The Green Bay Packers fell behind by 17 points after three quarters and mounted a comeback that fell just short in a 27-25 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers had no answer for Sam Darnold who threw for 377 yards while the Green Bay passing attack struggled until late in the game. Once again, the Packers hurt themselves with ill-timed penalties and mistakes in a game they easily could have won. The loss dropped the Packers to 11-5 on the season while the Vikings are now 14-2. Here are 10 things we learned from the Packers 27-25 loss to the Vikings in Week 17:
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Vikings, Number One: The Packers Got Minimal Pressure on Sam Darnold
The Packers defense could not get much pressure on Darnold. The Packers managed only one sack and four quarterback hits in the entire game. The only sack was a coverage sack where the Vikings quarterback held the ball too long because no receiver was open.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley dialed up many blitz combinations, but the Packers just couldn’t get home. The Packers lost Devonte Wyatt to a possible concussion in the first half, and he didn’t return. Wyatt usually provides pressure on the inside of the line and his absence was felt.
With all that time to throw, Darnold was able to pick apart a Green Bay secondary that was missing Jaire Alexander and Evan Williams.
Without pressure, good quarterbacks can exploit any secondary and Darnold did that all game against the Packers. The Vikings gained 441 yards and only punted twice all game.
Number Two: Josh Jacobs Scored Again But…
Josh Jacobs averaged 4.1-yards per carry but when the Packers fell behind, his impact was limited in the second half.
Jacobs also had a costly fumble on the opening drive that ended a promising start to the game for the offense. The turnover prevented the Packers from getting the early lead and taking control of the game.
The Packers offense got away from two things that had been successful for them in recent games once they fell behind. They didn’t use any wide receivers on jet sweeps or end arounds, and they didn’t complete any passes to their running backs that counted.
Jacobs scored a touchdown in the second half. That is the seventh straight game he has scored a touchdown in this season. The last Packers running back to accomplish that was Paul Hornung who did it 64 years ago in 1960.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Vikings, Number Three: Edgerrin Cooper Continues to Shine
Rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper continues to make big plays for the defense. He finished second on the team with 10 total tackles including four tackles for loss. He did a good job of penetrating at the line of scrimmage and limiting the Minnesota running game.
The Packers need to get Cooper on the field as much as possible and live with the occasional rookie mistakes. His speed and playmaking ability creates big plays for a defense that needs them.
Number Four: Carrington Valentine Came Up with Another Big Play
The Packers were trailing 20-3 late in the third period and the Vikings had the ball with a chance to put the game away. That’s when cornerback Carrington Valentine stepped up and made his second interception in three games to keep the Packers hopes alive.
Valentine fumbled but the Packers were fortunate to recover the loose ball. That set up Jacobs’ touchdown run to get Green Bay back to within 10 points.
Valentine appears to be getting more comfortable and is making more big plays for the Green Bay defense. This is vital especially because the team cannot count on Alexander returning to the lineup any time soon.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Vikings, Number Five: Penalties and Turnovers Hurt
The Packers reverted back to sloppy and preventable penalties and turnovers that hurt them in this game. The team took illegal formation penalties and just prevented themselves from sustaining drives on offense or having the defense get off the field.
The costliest penalty was a questionable call in the closing seconds of the first half. The officials ruled that the Packers had lined up offsides on a long field goal attempt that the Vikings missed. They got a second chance and kicked the field goal which made the score 13-3 at halftime. The Packers ultimately lost the game by two points, so the field goal was critical.
But other Packers penalties wiped out significant gains including an impressive 19-yard touchdown run by Jacobs that was pure highlight reel material.
Heading into the playoffs, the Packers cannot afford to hurt themselves with preventable penalties against top competition. That showed in this loss in Minnesota.
Number Six: The Vikings Picked On Javon Bullard
Javon Bullard returned to the lineup for the Packers, but he didn’t play well. Darnold looked to pick on the rookie throughout the game and he was successful doing that.
Bullard led the team with 11 total tackles due to the fact that the Vikings kept completing passes to the receivers he was covering.
This will hopefully be a learning experience for the promising rookie. He would be helped by the return of Alexander or Williams or even perhaps both, for the playoffs.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Vikings, Number Seven: The Packers Couldn’t Stop the Vikings Receivers
Because Darnold had a lot of time to throw, the Vikings receivers were able to get open. Early in the game, the Vikings used Justin Jefferson as a decoy. He had only two catches for 13 yards at the half. The Packers paid him a lot of attention and that freed up Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, and T.J. Hockenson for big gains.
In the second half, Jefferson got more involved in the offense, and he finished the game with eight catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. His long catch went for 37 yards. He also helped the Vikings convert some critical third downs.
The Vikings have a deep and talented receiving corps. The Packers depleted secondary had no answers for them without a strong pass rush.
Number Eight: Matt LaFleur Made Some Questionable Decisions
Head coach Matt LaFleur surprised many fans with his decision making in this game. Late in the first quarter with the game still scoreless, the Packers faced a 4th-and-3 situation at the Minnesota 4. LaFleur elected to go for the field goal. Brandon McManus hit from 22 yards out and the Packers held a 3-0 lead. That would be their only lead of the game.
In the second quarter with the Packers trailing 7-3, Green Bay had the ball at the Vikings 23 and faced a 4th-and-2. Here, LaFleur elected to go for it. Jordan Love threw an incomplete pass intended for Jayden Reed and the Packers turned the ball over on downs.
Minnesota proceeded to march down and score a field goal on a 10-play, 69-yard drive aided by a pass interference call on Keisean Nixon that gave the Vikings 17 yards.
The decisions weren’t consistent and LaFleur probably should have attempted the field goal in the second quarter to pull the Pack to within a point.
Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Vikings, Number Nine: Karl Brooks Made Big Plays
Backup defensive lineman Karl Brooks quietly had a big day. Brooks recorded the Packers only sack of the game. He also had a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit. The second-year man out of Bowling Green also knocked down a pass.
Brooks also hustled and recovered Valentine’s fumble on the interception return. That helped prevent a discouraging turn of events for the Pack. Green Bay scored on the ensuing drive.
Brooks made his time in the lineup count and that’s what you need from your role players and backups.
Number Ten: The Packers Can Play with Any Team but Need to Beat An Elite Foe
The Packers have now lost five games this season and they have all come to elite NFC opponents. They’ve lost to the Eagles once and the Lions and Vikings twice each.
All the games were close, but the fact that the Packers are 0-5 against the league’s elite teams is discouraging. These are the teams the Packers will have to defeat to advance in the playoffs.
Based on their play over the season, it’s certainly possible the Packers could beat any of these teams. But even one win against these opponents would have given this young team a boost of confidence heading into the postseason.
Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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