Unscripted offense needs more work
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers improved to 2-0 on the season and took over first place in the NFC North with a 21-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field.
Owczarski’s observation
The Packers opened the game on fire, scoring 21 unanswered points on their first three possessions. The offense looked sharp, moved in rhythm, and Aaron Rodgers got Davante Adams going early. But after their third touchdown at the 14-minute, 16-second mark of the second quarter, they did not score another point.
While that means the unscripted offense needs a bit more work, the Packers were able to lean on the defense yet again. Despite allowing two long scores, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s crew was able to stop the run just enough and eventually turning Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins over when it mattered most.
5 things to watch revisited
Turning tables on Vikings: The Vikings have had recent success against the Packers, going 5-1-1 overall and 2-1-1 at Lambeau Field heading into Sunday. At the outset Matt LaFleur’s bunch jumped out to a 21-0 lead, but they weren’t able to bury their rivals to the north. That said, the victory stemmed the tide.
Davante Adams vs. Xavier Rhodes: Rhodes had traveled with Adams since 2017, save for the slot, and this matchup was in the spotlight early. The Packers clearly wanted to get Adams going and they went to him four times for four catches in the first quarter. The ball was spread out more evenly after that, but if needed Rodgers felt Adams would be open in key spots, including a late catch for a first down that sealed the game.
Bearing down?: Last week Pettine used a “Bear” front to stop the run (The “Bear” front is five players across the line of scrimmage with the three defensive linemen covering the center and two guards, often leaving corners in man coverage). Pettine did unveil that package at times Sunday, especially if it felt like a clear run play.
Mixed messaging: Pettine likes to mix up his pressures with multiple personnel groups and Sunday was no different. He blitzed with his safeties and sent different combinations of outside linebackers, including working in Kyler Fackrell and Rashan Gary. The Packers didn’t get to Cousins that often, however, with one sack and six hits, though Kenny Clark did force a Cousins fumble on his sack.
Did the home-field emphasis work?: The Packers unveiled new video messaging to help get the home crowd fired up – but the loudest the stadium got was in the first quarter when the offense scored on three straight possessions and the defense forced a turnover. After the offense stagnated and the Vikings began working their way back into the game, no amount of manufactured enthusiasm could replace the good play of the first quarter and the late stands by the defense.
Game ball Kevin King
After watching Stefon Diggs run by him for a 45-yard touchdown that made it 21-16, the third-year Packers cornerback rallied and came up with a huge interception in the end zone as Cousins tried to find Diggs again to take the lead.
See, what had happened was…
With just under two minutes left in the first half, after a quick throw from Rodgers to Geronimo Allison horizontal to the line of scrimmage did not gain the needed yard for a first down on third-and-1 at the Minnesota 25, LaFleur made the decision to go for it on fourth down rather than try a field goal to go up 24-7. Rodgers afterward explained that he thought it the Packers had made the first down. A run left by Jamaal Williams was quickly sniffed out by the Vikings defense, with Linval Joseph beating Corey Linsley quickly and swallowing up Williams. But Everson Griffen and Jayron Kearse were also quickly in the backfield in support and Williams lost two yards. The Vikings then went 60 yards in 34 seconds to kick a field goal of their own to make it 21-10.
5 Numbers 0
Catches by Packers tight ends.
2-0
Start by the Packers this season, marking the fifth time the team has done so since Rodgers took over as starter. They last started 2-0 in 2015.
3
Offensive pass interference penalties on the Vikings, including one that took a touchdown off the board.
23
Rushes for Packers running back Aaron Jones, a career-high.
100
Yards in penalties for the Vikings.
Next Gen stat of the day 20.84
Miles per hour Jones reached, fastest of all Packers ball carriers Sunday.
*per NFL Next Gen stats
Did you notice?
Rookie Elgton Jenkins replaced Lane Taylor at left guard for the third possession of the game late in the third quarter, despite the Packers opening up the game with two touchdown drives. Taylor came back into the game on the team’s fifth possession and remained in place for the rest of the first half. Jenkins would return in the second half, however. LaFleur declared Taylor the winner of a preseason competition between the two, but it would appear that competition is back on.
On Dalvin Cook’s 75-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Kenny Clark was not on the Packers’ defensive line. The Vikings were able to get a crease for Cook up front and then he took advantage with a burst upfield.
Play of the game
On first-and-goal from the Packers’ 9yard line with 5:10 to go in the game, Cousins lofted a pass to Diggs in the back corner of the end zone. King made up ground and made a leaping interception of Cousins to give the ball back to the offense.