Packers dig another hole too deep to overcome in 27-25 loss to Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS – If the Green Bay Packers make anything of their upcoming playoff run, they’ll have to do something that eluded them throughout the entire regular season.
The Packers entered a hostile U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday hoping to prove they can beat the NFC’s elite. They were instead beaten 27-25 by the Minnesota Vikings, clearly playing second fiddle against their NFC North rival who remains one of the conference’s prime contenders in January.
In a game the Vikings led most of the way, the Packers had a chance inside the 2-minute warning to pull off what would have been a remarkable comeback. Sam Darnold lofted a short pass to running back Cam Akers on third-and-2, sealing the win.
The loss dropped the Packers to 11-5 this season. A respectable record, but all five losses have come against the Vikings, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles – the three NFC teams with better records than them. For a team knowing its playoff berth is secure, that could be a daunting mental hurdle to overcome in January.
Sam Darnold and Jordan Love: A quarterback discrepancy
Big games in this league often come down to the quarterback. On Sunday, the matchup between Jordan Love and Sam Darnold wasn’t close. The Packers’ thin secondary and inconsistent pass rush were no match for Darnold, who has resurrected his NFL career this year in Minnesota. Darnold completed 33 of 43 passes for 377 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for a 116.1 quarterback rating. Most impressive, whenever the Packers pass rush got close to him, he routinely escaped to make plays. His lone poor decision came in the third quarter throwing into double coverage to T.J. Hockenson near the left sideline, a pass Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine picked off. Darnold was otherwise not only ruthlessly efficient, but at the center of an explosive offense clicking on all cylinders. Love was neither efficient nor explosive, completing 19 of 30 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and a 91.7 rating. If the Packers are going to make a playoff run, it starts with the quarterback. Darnold played at a Super Bowl level. Love wasn’t close until it was much too late.
Christian Watson’s absence with knee injury removed any threat of downfield passing game
The Packers got no favors with Christian Watson inactive because of a knee injury. It’s never an excuse in this league when a key player is unavailable. That’s part of this sport for every team. But it was stunning how much Watson’s absence kneecapped the Packers offense. Without Watson, the Packers were missing any deep threat in their passing game. The one time Love targeted downfield was in double coverage to Bo Melton down the left sideline on third-and-5, a throw that had no chance. Since the bye, Watson had a catch of at least 36 yards in four of the Packers’ six games entering Sunday. Like most final numbers Sunday, Love’s 6.16-yard average per pass was misleading. Before a late rally, Love averaged an anemic 3.36 yards per pass into the fourth quarter. It only emphasized how critical it will be to have a healthy Watson for the postseason.
Josh Jacobs can’t let ball security become an issue entering playoffs
In his first 13 games, Josh Jacobs lost only one fumble. It came all the way back in Week 2. The Packers running back has lost two fumbles in the past three games, including on Sunday’s opening drive against the Vikings. The turnover ended a drive that had entered Vikings territory, on the fringe of field goal range after coach Matt LaFleur requested the football upon winning the opening coin toss. Jacobs was solid after his fumble, finishing with 69 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. If not for a large deficit most of the game, his numbers likely would have been even better. Jacobs’ 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was his 14th this season, moving into a tie atop the league with Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley, Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, Buffalo’s James Cook and the Los Angeles Rams’ Kyren Williams. Remarkably, Jacobs has 11 rushing touchdowns in his past seven games. But his recent fumbling is a concern. Jacobs can’t allow that to be an issue once the playoffs are here.
Edgerrin Cooper continues to flash potential to be a difference maker in Packers defense
There was one bright spot. Edgerrin Cooper is a stud. The rookie linebacker who has twice this season been named NFC defensive player of the week continued to ascend, leading the Packers with 11 tackles. Four tackles were for loss. Cooper’s explosion off the snap made him borderline unblockable, allowing him to consistently reach the backfield. The Packers slowly have increased Cooper’s playing time this season, allowing him to ease into his rookie season. It’s time to take the training wheels off. Cooper is showing he’s among the Packers’ best defensive players, someone who needs to stay on the field in all situations for the rest of this season.
Matt LaFleur lacked consistency deciding when to go for it on fourth down
Matt LaFleur picked a bizarre time to become conservative. Late in the first quarter, the Packers had a fourth-and-3 from the 4-yard line. With two good defenses, it seemed apparent touchdowns would be at a premium. This was a good chance to find the end zone. Instead, LaFleur called on his field-goal unit for a 22-yard chip shot, opening the scoring with a 3-0 lead. The Vikings scored a touchdown on their next drive, allowing them to seize early momentum with a 13-3 halftime lead. Even if the Packers had been stopped on fourth-and-goal, the Vikings likely would have been given a long field starting inside their 5-yard line. What compounded the problem was when LaFleur went for a fourth-and-2 from the Minnesota 23-yard line on their next possession. Love misfired on a throw to an open Jayden Reed on the play, an inaccurate pass that still should have been caught if not for a drop. If you pass on a field goal to go for it fourth-and-2 from outside the red zone, it’s hard to justify kicking a field goal within 4 yards of a touchdown.
(This story was updated to add a video.)