Green Bay Falls to Minnesota Once More
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Minnesota Vikings in Sunday’s highly anticipated rematch. Unfortunately, Green Bay’s effort to, well, actually play football in the fourth quarter fell short. It was a disappointing game, with the Packers failing to deliver quality football on their side of the field. Here’s what we can take away from this tough loss.
Inconsistent Pass Rush Highlights Offseason Needs Yet Again
Every season, it feels like the Packers need to focus on upgrading their pass rush. They've poured a lot of resources into improving it, and at times, it’s seemed to pay off. Against weaker offenses, Green Bay’s pass rush has been effective. Unfortunately, it was nowhere to be found at U.S. Bank Stadium. This game made it clear that the Packers need to invest in a proven veteran in free agency. Drafting a rookie in the first round is a long-term project, and Lukas Van Ness showed today that he’s still not quite ready.
On the other hand, the Vikings’ pass rush showed up and disrupted the Packers’ rhythm with three sacks. Meanwhile, Green Bay’s pass rush completely disappeared, giving Sam Darnold all the time he needed. This is the difference between a defense that gets the job done and one that doesn’t. In the postseason, there’s no room for pass rush disappearances because any quarterback in the playoffs will make defenses pay for giving them time.
The Packers’ Offense Looked Non-functional for Most of the Game
The game got off to a rough start with Josh Jacobs fumbling the ball, setting the tone for the rest of the day. The Vikings quickly punted it back, but the Packers' offense still couldn’t get anything going. Brian Flores' defense was all over them, focusing heavily on man coverage, and the Packers just had no answers. Whether it was the wide receivers struggling to catch the ball, penalties, lack of separation from receivers, the offensive line allowing pressure on Jordan Love, or Love’s lack of scrambling, the offense dug itself into a hole early. If the Packers can’t figure out how to handle man coverage, playoff defenses will definitely take advantage, potentially cutting their playoff run short.
The Fifth Seed Is Out of the Picture
The Packers are now fighting for either the sixth or seventh seed. Currently, they sit at the seventh seed after the Commanders’ win over the Falcons. It’s going to be a tough road from here. Even if they make it past the first round, they’ll face top-tier opponents like the Lions, Vikings, or Eagles, teams the Packers haven’t been able to beat this season. The path to a deep playoff run only gets tougher. This game has left many fans feeling more doubtful about the team’s chances. While they can handle weaker teams, they struggle to put it all together against the league's best.
The Packers have lost all of their divisional matchups except for a narrow win against the Chicago Bears. It’s crucial for them to beat the Bears again this upcoming Sunday, not just for seeding purposes, but to head into the playoffs with some momentum. A loss to the Bears would make it even harder to lift the team out of the dumps. Green Bay’s defeat to Minnesota has raised the big question of whether they can handle a fellow contender when it matters most.
