The Green Bay Packers difficulties with finishing carried over from last year in their 39-22 Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers held a 12-point lead late in the third quarter and watched it evaporate just like they did too often last season. The Packers were outscored in the fourth quarter 22-0 in a game they had well within their grasp. Here are 10 things we learned as the Packers blew another big lead in their season opening loss to the Vikings.

Packers Blow Another Big Lead in Week 1 vs the Vikings, Number One: The Offensive Line Struggled Mightily

The Green Bay Packers offensive line has been a concern all offseason and those concerns proved accurate. The team was without starting left guard Aaron Banks who continues to be hampered by tendonitis in one of his knees. They replaced him with Donovan Jennings who got the start ahead of rookie Jager Burton.

Unfortunately, the Packers offensive line had few answers for Brian Flores and his blitz packages. Quarterback Jordan Love was sacked four times but was under constant pressure especially in the fourth quarter. The Vikings were credited with 15 quarterback hits in this game including seven by linebacker Dallas Turner.

When it mattered most, the Packers could not figure out the Minnesota blitzes and Love was constantly under pressure. That resulted in turnovers that helped turn the tide of the game.

The Packers must improve their pass protection, or the play of their skill position players will not be impactful.

Number Two: Matt LaFleur Took Points Off the Board and It Cost Them

Matt LaFleur made a tough decision early in the fourth quarter. With the Packers ahead 22-17, Trey Smack kicked a field goal that put the Pack up by eight points. However, the Vikings were offsides and LaFleur decided to take the points off the board and set up a 4th-and-1 try at the Minnesota 17.

The decision to go for it wasn’t the issue. But the play call on fourth down was. LaFleur opted for a traditional quarterback sneak rather than a tush push or a run pass option. Love was stuffed and the momentum of the game turned right there.

When your offensive line is the weak link on your roster, going for a straight quarterback sneak makes little sense. The tush push is nearly impossible to stop in short-yardage situations, but LaFleur did not choose to run that play. He also didn’t try to spread out the Vikings defense to find an opening. The sneak played to the Packers weaknesses and the Vikings strength. The Packers never recovered from this play and the bottom fell out shortly after that.

Packers Blow Another Big Lead in Week 1 vs the Vikings, Number Three: Justin Jefferson Had a Big Day

The Packers struggled to stop Justin Jefferson even though the Vikings had backup quarterback Carson Wentz in for most of this game. Jefferson caught eight passes on nine targets for 82 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored on a key two-point conversion in the fourth quarter that aided the Vikings comeback.

Neither Keisean Nixon nor Brandon Cisse were able to stop Jefferson and shading Xavier McKinney to that side didn’t seem to work well either.

The Vikings were able to take advantage of the Packers weaknesses on both sides of the ball and that is a big reason they were able to win the game.

Number Four: Christian Watson Shined

Wide receiver Christian Watson got his season off to a strong start. Watson caught five passes for 131 yards and two scores including a beautiful 81-yard touchdown catch. While he remains a great deep threat, Watson has rounded out his game and has developed into a strong all-round receiver.

Matthew Golden also played well with six catches for 95 yards and Tucker Kraft made three grabs for 65 more but in the end, it just wasn’t enough when the pass rush was constantly in Love’s face.

Packers Blow Another Big Lead in Week 1 vs the Vikings, Number Five: The Running Game Was a Non-Factor

The Packers running game failed to make an impact. We knew there would be questions without Josh Jacobs in the lineup. LaFleur opted to start Chris Brooks for his pass blocking. He was the most effective runner but as a team, the Packers ran 21 times for just 66 yards, a 3.1-yard average per carry.

MarShawn Lloyd led the team in carries with 13 and yards with 37, but he looked rusty despite a 12-yard gain that showed what he’s capable of.

The offensive line did not open many holes for the running backs and the running game never got on track. By the fourth quarter, the Vikings defense knew they could just tee off and pressure Love and they got home.

Number Six: Third and Fourth Downs Were Costly

The Packers failed on the key downs on both sides of the ball in this game. The offense went just 3-of-12 on third down (25 percent). On fourth down, they went 0-for-2 including the costly miss on the quarterback sneak.

Meanwhile, the Vikings offense converted 8-of-15 third downs in the game or 53.3 percent.

Yes, the Vikings were aided by some questionable penalty calls and five of their first downs came on penalties. But ultimately, when the game was on the line, the Vikings made the plays they needed to make, and the Packers came up short.

Packers Blow Another Big Lead in Week 1 vs the Vikings, Number Seven: Edgerrin Cooper Made Big Plays

After making lots of big plays as a rookie, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper saw his sacks and tackles for loss fall off in 2025. But he got off to a good start against the Vikings. Cooper tied for the team lead with seven total tackles. He also recorded a sack and two tackles for loss and added one quarterback hit.

Cooper actually made a second sack, but it was called back on a questionable illegal contact penalty on Javon Bullard.

The Green Bay defense will need more big plays from Cooper all season and this start was encouraging.

Number Eight: The Vikings Scored TDs on Their Last Four Drives that Mattered

The Packers tried to emphasize “finishing” this offseason after several late collapses last year and the results were more or less the same.

The Packers blew a 12-point lead and gave up touchdowns on four consecutive drives, one late in the third quarter and then the first three of the fourth quarter.

With the game on the line, the Packers caved and this has to be partially psychological at this point for this team.

LaFleur and the coaching staff need to stop the bleeding now as the Packers losing streak in the regular season is now up to five, six if you count the playoff loss last January in Chicago.

Packers Blow Another Big Lead in Week 1 vs the Vikings, Number Nine: Special Teams Were Mixed

There were good signs on special teams but also some costly breakdowns. Overall, things look better than they did last year but there are still things to clean up.

Smack made a 59-yard field goal and was good on 3-of-3 officially. He also made the kick in the fourth quarter that the team took off the board. However, he also missed an extra point.

The Packers got a 59-yard kick return from Bo Melton but also allowed a 68-yard kick return by the Vikings.

Minnesota converted on a key two-point conversion in the fourth quarter which hurt the Packers as well.

Overall, the special teams seem to be heading in the right direction but there’s still work to be done.

Number 10: Time to Regroup

Losing a lead and then a game to a division opponent hurts, but the way this team lost and how it lines up with last year’s late season collapse could have a real negative impact on this team psychologically.

The Packers cannot afford to start the season 0-2 as they travel to the Big Apple to face the 1-0 New York Jets.

So, the Packers really need to end their six-game losing streak and regain some confidence after this loss. LaFleur will have to have his team mentally prepared, and the game plan will have to be better to cover up for the weaknesses along the offensive line.

It’s tough to say the Packers face a must-win game in Week 2, but this is close to one.

 

 

 

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