, adding he’s been a fan since he was in college at LSU and he believes he’s an outstanding player to watch.