Nothing to Love: Packers Lose Fourth Straight, 24-10 vs. Vikings
GREEN BAY, Wis. – There’s a lot that determines winners and losers in the NFL. More often than not, though, the quarterbacks are the overriding factor.
And so it was on Sunday, with Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings beating Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers 24-10 at Lambeau Field.
The Packers (2-5) have lost four consecutive games, including at the Raiders following their mini-bye, at the Broncos after their full bye and Sunday upon their long-awaited return home.
“Well, that was obviously tough to watch,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “Just way too many mistakes. Penalties, drops, not being able to convert on third down. Conversely, not getting off the grass on third down. Struggles in the red zone. Starting the game out, four three-and-outs. Extremely disappointed, and we’ll find out everybody in that locker room, what we’re all made of.”
Love, again, wasn’t good enough. When he had opportunities, he missed the mark at times. Other times, there simply wasn’t anyone open. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores didn’t bother to unveil his multitude of blitz packages. Like coordinators before him, he dropped his players into coverage with the belief that the Packers couldn’t make enough plays.
He was right as the Vikings improved to 4-4 following their 0-3 start.
“It's frustrating, man. I'm frustrated. Everybody in that locker room's frustrated,” Love said. “Plain and simple, we're not winning.”
After carving up the 49ers on Monday night, Cousins did the same against the Packers. He was 23-of-31 passing for 274 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a torn Achilles that did a lot more than end his day. When Jaren Hall replaced him with 7:15 to go, Cousins’ 122.2 passer rating was about 47 points higher than Love’s 75.4.
“We’ve got to make some plays for him,” LaFleur said of Love, who finished 24-of-41 passing for 229 yards.
Cousins’ injury, not unlike Saints quarterback Derek Carr’s injury in Week 3, gave the Packers a chance for a come-from-behind victory.
Preston Smith’s third-down sack/strip with about 6 minutes to go gave Green Bay more than just a pulse. However, starting from the Vikings’ 15, Love was sacked on second down and was tackled short of the marker on a fourth-and-16 scramble.
On third-and-8 from the 8, Hall hit big-time tight end T.J. Hockenson for 16 yards and a critical first down that drained a couple more minutes from the clock.
Starting from their 20 with 2:41 to play, Love had Romeo Doubs streaking deep for what might have been an 80-yard touchdown. The ball was overthrown. A couple plays later, Love had Christian Watson sprinting toward the end zone for what might have been a 34-yard touchdown. That ball was overthrown, too.
“We didn't make plays right there at the end. We had opportunities and it's on everybody on offense,” Love said. “Myself, it's too bumpy right now. I need to find consistency in my play.”
Packers QB Jordan Love is sacked.
Photo by Benny Sieu/USA Today Sports Images
The Packers somehow trailed only 10-3 at halftime. Not for long, though.
The Vikings breezed right down the field to start the second half. Cousins was 7-of-8, with a 32-yard completion to wide-open K.J. Osborn on third-and-9 and a 2-yard touchdown to T.J. Hockenson on third-and-goal.
The Packers needed an answer. Instead, they put a nail in the coffin. On third-and-8, Love fired deep to Jayden Reed into triple coverage. The ball was slightly underthrown and safety Josh Metellus made the grab. His 43-yard return set up the Vikings at the Packers’ 20.
“It comes down to execution, making those plays, me making better throws and guys just going out there and competing and winning when the ball’s in the air,” Love said.
On the next play, Cousins looped a pass over the head of Jaire Alexander to rookie receiver Jordan Addison for the touchdown.
Green Bay answered that touchdown with its first of the day. After three consecutive plays from the 1, Love hit Romeo Doubs for the touchdown to give the Packers a glimmer of hope on a cold and dreary Sunday.
They had more hope as the teams changed sides for the fourth quarter for a third-and-11. Cousins’ checkdown went nowhere but Rashan Gary was called for roughing the passer, a bang-bang play that probably wouldn’t have been flagged 10 years ago.
The Packers were outclassed for 26 minutes but trailed only 10-3 at halftime.
It was 10-0 when Green Bay took possession with 4:54 remaining in the first half. At that point, the Vikings held a 13-0 edge in first downs and the Packers had more penalty yards than total yards.
When the Packers finally got their first first down of the game, an 11-yard pass to Christian Watson on third-and-6 with 4 minutes to go, the crowd roared. The Packers turned that first down into a 30-yard field goal by Anders Carlson on the final play of the first half. Carlson’s initial kick hit the right upright but the Vikings were flagged for offside, giving the rookie kicker a mulligan.
It was another absolutely horrendous start for the Packers, who’ve been outscored 73-9 in the first half of their last five games. Green Bay started with four consecutive three-and-outs before their scoring drive and finished the first half with 98 yards. Making matters worse, Green Bay was penalized eight times for 69 yards.
The only touchdown came on Cam Akers’ 6-yard scoring run. It was the Vikings’ first rushing touchdown of the season.
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