Jordan Love didn’t hide from the frustration after Green Bay let a winnable opener slip away against Minnesota.
The Packers had their chances in Sunday’s NFC North matchup, including a stretch where they were in position to make things very interesting late. But a fourth-quarter interception swung the game hard in the Vikings’ favor, and Minnesota finished off a 39-22 win at home.
That turnover was especially painful because of the situation on the drive. Green Bay was down 10, and a touchdown would have trimmed the margin to three. Instead, the Packers came away empty and watched the game move out of reach.
Love put the disappointment plainly afterward, saying, “It just sucks the way we ended that game right there,” via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
The Packers did move the ball well for much of the afternoon and stayed close for a good portion of the contest, but they couldn’t finish. Minnesota’s late surge erased Green Bay’s halftime advantage and turned the opener into a tough loss.
Carson Wentz took over after the Vikings lost Kyler Murray to a concussion early in the game, and he handled the moment cleanly. The veteran didn’t turn the ball over and threw three touchdown passes against the Packers defense.
After Sunday’s games, Green Bay is the lone NFC North team without a win. The season is only one week old, though, and the Packers will have a quick chance to respond when they host Geno Smith and the New York Jets on September 20.
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Special teams added to the frustration. Rookie kicker Trey Smack had a mostly steady day by putting through three field goals, but the missed extra point stood out in a one-score game where every point mattered. For Green Bay, the loss did not just show up in the final score - it exposed how thin the margin can be when the pass protection falters and a simple kick gets away. [Read more 🡒]
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Packers Fans Have Seen This Matt LaFleur Problem Before
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Matt LaFleur drew the most heat for a key fourth-quarter sequence, declining a defensive offside penalty and choosing a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1 that came up empty and led to a turnover on downs. LaFleur has acknowledged the teams issues closing out games, but this latest setback has only sharpened the criticism, because for Packers supporters it felt less like a one-off and more like a problem they have seen before. [Read more 🡒]