GREEN BAY – Matt LaFleur couldn't get his postgame press conference over fast enough.
"Getting ready for a quick turnaround right here," the Packers head coach said as soon as he stepped to the Lambeau Field podium after a 38-10 victory over the 49ers. "We'll enjoy it for a few minutes."
He actually wasn't kidding, because after leaving the podium, LaFleur was heading to his office to watch the game film, process it appropriately, and begin hammering out a game plan for the Dolphins, who visit in just four days on Thanksgiving night.
Such is life in the NFL on a short week.
"It's going to be a late night, let's just put it that way," LaFleur said, admitting he probably won't go home Sunday night. "We've got to put a plan together here hopefully by tomorrow at noon."
That's when the players will come in Monday, so while they're focused on whatever physical recovery is required with the condensed timeline, the coaches are grinding away on the X's and O's in order for the mental absorption of the game plan to begin forthwith.
"I'll watch this game tonight and kind of review it, but it'll be a very tight turnaround," QB Jordan Love said. "We'll start watching Dolphins probably tonight, as well, or for sure in the morning and then we're right to game-planning."
If there are any advantages in these tough situations, the Packers have two.
First, they're playing at home and don't have to travel Wednesday like the Dolphins do.
Second, Green Bay just had its bye two weeks ago, and LaFleur mentioned he used that time to get a head start on studying most of Miami's game film, knowing how tight this week would be.
"So I made my notes, had kind of a preliminary plan for that, and I've just got to watch a couple (more) games here," LaFleur said.
He did stress the primary objective is for the players to get their bodies back. On these short weeks, any practices are walk-throughs, or maybe jog-throughs at best to limit the physical demands.
Probably the best thing the Packers have going for them is some legitimate momentum after Sunday's runaway win. The ground game churned away, the offense went 5-for-5 in the red zone, and the defense generated three takeaways, all of which were turned into touchdowns.
Love also broke his interception streak, putting maybe just one of his 23 passes in harm's way and spreading his 13 completions around to seven different targets.
"Collectively as a whole, especially on offense, I feel we're getting back into a rhythm," Love said. "Just got to keep finding that consistency, but I like the things we did tonight.
"I do feel like we're kind of finding that stride and that groove."
LaFleur certainly liked what he saw from his quarterback, who appears as healthy as he's been since Week 1.
"The last two games he's looked pretty sharp," LaFleur said of Love. "Just his ability to move around … I mean he dropped some dimes in there tonight. I thought he was playing very decisive."
The only real concern is losing receiver Romeo Doubs to a concussion in the second half Sunday, but in his absence it was good to see Dontayvion Wicks haul in a 25-yard reception on second-and-11, with Malik Heath finishing off the last scoring drive with a TD catch on a short fade.
"That's unfortunate because I thought Rome was having himself a really great game," LaFleur said of Doubs' three catches for 54 yards, all on third downs on the same scoring drive in the second quarter. Doubs also drew a defensive pass interference in the end zone on the play that produced the head injury. "He came out, made some critical plays. He is very, very consistent.
"So if we don't have him, that's a big loss, but we do feel like it's going to open up opportunities for some of these other guys."
Miami has built its own momentum, too, having gotten QB Tua Tagovailoa back from a concussion a month ago. After losing two close, high-scoring games to the Cardinals and Bills upon his return, the Dolphins have now won three straight to get to 5-6 and stay in the AFC playoff hunt.
Miami has averaged 29 points per game over the five contests since Tagovailoa came back. Those two games LaFleur still needs to watch? The Dolphins scored 34 in each, allowing just a total of 34 to the Raiders and Patriots combined.
No rest for the weary.
"It feels like midnight already," LaFleur said at 7:02 p.m., shortly before leaving the podium.
Added Love: "Wednesday's here before you know it."
