From the moment the schedule was released, I slightly dreaded this game. Nothing to do with the Packers or the Vikings at all, but the game fell on the day I was standing up as a groomsman for a friend's wedding. My prayers that the Packers would be on a Bye week or play Thursday or Monday night this week went unanswered. I would have to resort to only watching a little bit of the game and listening to the rest when I had the chance. Well, obviously I didn't miss much. More like I didn't miss anything at all. 

Once again this Packers offense couldn't go anywhere in the first half. The struggles continued with drops and moving the football in general. It's hard to find where the blame lies. When it comes to the offense we've heard from Matt LaFleur already that he needs to work on putting together a better opening script of plays for the offense. Well, this is a few weeks after he initially said that. Perhaps we just need to not script at all. Maybe we just need to wing it and call whatever comes to mind like it's the fourth quarter or something. Or perhaps Matt LaFleur needs to hand over play-calling duties to someone else. On a team with Aaron Jones, there's no good reason Jordan Love should be the top rusher with only 34 yards. You can't blame it on being behind as a reason for the lack of carries for Jones. Minnesota wasn't out to a big lead until the 2nd half. Aaron Jones' brother Alvin even tweeted disgust with the lack of touches for Jones after the game. This tells me that it may not be injury-related as we're led on. If Jones' brother is questioning it, there's a chance he knows the condition of his brother and thinks health shouldn't be a factor.

So many people want to blame the defense and Joe Barry for these losses. Well, I hate to say it, but those are ignorant thoughts. Barry may have some boneheaded calls at times, but for the most part, this is all on the offense as the defense has held for the most part and kept the Packers in the game up until late. The offense needs to step up and get something together earlier than the 3rd quarter. Three turnovers on downs? Two of which were done in the red zone? That's just terrible. This could have been a tied game with the Packers getting the ball back with 2:41 left in the game with a chance to win. But instead, we turned the ball over on downs in the red zone. 

Let's get to the recap:

First Quarter:

The Packers began their first drive of the game at their own 19-yard line after a short Keisean Nixon kick return. Things seemed like they were off to a good start after a Luke Musgrave 2-yard catch and an AJ Dillon 7-yard run putting the Packers at third and short. Jordan Love then threw a 20-yard completion to Romeo Doubs that seemed to get things going early but it was called back on an ineligible man downfield penalty on Rasheed Walker, instead walking them backward. Jordan Love's hard count was able to draw Jordan Hicks offside to make it 3rd and 1, but the Packers couldn't convert for the first down off an AJ Dillon run and were forced to punt. Minnesota would take over at their own 34 to begin their first drive. 

The Vikings' first drive of the game looked to be a good start for the Packers when they only allowed two yards pinning Minnesota with a 3rd and long. But as luck would have it, the Packers' defense couldn't get off the field as Kirk Cousins hit Jordan Addison for a 10-yard strike to convert for the first down. The Vikings began their march down the field with another third-down conversion and made their way to the Packers' 24-yard line mostly through the air before the drive finally stalled. Greg Joseph lined up for a 42-yard field goal to put the Vikings on the board, but it sailed just barely wide right, and instead, the game remained 0-0 With the Packers taking over at their own 32-yard line with 7:07 remaining in the opening quarter. 

To start the Packers' second possession we saw the first Aaron Jones sighting of the game as he took a handoff four yards to the GB 36. This though would be the only positive yardage the Packers would produce on this drive as two incompletions later, the Packers went three and out and would have Daniel Whelan take the field for the second time. After the punt, Minnesota would take over at their own 23-yard line with 6:07 remaining. 

Cam Akers got the Vikings a first down on their second drive with two runs totaling 11 yards before Cousins hit Jordan Addison on a deep pass for 25 yards to the Packers' 41-yard line. On the tackle of Addison though, Packers defender Jonathan Owens hit Addison up high and was flagged for unnecessary roughness. This would have made the play a 40-yard total gain, however, Matt LaFleur threw the challenge flag questioning the catch. It ended up Addison did not maintain possession of the football to the ground and it was ruled incomplete. However, the penalty still stood and it would be a 15-yard gain-off penalty for the Vikings instead of 40. That didn't quite matter though as on the following play, Kingsley Enagbare was flagged for roughing the passer marching the Vikings an additional 15 yards. The Packers got a small measure of revenge on the next play with a big run stuff by TJ Slaton, but it was again all for not as the Vikings continued their march down the field through the air and ended it with a 6-yard touchdown by Cam Akers. The extra point would put the score at 7-0 with 1:34 remaining in the quarter. 

I'm not sure whether or not the Packers' offense took the field or not after this as they went three and out once again marred by a Jordan Love sack for -12 yards by DJ Wonnum and a delay of game penalty. Jordan Love scrambled 9 yards on third down but it wasn't enough leaving 13 more yards needed and that was where the first quarter would end.

Second Quarter:

To start the second quarter, Daniel Whelan took the field a third time punting the ball 55 yards to the Minnesota 20-yard line where the Vikings would take over to start their third possession. 

