It was a gorgeous 72 degree day at Lambeau Field with nothing but good Sunday football vibes, but that quickly turned into a first half of misery as the Packers found themselves in 28-0 deficit. QB Jordan Love showed a lot of rust in his return making a lot of questionable Brett Favre-esque throws. Love finished 32/54 with 389 YD 4TD and 3 INT. WR Jayden Reed had a huge game finishing with 7 catches for 139 YD and a TD. Key defenders CB Jaire Alexander and CB Carrington Valentine were ruled out before the game and the GB defense did not wake up until the second half. In case you missed it, here is the recap:

In the first play of the game, former Packers RB Aaron Jones got the handoff for a 6-yard gain. On the next play, QB Sam Darnold threw a RB screen to Jones for a 12-yard first down gain. On second-and-9, QB Darnold felt pressure from the monster LB Lukas Van Ness throwing a dropped interception by LB Isiah McDuffie. On third-and-9, QB Darnold found a wide-open WR Jalen Nailor for a 31-yard completion. QB Darnold felt no pressure in the pocket and completed a 29-yard touchdown strike to WR Jordan Addison running past the GB secondary. Extra point was good by K Will Riechard giving the Vikings a 7-0 lead with 11:53 left in the first quarter.

QB Love’s first pass was a first-down completion to TE Luke Musgrave for a 4-yard gain. RB Josh Jacobs followed with a 13-yard gain getting the run game off to a hot start. Love found time in the pocket (beautiful o-line blocking) for a 24-yard gain to WR Reed setting up first down on the MIN 16-yard line. After getting MIN to burn a timeout, GB OL Elgton Jenkins got dinged for a false start. QB Love found a slanting WR Dontayvion Wicks, who dropped the ball failing to capitalize on the first down and a potential touchdown. K Brayden Narveson’s 37-yard kick hit the right cross bar missing the field goal. When it rains, it pours. 

Packers defense gives up a 17-yard gain to RB Jones tacking on 15 more yards with a LB Edgerrin Cooper face mask pushing MIN into GB territory. On third-and-1, QB Darnold lined up in shotgun and found space to scramble for a 9-yard gain. After a delay-of-game penalty, Darnold connected with WR Justin Jefferson, his first catch of the day, for a 5-yard gain. Packers continued with a carnival of penalties committing a pass interference by CB Eric Stolkes then a defensive holding on CB Keison Nixon setting up first-and-goal at the GB 3. On second-and-goal, QB Darnold found TE Josh Oliver for the TD. Extra point was good as Vikings lead 14-0 with 1:37 left in the 1st quarter. GB started their second drive with a handoff to Jacobs for a 2-yard loss. On third-and-7, the Packers continued to look out-of-sync as Love threw and ill-advised pass over the middle that got picked off by LB Kamu Gruiger-Hill injuring WR Christian Watson on the play. He was able to walk off on his own power but later got carted off and did not return. QB Darnold completed a 9-yard pass to TE Johnny Mundt concluding the first quarter. MIN 14 GB 0.

Second Quarter: Vikings 14 Packers 0

To quote the great Vince Lombardi, “What the hell is going on out there?” 

After a first down pick up by RB Jones continuing to make his presence felt in his Lambeau return, Darnold went right back to him on a RB screen for an 11-yard gain setting up first-and-goal at the GB 8. RB Jones. MIN scored on the very next play as QB Darnold handed the ball off to WR Addison on a jet sweep breaking CB Nixon’s ankles for the 8-yard TD. The extra point was good as a stunned Lambeau field faithful was left in a state of shock with the scoring being MIN 21 GB 0. On the Packers first play, QB Love found WR Romeo Doubs for his first catch on a 20-yard gain to the MIN 50. After QB Love connected with WR Reed for an 8-yard gain, GB picked up the hurry up offense and received an obvious defensive pass interference call all over WR Reed’s back. However, nothing continued to go the Packers way as Love got sacked for a big loss then threw an incomplete pass intended for TE Tucker Kraft setting up fourth-and-20. K Narveson missed a 49-yard field goal attempt, his second miss of the game (ouch), with 8:04 left in the second quarter. QB Darnold could have cooked a full course meal with how much time he had before throwing an incomplete pass on first-and-10. GB was able to stop RB Ty Chandler for a 2-yard gain setting up third-and-8. GB’s defense finally forced Darnold to throw a rare incomplete pass intended for WR Brandon Powell. MIN’s first punt of the game by P Ryan Wright took a couple fortunate bounces after WR Reed let it go eventually landing on the GB 6. 

