GREEN BAY – There's so much to like about what the Packers have done offensively through four games this season.
They're scoring 26 points per game. They're first in the league in third-down efficiency. Quarterback Jordan Love's 113.0 passer rating ranks fourth. They scored on five consecutive drives while trailing in the second half and overtime in Dallas.
But there's plenty to shore up, too, whether it's the pre-snap penalties or untimely turnovers, as few as there've been. Or an opportunity for a big play that might've gotten away.
It's those blips and regrets Love is focused on as the Packers return from their bye and get ready to host the Bengals on Sunday at Lambeau Field. He believes he and the offense "got off to a great start," but that's all it is right now, a start.
"I think there's still room to keep improving, keep trying to be as consistent," Love said. "There's a couple of misses out there."
His biggest regret is the late interception in Cleveland, which spurred the Browns' fourth-quarter comeback. He also was strip-sacked in the waning moments of the first half in Dallas, leading to a Cowboys touchdown and another momentum shift.
To Love's and the offense's credit, they bounced back from those rough moments right away. In Cleveland, the Packers drove into field-goal range after the INT for a chance to win the game, but unfortunately the kick was blocked. In Dallas, the hiccup at the end of the first half was forgotten as the offense got rolling after halftime.
"You've always gotta flush it," Love said of those regrettable plays. "It's always that next-play mentality. Obviously, a negative play, turnovers, those things suck. It's how quickly can you flush it and move on?
"Because you're gonna have another situation, another opportunity to go down there, win a game and drive the team down the field … You've still gotta be confident in yourself, still go out there and not be hesitant to let the ball fly."
The scoring binge and 40-point total in Dallas wasn't a bad way to head into a week off, as putting together five straight productive drives when trailing on the scoreboard gets filed away positively in the collective psyche.
Tight end Tucker Kraft called it "just multiple guys with a will" to get that done, and even though the Cowboys game ended in a tie, the effort shouldn't be shortchanged.
"We put up 40 points," Kraft said. "We were out there making some great plays, so let's not take that away from the fact that we didn't win the game. Let's carry that into the next week."
Following the bye, the hope is the offensive line will be fully healthy for the first time since Week 1. Right tackle Zach Tom (oblique) and left guard Aaron Banks (groin) both practiced in pads Wednesday, albeit on a limited basis.
Receiver Christian Watson also has returned to practice this week from his long ACL rehab, but when he'll be back in action isn't certain.
Back to the starting five up front, getting that unit working together on a weekly basis could start to smooth out some of the rough edges. Banks feels it won't take long to get there once the group gets going again.
"We can come together pretty quick," he said. "We're only getting better. We need to continue to get better as a group and build our cohesion. Not that we don't have it, but there's always room to improve."
That sounds a lot like how Love feels about the offense as a whole.
Fast starts, which were a frequent issue last season, haven't been this year, as the Packers have scored a first-quarter touchdown in three of four contests.
But as Head Coach Matt LaFleur continues to harp on putting together a four-quarter performance, the struggles in Cleveland and the final drive in Dallas coming up short of the end zone loom as moments to rectify should those situations come up again.
"Now it's just trying to switch it over to ending these games," Love said. "Keeping that foot on the gas when we get a lead and just keep going, finishing better in some of these games.
"We've just got to put teams away."