On this drive, the Vikings made the Packers' secondary look fairly pedestrian. It was possible the Packers could've forced Minnesota to a three and out, but then third down happened. Cousins converted third down with a 21-yard pass to KJ Osborn and then two more passing plays and 38 yards later, Minnesota was on Green Bay's 14-yard line. Frustrating as that string of plays was, I had to hand it to the defense as they were able to tighten up after and force a field goal. The Minnesota lead stretched to 10-0 with 10:13 remaining in the second quarter. 

After the field goal, the Packers were handed a gift as the Greg Joseph kickoff would sail out of bounds giving Green Bay great starting field position at the Minnesota 40-yard line for their next drive. Would the Packers' offense respond to this gift? In short, no. Instead after a holding call on Jon Runyan, the Packers would go backward where they were faced with a 3rd and 16, and again, Jordan Love would scramble to only pick up about half the yardage needed for the first down, forcing fourth down. After the Whelan punt, Minnesota would take over at their own 25-yard line with 8:14 remaining in the half. 

On their fourth drive of the game, finally, the Packers' defense was able to get off the field forcing a punt. After only converting one-third down attempt off a KJ Osborn 11-yard catch, Minnesota was unable to follow up and was forced to punt. Hopefully, the Packers offense could build off this momentum created by the defense to get some points on the board. 

With 4:56 remaining on the clock of the first half the Packers' offense took over at their own 15-yard line and needed something positive bad. Finally, on 3rd and 6, Jordan Love hit Christian Watson for an 11-yard gain to the Packers' 30-yard line causing the crowd to erupt as it was the Packers' first conversion of the entire game. On the very next play though, Packer fans got a scare as Danielle Hunter forced an Aaron Jones fumble after a 7-yard catch. Luckily Elgton Jenkins recovered. After this, the Packers kind of had a mixed bag of fortune and misfortune as an 11-yard pass to Romeo Doubs was challenged and ruled incomplete. However, Minnesota had received a penalty for too many men on the field still pushing the Packers up five yards anyway. But as if it were part of the greater plan, the very next play Christian Watson was called for offensive pass interference as he blocked a defender downfield before the ball was caught on a short incomplete pass to Luke Musgrave. This marched them back 10 more yards. Between Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon the Packers overcame that penalty and got into Minnesota territory where on first down, Jordan Love completed a short pass to AJ Dillon for 16 yards and down the Vikings 28-yard line. Unfortunately, though, the excitement was short-lived as Jordan Love was sacked the following play. They recovered from the sack with two catches from Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave down to the Minnesota 17, but with time running out on the half they only had one shot that fell incomplete before they had to settle for a field goal to end the half. Anders Carlson lined up for a 35-yard field goal and sadly hit the right upright, no good. But wait, Minnesota defender Jay Ward was offside, and instead the ball would be moved up 5 yards where Carlson would attempt it again on an un-timed down. This time, Carlson split the uprights and the Packers would enter halftime down 10-3.

Third Quarter:

At the start of the second half the Packers had hoped being only down one score, they could turn this dismal game around. Well, that wasn't the case. Instead on the Vikings' first possession of the half, Kirk Cousins essentially shredded the Packers' defense through the air with KJ Osborn. Including a 32-yard catch and run by Osborn, he received 60 receiving yards total on four catches. On top of that was 12 more yards through the air and Cousins hit TJ Hockenson in the end-zone for the touchdown putting the Vikings up 17-3 with 9:25 remaining in the 3rd quarter. 

Okay, time for the Packers to build off that last drive of the half and answer right? Unfortunately wrong. After two plays went for only two yards, Jordan Love took a shot on 3rd down to Jayden Reed. Reed seemed to catch the ball but either it was taken away or he lost possession of it right into the hands of Minnesota's Josh Metellus at the Packers' 37-yard line. Metellus then returned the INT 43 yards to the Packers' 20-yard line where Minnesota would take over.

It only took one play and Minnesota scored when Kirk Cousins hit Jordan Addison for a 20-yard touchdown. Minnesota was now up 24-3 with 7:48 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

In what was beginning to be desperation, the Packers offense hit the field and after four plays, they were rolling. On the fourth play of the drive, Jordan Love hit Jayden Reed on a deep pass for 31 yards and they were down to the Vikings' 32. Two AJ Dillon catches for 16 yards later and they were knocking on the door in the red-zone. Aided by a pass interference call and three Aaron Jones touches, the Packers found first and goal to go at the Minnesota 1-yard line. But two AJ Dillon run attempts were stopped, a Christian Watson target fell incomplete, and fourth down came quickly. That was when the Packers elected they had no choice but to go for it and Jordan Love hit Romeo Doubs in the endzone for the touchdown. The score was brought to 24-10 Minnesota with 2:39 remaining in the quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, it looked like the Packers' touchdown celebration was short-lived as Ty Chandler took the kick 103 yards for a touchdown. However, it would be negated due to a holding call on Minnesota instead, pushing them back to their own 24-yard line to start the drive. The Packers' defense gave up a quick first down on the drive but on the next play, Rashan Gary blew up an Alexander Mattison run resulting in a loss of 7 yards.

