Flat. Unprepared. Disappointing.
The Green Bay Packers came into U.S. Bank Stadium and kicked the Minnesota Vikings’ playoff hopes into a ravine by a score of 33-10.
There are usually a few positives that can be found in even the worst of performances from this season. Not this one. This was bad from beginning to end.
The defense looked unprepared for the Packers’ game plan and wasn’t able to adapt. The offense looked as disjointed as they have this season after the Kirk Cousins injury.
While searching for any semblance of a positive, there will be plenty of negatives to point out from an overall perspective.
Stock down: Jaren Hall
Vikings fans had clamored for it since he left the game against Atlanta. Jaren Hall deserved a shot at redemption, and he got it.
He didn’t do much with it.
Hall’s game ended at halftime after going five-of-ten for 67 yards and an interception. Nick Mullens finished out the game for Minnesota.
What Kevin O’Connell tried to do with all of these different iterations of backups was commendable after the Cousins season-ending injury. There was too much inconsistency at the most important position on the field, and Minnesota couldn’t overcome it.
Hall was the final data point in this experiment, and thank God it will be over soon.
Stock down: Offensive line
Mullens and Hall were hit a total of 14 times and sacked a total of four times.
The offensive line has been a bright spot for the majority of this year, but Green Bay’s pass-rush plan, including their blitz packages, confused the Vikings’ offensive line all night.
Joe Barry’s defense had been one of the more disappointing units coming into this game, but the pass rush could not be stopped today.
The running game started to get going in the second half with the emergence of the passing game, but it was far too late.
Stock up: Najee Thompson
The team had no spark, even when Mullens came in at the beginning of the second half, the offense was painfully stagnant. The defense had been battered and bruised from the opening whistle. There was nowhere to look for as far as hope was concerned.
That was until Najee Thompson recovered a fumble on a muffed punt to start the fourth quarter. Thompson’s fumble recovery ended up leading to the only touchdown for the Vikings in the form of a six-yard Johnny Mundt catch and run.
What does this touchdown mean in the grand scheme of things? Nothing. The Vikings still got outclassed in all facets of the game. But it was nice to see that kind of fight out of someone in the purple and gold. Thompson was brought on the team to do just this. He is the special teams ace for Minnesota and has been the most consistent part of this team all season.
Stock down: Pass rush
One of the keys for this Vikings defense was to make Packers’ quarterback Jordan Love uncomfortable using the pass rush.
That did not happen. Minnesota’s defense did not get a single sack against Love and only hit him three times.
While he did feel a little bit of pressure that forced him to throw off his back foot a few times, Green Bay’s game plan was to get the ball out quickly and get it down the field.
It worked. Love shredded the Minnesota defense and they were unable to get to him to even get him off his spot.
Stock down: Defensive coverage
Love went 24-of-33 for 256 yards and three touchdowns on their way to a 33-point outing, and made it look easy.
Bo Melton, 2022 seventh-round pick and recent practice squad elevation, hauled six of his nine targets for 105 yards and a touchdown. Jayden Reed also hauled six receptions on his eight targets for 89 yards and the other two Love touchdowns.
Receivers were running wide open behind the defense, underneath the defense, essentially wherever the defense was, the receiver was not. Multiple times, Minnesota defenders were guarding grass while receivers ran by themselves.
Stock down: Playoff chances
Even with this defeat, the Vikings are still not eliminated from the playoff contention, despite how deflating this loss may be.
The Vikings can still make the postseason with the following scenario:
- MIN win @ DET &
- GB loss vs. CHI &
- SEA loss @ AZ &
- Loss from either TB @ CAR or NO vs. ATL
NFL.com gives Minnesota a 3% chance for this scenario to occur and for the Vikings to make the playoffs.
