Green Bay Packers rookie kicker Trey Smack bounced back in a big way during Sunday's 45-27 win over the New England Patriots, and coach Matt LaFleur said he saw it coming after a few subtle changes made by special teams coordinator Cam Achord and a great week of practice.

Smack, after missing six total kicks during the month of October, started November by making all seven of his kicks on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

"It was big time. We saw it in practice, quite honestly," LaFleur said. "We switched some things up in terms of his approach, and he was attacking the football all week in practice. He was crushing it. I think it was a reflection of his practice performance."

Smack hit all three field goals, including a 51-yarder, and all four extra points. Sunday marked just the fourth game that Smack didn't have a missed field goal or extra point during the first nine weeks.

As expected, the rookie is going through ups and downs. The Packers have preached patience from the start, knowing Smack is talented but understanding he would need to build mental resiliency in the fire. The talent is obvious -- Smack is 3-for-3 on kicks over 50 yards this season -- but a kicker must be able to weather the storm.

It's possible Smack has been through the worst of it and is now ready to settle in.

The Packers are 6-3 and looking formidable at the midway point of the season. Kicker is a point-scoring position, and the margins are so thin among the best teams in the NFL. LaFleur's team needs Smack to level out and be at his best down the stretch of 2026.