The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Loss To The Minnesota Vikings

SportsMoney The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Loss To The Minnesota Vikings Rob Reischel Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I report on the Green Bay Packers. Following New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

Got it! Sep 11, 2022, 07:36pm EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings linebacker D. J. .

. . [+] Wonnum on Sunday, Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

All rights reserved Perhaps next summer Matt LaFleur will play his starters in the preseason. For the second straight year, LaFleur bubble wrapped his team during the exhibition season. The only starters LaFleur played in Green Bay’s preseason games were his starting offensive line and rookie linebacker Quay Walker.

For the second straight year, the Packers were then whipped in their season-opener. On Sunday, Green Bay was out of sync from the start and was drilled by host Minnesota, 23-7. A year ago, the Packers were hammered by New Orleans, 38-3.

The last time Green Bay lost back-to-back season openers was 2013-14. “The right answer is whatever works,” LaFleur said last week when asked about not playing starters in the preseason. “I do think the majority of their guys, if you look at their roster, they’re in a similar spot as us.

They didn’t play the majority of their big time starters and we didn’t either. So it will be who can go out there and execute the best. ” On Sunday, that definitely wasn’t Green Bay.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly from the Vikings’ win over the Packers. THE GOOD RUN GAME: There weren’t many positives for the Packers, but Green Bay’s running backs were effective. MORE FOR YOU WWE Extreme Rules 2021 Results: Winners, News And Notes As Roman Reigns Beats The Demon The World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players 2021: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo Reclaims Top Spot From PSG’s Lionel Messi The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Win Over The San Francisco 49ers A.

J. Dillon had 10 carries for 45 yards (4. 5) and a touchdown.

Dillon also led the Packers with five receptions for 46 yards. Aaron Jones had just five carries, but ran for 49 yards (9. 8).

Jones also caught three passes for 27 yards. While the running backs did their part, few others on offense gave them any help. ROBERT TONYAN: The Packers’ tight end tore his ACL in Week 8 last season.

Tonyan’s recovery went extremely well and he made his return to the field Sunday. Tonyan finished with three catches for 36 yards. And for a Green Bay team with virtually no tight end talent behind Tonyan, his return was an enormous blessing.

“He looks great,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said of Tonyan last week. “He’s really gifted. He has great hands.

He’s a really intuitive route runner. He’s got great instincts. ” And fortunately for the Packers, Tonyan’s immense skill set was back on the field Sunday.

THE BAD RUN DEFENSE: Much was made all summer of Green Bay’s defense. And that unit could eventually become dominant. But the Packers’ run defense has been a problem for years, and Sunday was no different.

Minnesota ran for 126 yards on 28 carries and averaged 4. 5 yards per carry. Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook carried 20 times for 90 yards (4.

5) and Alexander Mattison added 36 yards on eight carries (4. 5). If the Packers want to become a elite defense, they have to be much more stout against the run.

STREAK HALTED: Rodgers threw his first interception against an NFC North team since Dec. 29, 2019. That came in the regular season finale against Detroit.

During his 12 divisional games since then, Rodgers threw 38 touchdown passes and zero interceptions. The Packers went 9-3 in those games. Late in the first half, though, Rodgers threw deep for Randall Cobb, but Minnesota safety Harrison Smith made a leaping interception.

Rodgers also lost a fumble in the third quarter after being sacked by linebacker Jordan Hicks. PROTECTION — OR LACK THEREOF: Rodgers was under duress all day, in large part because Green Bay was without starting tackles David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins. Without those two Pro Bowlers, Yosh Nijman started at left tackle and Royce Newman played right tackle.

With the line revamped, Rodgers was sacked four times and knocked down several more. Part of that was on Rodgers for holding the ball too long. But much of it was also on an overmatched offensive line.

“We feel good about our guys,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said last week. “Our guys are experienced and you know, we’re going to put the best five out there and try to put them in the best position possible, however that may be. Both Bakhtiari and Jenkins are returning from ACL injuries, but doing so at much different speeds.

Bakhtiari tore his ACL on Dec. 31, 2020 and has had three surgeries during his comeback attempt. Bakhtiari participated in team drills last Wednesday and Thursday, but did not practice Friday and was inactive Sunday.

, Jenkins tore his ACL in late-November last season, opened training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, then came off the PUP list on Aug. 21. While the Packers were cautiously optimistic both players would be ready for the opener, that wasn’t the case.

And Minnesota took full advantage. THE UGLY CONTAINING JEFFERSON: Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson is one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers. During his first two years in the league, Jefferson had 196 receptions, 3,016 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The way Jefferson ran free on Sunday, though, you’d think the Packers had never heard of him. Jefferson finished with nine catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. And on a handful of his receptions, Jefferson was left wide open.

Green Bay should have been double-teaming Jefferson on every snap. Instead, he was often singled up and made the Packers pay. CHRISTIAN WATSON: The rookie wide receiver had a chance to make his first play in a Packer uniform an unforgettable one.

On Green Bay’s first offensive snap of the season, Watson lined up wide right from the Packers’ 25-yard line and ran a go route. Watson whipped cornerback Patrick Peterson and Rodgers delivered a perfect pass. Watson was two steps behind Peterson and safety Harrison Smith was late to arrive.

The ball hit Watson in stride at Minnesota’s 30-yard line and he had a clear path to the endzone. Instead, the ball slipped through Watson’s hands in a play that was a forecast of things to come for Green Bay. FIRST HALF: The Packers were completely dominated in the first half and trailed, 17-0, at the break.

Minnesota outgained Green Bay, 262-100, and had 12 first downs to just six for the Packers. The Vikings averaged 7. 5 yards per play and Green Bay averaged 3.

8 yards per play. Minnesota averaged 7. 5 yards per pass play to 4.

3 yards for Green Bay. And the Packers’ five first half possessions went punt-punt-turnover on downs-punt-interception. Follow me on Twitter .

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