On the third play of GB's next drive, QB Love threw a pass intended for WR Doubs that was tipped by TE Musgrave ending up in the hands of MIN CB Shaquill Griffin returning the INT 28 yards to the GB 4. After a MIN holding call pushed them back 10 yards, QB Darnold found WR Jefferson completing a 14-yard tight-squeeze touchdown catch. The extra point was good giving MIN a 28-0  lead with 5:28 remaining in the second quarter. QB Love continued to feel the pressure throwing two straight incompletions as MIN brought back-to-back blitzes. On third-and-10, Love found TE Tucker Kraft for a 21-yard gain. GB found themselves at third-and-1, but continued the mental mistakes as RB Emmanuel Wilson got called for a false start. GB finally got a break with an illegal hands to the face call giving GB the first down. On first-and-10, QB Love found WR Doubs over the middle, but was called back after MIN HC Kevin O'Connell challenged the play to which it was concluded an incomplete pass. A rare back-to-back challenge play occurred as pass ruled incomplete to WR Wicks was challenged by HC Matt Lafluer, but replay confirmed it was incomplete. On fourth-and-10, the Packers went for it as QB Love threw an incomplete pass in the end zone intended for WR Bo Milton turning over on downs with 2:04 remaining in the second quarter. 

On second-and-7 following the two minute warning, QB Darnold completed to TE Mundt for a 6-yard gain. GB’s defense held up on third-and-1 forcing a bad throw in coverage for an incompletion. MIN punt gave the Packers one more chance to add points before halftime. On third-and-2, QB Love threw another ill-advised pass to WR Doubs stalling the Packers' offense for a tough three-and-out. P Daniel Whelan kicked a high ball as MIN WR Nailor muffed the punt recovered by WR Melton. Since it was a fair catch muffed punt, GB could not advance for the special teams touchdown and started the possession at the MIN 3. On first-and-goal, Love completed to WR Doubs just short of the goal line. The refs missed a screaming HC Lafluer trying to call timeout and his aggressive uproar caused an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the head coach. On the MIN 15 with 20 seconds left in the first half, QB Love connected with WR Reed finally putting points on the board for the Packers. Narveson made the extra point bringing the score to MIN 28 GB 7. QB Darnold took a knee as the Packers walked off the field being fortunate to have not been shut out giving them a pulse of hope for a comeback. QB Darnold had 3 TD with 0 INTs and QB Love had 1 TD with 2 INT in the first half.

Third Quarter: Vikings 28 Packers 7

“Obviously, we dug ourselves a pretty substantial hole.”- Matt Lafleur at the post halftime interview.

Packers received the ball to start as RB Jacobs had just his sixth carry of the game gaining four yards. QB Love found WR Wicks on third-and-4 for the first down, but MIN had another successful challenge as replay showed the ball hitting the ground for another GB dropped ball. P Whelan punted the ball 46-yards on the GB 18. On third-and-10, QB Darnold was able to complete a 25-yard pass to WR Addison for a first down gain. After a couple of MIN long runs for first downs, RB Jones continued to put the Packers defense to work with a 9-yard pick up on first down. QB Darnold on a second-and-1 forced a bad throw towards the end zone that was picked off by S Xavier McKinney for his fourth INT of the season (looked incomplete in the replay, but GB needed some fortunate luck).  

GB started the drive at their own 2-yard line with a chance to capitalize on a long drive, but MIN’s pressure and another drop by WR Wicks brought up fourth down and another three-and-out. On first down, RB Jones had a huge hole to run through for a 13-yard gain at the GB 43. On second-and-12, Packers LB Quay Walkers picked up his first sack of the season for a 13-yard loss. GB’s defense was able to stop a completion to RB Jones short of the line forcing the Vikings to punt resulting in a touchback with 6:28 left in the third quarter. 

