Packers coach Mike McCarthy met with reporters Wednesday in Green Bay. Toward the end of the press conference, McCarthy was asked a few questions about his 5-8 team's mental state heading into a matchup with Jacksonville.

Here is an excerpt from the briefing. For a complete transcript, check out the team's Web site -- packers.com.

Question: How much do things snowball for a team, good or bad?

Mike McCarthy: Snowball, I could see why you are asking that, but it can go one way or the other. That's why I think reality is so important. You have to be a realist and look at the full body of work. We don't have a very good record right now. I am aware of that, but I don't think we are a bad team.

I think there are a lot of positives on our football team. We're not doing enough, and we can sit here and cut it up any way we want through all three phases, offense, defense, and special teams. You have to stack success. It breeds confidence. It gives you momentum and those are things you want to carry over.

We talk a lot about the negatives in here, understandably why, but the most important thing is when you do something well and it a positive, you need to do that better also. That's the stuff we need to do a better job of carrying forward.

When we were playing well in the passing game, we need to play better the following week. We just can't say we've kind of got that part figured out. It doesn't work that way in this league because you have to overcome. One side of the ball doesn't always play well, and the other side has to pick it up for them. That's really my disappointment as a leader is to get one side to pick it up for the other."

Question: Have you ever been around a team where the effort level slid late in the season? Is there any way to prevent that, or is it more about player selection, the types of players you bring in here?

Mike McCarthy: I just go by what happened today. They practiced hard again. Our tempo was in the plus category like it has been all year, and that is the job of the coaches. We need to hold them accountable to make sure the work is done right. We don't have an effort problem, never have, don't' foresee it being here. Ask our opponents. It's getting a little old hearing the opposing coaches compliment your football team when you are on the losing side of it. I'm not concerned about effort. Our guys play hard.

Question: What do you talk about with the guys this week, motivationally?

Mike McCarthy: It's time to fight, and I'm not talking about when a guy is blocking late after the whistle. It's time to fight our way out of this hole that we created. We're in this position for a reason, and it's time to fight in every aspect of our play. We need to make sure we fight through answering these types of questions and don't be pulled down. Fight through adversity that's going to happen Sunday like it does every week, and I fully expect us to fight our way out of this position with a win this week.