If you were surprised that a dominant summer from the Green Bay Packers defense didn’t translate to the field in Week 1, you weren’t alone. Packers coach Matt LaFleur was also a little bit stunned by the performance of his defense against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
LaFleur confirmed his own surprise after his defense gave up almost 400 yards of offense in the opener.
“Yeah, absolutely. You gotta do it in the games,” LaFleur told Packers.com after the 23-7 loss in Minneapolis on Sunday.
The Packers re-signed De’Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas, used first-round picks on Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt and then spent the summer beating up on Aaron Rodgers and the offense during training camp practices, creating massive hype over the potential ascension of Joe Barry’s group in Year 2 of the scheme.
The elite defense expected in Green Bay didn’t show up in the opener. And the Packers needed it Sunday because Rodgers and the offense sputtered for much of the contest.
The stars for the Vikings stole the show.
Receiver Justin Jefferson caught nine passes for a career-high 184 yards, Kirk Cousins threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes and averaged almost 9.0 yards per attempt, Dalvin Cook produced 108 total yards and the Vikings rushed for 126 yards on the ground.
The Packers’ pass-rush sacked Cousins just once, and a few coverage breakdowns from the veteran secondary opened the door for big play after big play from Jefferson.
Given a chance to make a statement on the opening series, the Packers allowed the Vikings to go 78 yards in 10 plays and score a season-opening touchdown on a fourth down conversion from Cousins to Jefferson.
Later, the Packers lost Jefferson in coverage and he raced 36 yards for a score.
“If there’s anyone you don’t want to cut loose, it’s No. 18,” LaFleur said.
Overall, the Vikings averaged 6.5 yards per play and didn’t have a turnover.
One game doesn’t make a season, but it’s now on Barry and the Packers to regroup and get things figured out before welcoming Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears to Lambeau Field for the home opener on Sunday night.
