Week 17 opponent: What the Packers are saying

Every week during the regular season we get an opportunity to talk with the opposing head coach via conference call. This week it was Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. I also scanned the Green Bay media websites and the Packers website to see what else Packers players and coaches are saying about this week’s matchup with the Lions in the regular-season finale Sunday at Ford Field.

Here’s what they had to say:

1. Don’t expect the Packers to take the Lions lightly, despite going into the game as 12.5-point road favorites.

“I think our guys understand what’s at stake,” LaFleur told packers.com Tuesday, as the Packers need a win in Week 17 to secure a first-round bye and stay in the hunt for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

“This game has huge implications,” he said. “You get that bye you’re automatically one round further in the playoffs, and certainly we’d love for every game to come through Lambeau.”

Packers outside linebacker Preston Smith told packers.com that no one in the locker room is riding on a high horse after winning the division. He says the locker room has done a good job refocusing and looking toward a bigger goal on Sunday.