What in the world happened to that “championship level defense” Matt LaFleur was talking about last week?  After playing four consecutive tremendous games, the Packer defense, particularly the secondary, got barbecued by the explosive Minnesota Vikings. 

The defeat was especially disheartening considering the Green Bay defensive front put decent pressure on Kirk Cousins and, for the most part, shut down the Vikings running game.  But all Cousins had to do was throw it up, knowing there would be either a wide open receiver waiting for it, or the Packer defensive back would be hopelessly outplayed for the ball.   

The back end saved its worst for the final game-deciding series.  During the Vikings eight play, 64 yard drive for the winning field goal, the Green Bay defense had at least four plays go sour.  First the unit lined up with twelve men on the field for a five yard penalty. Then Darnell Savage, who made a great break on the ball, couldn’t hold on to an interception…. or did he?  It was a controversial call to be sure.  It would have put the Packers in position to pull it out.  Following that, Krys Barnes had Dalvin Cook head on after a short pass.  Cook shed him like a horse brushing off a fly and continued downfield for nineteen yards.  Then Rasul Douglas completely lost track of the ball and the receiver and the result was a ruptured completion to Adam Thielen for 26 yards.  By that time Minnesota was in the red zone and the outcome was decided. 

The defensive regression spoiled a courageous and inspired effort by the offense.  Climbing back twice from double digit deficits, Aaron Rodgers and company reeled off clutch play after clutch play.  The biggest of all being a 75 yard TD throw to Marquez Valdes-Scantling which, ironically, turned out to hurt the team more than it helped.  It happened too quickly.  It left 2:08 on the clock, and plenty of time for one more defensive collapse. 

I’d like to think Green Bay’s defense will be okay.  That this was an aberration.  The coming game against the Rams will speak volumes. 

GAME BALLS 

Marquez Valdes-Scantling 

The Packers seemed determined to make MVS a big part of the plan and it finally paid off in the second half.  Among his four catches for 123 yards was the beautiful 75 yard bomb where his speed was on display, and a leaping hands catch that converted a key third down. 

Davante Adams 

Despite getting extra attention from the Vikings secondary, Adams got himself open both short and long, finishing with seven catches for 115 yards and two scores.   

Aaron Rodgers 

It was not his most accurate day, but he was magnificent in the clutch when the team absolutely had to have a key play.  His scramble to buy time and finally spotting Davante in the end zone in the fourth quarter was a Hall of Fame play.  It gave the Packers the lead at 24-23.  Thank goodness he didn’t get that timeout.  He wound up throwing for 385 yards and four scores, for a QB rating of 148.  He and the offense deserved a better fate. 

Kenny Clark 

Green Bay’s problems were not on the defensive line.  Clark was a terror, particularly in the first half, pushing blockers backward as though they were on a sled, forcing pressure on the quarterback, and missing Cousins by a hair all day.   He seemed to wear down a bit late in the game. 

Preston Smith 

With Rashan Gary becoming a late scratch, Smith took it upon himself to provide the edge rush.  His six tackles, two sacks and three hits on the quarterback stood out on a day when the players behind him let him down. 

LAME CALLS 

Ineffective Zone Defense 

I’m certainly not an expert on defensive tactics and strategy, and often I find it hard to discern exactly what type of coverage the Packers are playing.  But it seemed as though the secondary was all too often sitting back in a zone and allowing Justin Jefferson and Thielen to run free across them all day.  Maybe more man coverage would have helped, although it’s tough to match up with a receiver like Jefferson.  

Forcing the Deep Ball 

In the first half Rodgers went back to an old habit of eschewing the open short receiver in favor of forcing a deep pass to a receiver who is covered.  In fairness, the persistence did pay off in the second half when he hit a couple long balls, but those receivers were wide open.  I just wish QB12 would take that short ball when it’s there.  Sometimes he is just not patient enough. 

AFTERTHOUGHTS 

Matt LaFleur (on why Aaron Rodgers went into the tunnel before halftime):  ”He just went in early to get some treatment, so Jordan (Love) went in.  We knew that, barring something crazy happening, we were just going to take a knee.” 

Tyler Lancaster:  “We cannot let this seep over into next week.  We’ve got to get off the field.  We can’t let them down the field.  There were positives but not good enough.” 

Preston Smith  (on the quality of the pass rush):  “It could have been better.  Of course, we didn’t win so there’s a lot of things we could fix and improve.  We have to be a whole lot better at not letting him (Cousins) be comfortable in the pocket.” 

MVS:  “I don’t think it’s really a thing to say you scored too soon, unless you’re driving the ball down the field and Aaron Rodgers is on the other side of the field.  Other than that, it’s just one of those things where you take the points.  It’s hard to score touchdowns.  I’m never going to say we scored too soon.” 

THREE AND OUT 

•  LaFleur and the offensive coaches did a great job of getting creative on third and short.  How about the play where Cobb lines up in the back field and runs the option, pitching to Dillon to get him around the edge?  And did you notice that, instead of sending Dillon straight into the pile on short yardage, they ran him across the backfield to make it easier to find a little crease.  Well done. 

•  If Jaire Alexander had been able to play, would he have matched up with Jefferson all day?  And would it have made a difference? 

•   Aaron Rodgers said his toe got stepped on in the second quarter.  He said it was a painful second half and that he doesn’t expect to practice much this week.  I knew the Packers’ good fortune concerning injuries the past two seasons wouldn’t last, but gee wiz.  It’s not just injuries, it’s injuries to all the key people.  Now the prospect of losing Elgton Jenkins, just as Bakhtiari is about to return.  Will this team ever get back to anything resembling full strength?