GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t in a very good mood after the game Thursday night. It’s hard to fault him after the Packers lost 34-20 to the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.

So when LaFleur used phrases like “humiliating” and “they whooped us,” it was a revealing bit of insight. Many observers expected the Packers to be in an awkward transition year. LaFleur would rather keep winning.

At 2-2, the Packers are a youthful stew of good and bad. After so many years of being a Super Bowl contender, this is a bit jarring for everyone. Maybe that explains why the Packers were booed off the field when they trailed 27-3 at half Thursday night.

Unlike Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, there would be no miracle comeback this time. The Packers are left to deal with difficult realities. They’re not running it well and they’re not stopping the run. Net yards rushing totals were 211 for the Lions and a paltry 27 for the Packers.

All of us would like this roster turnover transition to be smooth and seamless. Thursday night was a not so gentle reminder that this season won’t always be pretty or easy to watch.