The QB Love connection with WR Wicks started to heat up with two first down completions moving the chains. QB Love kept the tempo with the no huddle completing a 17-yard pass to WR Reed. On fourth-and-8, QB Love was late finding WR Wicks but still threw a watchable ball that was dropped for a turnover on downs. MIN offense continued to be held in check as LB Walker was able to stop RB Chandler at the line of scrimmage forcing a fourth-and-1. MIN elected to punt instead of going for it setting up the GB offense at their own 25. QB Love completions to WR Reed and RB Jacobs concluded the third quarter with score remaining MIN 28 GB 7. 

Fourth Quarter: Vikings 28 Packers 7

Packers started the fourth quarter determined to score on the drive with a RB Jacobs 11-yard first down gain. QB Love completed six passes in a row including back-to-back first down catches by WR Malik Heath. On third-and-1 at the MIN 6, QB Love found WR Wicks wide open in the end zone for the touchdown. Narveson nailed the extra point making the score MIN 28 GB 14 with 11:38 left in the fourth quarter. It was the Packers most efficient drive as they went for 11 plays 89 YD in 3:55. On second-and-8 for MIN, GB brought a blindsided blitz with CB Nixon getting to QB Darnold forcing the fumble recovered by rookie LB Cooper. With momentum on the Packers' side, QB Love hit TE Kraft with on a short pass but a positive 13-yard gain into the end zone for the TD. HC Lafleur decided to go for two as QB Love completed a successful conversion to TE Kraft bringing the score to MIN 28 GB 22 with 10:16 left in the fourth quarter. 

MIN last four possessions: INT, punt, punt, fumble. On first down, GB brought the pressure but QB Darnold was able to hang in the pocket and completed a 17-yard pass to WR Jefferson. WR Jefferson was left wide open on a cross pattern down the middle picking up 27 yards entering the GB red zone. Packers D forced QB Darnold to throw the ball away setting up a successful 33-yard field goal attempt by K Reichard increasing the score to MIN 31 GB 22 with 6:50 left in the game. QB Love completed a 35-yard pass out the gate to WR Wicks. MIN brought the CB blitz forcing QB Love to throw an inaccurate jump ball picked off by Byron Murphy before getting tackled in the end zone. GB defensive line clamped the MIN offense forcing a timely three-and-out. On second-and-10 at their own 37, QB Love completed to TE Kraft and in making an extra effort for yardage got the ball punched out and was recovered by MIN for GB’s abysmal 4th turnover of the day. 

With the Packers needing a stop on third-and-12, QB Darnold found WR Jefferson for a tip-toe acrobatic catch that was ruled incomplete. However, another MIN challenge overturned the call as HC O'Connell went 3/3 on challenges. MIN was determined to give RB Jones a touchdown as they handed him the ball three times in a row getting stopped on third-and-1. WR Nailor was stuffed on a fourth down jet sweep attempt as the GB defense prevented anymore MIN points. QB Love completed to Doubs for a 10-yard gain at the GB 20 right before the clock hit the two minute warning. QB Love was able to extend the play rolling out to his right completing a 42-yard pass to Reed which was followed by a 17-yard TD pass to WR Wicks. The extra point was good with the score now MIN 31 GB 29 with 56 seconds remaining and an onside kick pending. On a dropkick onside attempt by P Whlean, MIN was able to recover the ball putting an end to the Packers valiant comeback effort. QB Darnold took a knee as the clock struck 0 with the final score being MIN 31 GB 29. 

Packers will play the LA Rams next Sunday at 3:25 PM CT at SoFi Stadium. 

Five Fascinating Stats of the game: 

Total 1st Downs: MIN 22 GB 24
Total Yards: MIN 374 GB 465
Penalties: MIN 7-55 GB 8-68
QB Comp/Att YD: MIN 20/28 254 GB 32/54 379
Time of Possession: MIN 32:15 GB 27:45