The third quarter would end shortly after.

Fourth Quarter:

To start the fourth quarter, Minnesota seemingly could not recover from the earlier loss of yards as their third down play wouldn't go the distance needed to move the chains, but Rashan Gary giveth, and Rashan Gary taketh away unfortunately, as the edge rusher would be called for roughing the passer giving Minnesota the first down and 15 yards. Minnesota then marched downfield to the Green Bay 13-yard line highlighted by a 20-yard pass to TJ Hockenson. The Packers' defense then took over sacking Kirk Cousins on two straight plays, one from Preston Smith, and the other from Kenny Clark to stall the drive at the Packers' 26. Minnesota would attempt a field goal but it would be blocked by Karl Brooks and recovered by Jonathan Owens who would run the ball to the Packers' 44-yard line before being pushed out of bounds. Notable after this drive, Kirk Cousins left the game with an apparent injury which was later ruled to be an Achilles injury and he would not return to the game. Jaren Hall would take over as Quarterback. 

With the gift from the Special Teams unit, the Packers took over with 9:50 remaining in the game looking to make it a one-score game. Through the air, Jordan Love hit Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, and Jayden Reed on three passing plays to get down to the Minnesota 15. After that nice progress though, outside of an Aaron Jones 5-yard run, Love threw two incompletions, and eventually a third on fourth down, and the Packers turned the ball over on downs with 7:15 remaining.

With Minnesota taking over on downs, the Packers' defense took over as on third down Preston Smith sacked new Vikings QB Jaren Hall forcing a fumble that was recovered by Devonte Wyatt at the Minnesota 15-yard line. It was like the previous turnover on downs never happened and the Packers were back in business. 

Well, with 6:01 remaining, and excitement renewed, unfortunately, we got the same result. On second down Jordan Love was sacked losing 7 yards and a play later the Packers attempted 4th and 16 where Love scrambled for a first down but fell just short one yard. Again, a turnover on downs with 4:54 remaining and this game is starting to appear over. 

Minnesota took over and strung together six plays to run some clock down highlighted by a TJ Hockenson 16-yard catch and run. But Minnesota was forced to punt. After the punt, the Packers would take over at their own 30 with 2:53 remaining. 

Green Bay's offense got off to a good start on what would be their final drive. Two passes to Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks resulted in a total of 51 yards and the Packers were at the Minnesota 34. This is as far as they would go though as two incompletions later Jordan Love was sacked by Danielle Hunter. Love fumbled on the play but the ball was recovered by Zach Tom. The next play Love would attempt to hit a deep pass to Romeo Doubs but it would fall incomplete turning the ball over on downs for the third time and sealing the game. 

Minnesota would kneel the ball twice and take the win 24-10.

Offensive Player of the Game:

Jayden Reed is going to get my Offensive Player of the Game award this week. Four catches for 83 yards. His longest catch was 34 yards. Jayden Reed has been a bright spot on this team for the most part. He has had his share of drops though. But most rookies do. I will agree that the interception that was seemingly taken right from him was a knock against him for this game, but honestly, tell me who else deserves the offensive MVP after this dismal performance? 

Defensive Player of the Game:

I'm going to go with Preston Smith for the Defensive Player of the Game. His two sacks killed drives for Minnesota and one forced a fumble that after the Devonte Wyatt recovery could've turned the tide on this game if the offense had just executed. I have to give an honorable mention to TJ Slaton who had some big tackles for losses and was fairly disruptive in this game showing up for seemingly the first time this season.

What Went Right:

This goes to TJ Slaton and that's about it. Slaton was running everywhere in this game and hopefully can build on being one of the only shining beacons in this game to make an impact further on down the road.

What Went Wrong:

Penalties, this team seems to love the yellow flags. Penalized 11 times for 99 yards. Several of them were personal fouls in terrible situations. We're not that good of a team to begin with. No need to bury it further with penalties.

And catching. I don't think there's a receiver on this team that didn't have a drop today. Or even more than one. Sure yes, occasionally Jordan Love misses a receiver, but when he does hit them, it would be nice if they'd hang on. I think we need to channel Clifford Franklin from the movie The Replacements and sneak stick-um on their hands just to come down with something.

Next week, the Packers will be at home again in Green Bay to take on the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams will be coming off their 43-20 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys where they lost their Quarterback Matthew Stafford to a thumb injury. We'll have to keep an eye on that to see if they'll have Stafford vs the Packers in week 9. I'm not sure what I want. If Stafford doesn't play I'll have too much of a fear of the Packers losing to the backup adding to the embarrassment of this season. Either way, the Rams have also struggled a bit this season and sit at a 3-5 record. It could be a chance to grab a win from the clutches of pure shame, but I'm going to try not to get my hopes up too high. We've all gone sort of numb to the Packers' woes right now and I think the proper quote to wrap up this recap is just, Go Sports.