Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) catches a pass against Green Bay Packers … [+]
The NFL trading deadline is Tuesday.
And at this point, the Green Bay Packers should be sellers.
Green Bay’s suddenly dreadful season got even worse Sunday when Minnesota came to Lambeau Field and whipped the Packers, 24-10.
Green Bay lost its fourth straight game and fell to 2-5 on the season. It’s the Packers’ poorest start since the 2005 group started the year 1-7 and Mike Sherman was fired at year’s end.
It’s unlikely Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur is in trouble. If things keep going south, though, anything is possible.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly from Green Bay’s loss to the Vikings.
THE GOOD
RUN DEFENSE: The Packers entered the game ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (143.7) and 25th in yards allowed per carry (4.5).
On a day where little went right, Green Bay’s run defense played extremely well. Minnesota finished with just 63 rushing yards on 29 attempts, an average of 2.17 yards per rush.
BLOCK PARTY: Minnesota’s Greg Joseph attempted a 44-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, but the kick was blocked by defensive lineman Karl Brooks. Jonathan Owens recovered and returned it 23 yards.
THIS AND THAT: Romeo Doubs caught his fifth touchdown pass of the year. In 13 games a year ago, Doubs had three touchdown receptions. … Outside linebacker Preston Smith had two sacks and a tackle for loss, while defensive end Kenny Clark also had a sack. … Inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who missed the last three games with an ankle injury, was active and finished with 14 tackles, including 10 solo tackles.
THE BAD
JORDAN LOVE: Green Bay’s first-year starting quarterback had another rough day.
Love finished 24-of-41 for 229 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a passer rating of just 72.1.
Love and the Packers had just three first half points and dug a hole they once again couldn’t escape.
FLAGS, FLAGS, EVERYWHERE: The Packers entered the day averaging an unsightly 6.8 penalties per game. Things were even worse against Minnesota, as Green Bay finished with 11 penalties for 99 yards.
The Packers had two penalties on their opening offensive possession. Offensive lineman Rasheed Walker was ineligibly downfield negating a 20-yard reception to Romeo Doubs. Corey Ballentine was later hit with a false start penalty.
Things only got worse on a forgettable day for the home team, as four of those penalties led to Minnesota first downs.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY: The Packers trailed, 24-10, with 5 minutes left when they had a brief glimmer of hope.
Preston Smith had a strip sack of backup quarterback Jaren Hall and defensive end Devonte Wyatt recovered at the Vikings’ 15. Green Bay went backwards, though, then on fourth-and-16, Love scrambled for 15 yards and the Packers’ drive died.
THIS AND THAT: Running back Aaron Jones and tight end Luke Musgrave both had drops on Green Bay’s second possession. Dontayvion Wicks and Doubs also had critical drops in the second half … Minnesota went 10-of-18 on third downs (55.6%) and held the ball for nearly 36 minutes.
THE UGLY
FIRST HALF MISERY: The NFL’s worst first half offense was back at it.
Green Bay, which entered the game averaging 4.3 points per game in the first half, managed just a field goal and trailed, 10-3 at the break. The Packers now have a paltry 29 first half points in seven games (4.1).
Green Bay had five first half drives and managed just five first downs and 98 total yards (3.9). Jordan Love threw for 70 first half yards and had a passer rating of 77.1, while the Packers managed just 44 rushing yards.
Green Bay’s first four drives actually netted just 26 total yards on 12 plays (2.2) and zero first downs. That’s right — zero first downs.
The Packers mounted a 14-play, 73-yard drive that led to a field goal to end the half. Even there, though, Green Bay began that possession with 4:56 remaining and ran out of time.
What Matt LaFleur and the Packer offense is accomplishing — or not accomplishing — is setting the league back by decades.
NINETY SECONDS FROM HELL: Minnesota took a 17-3 lead with 9:25 left in the third quarter when Kirk Cousins hit T.J. Hockenson with a 2-yard touchdown.
On the Packers’ next possession, Vikings safety Josh Metellus outmuscled wideout Jayden Reed, intercepted Jordan Love and returned it 43 yards.
On the next play, Minnesota rookie wideout Jordan Addison whipped cornerback Jaire Alexander and hauled in a 20-yard touchdown from Love.
In the blink of an eye, Minnesota extended its 10-3 halftime lead to 24-3.
MATT LAFLEUR: Green Bay’s head coach began his Packer career 41-11, a .788 winning percentage. In LaFleur’s last 26 games, he’s just 10-16 (.384).
Yes, the Packers are young. Granted, Green Bay has lost key players to injury.
But a five-game losing streak ruined the Packers’ 2022 season. Now, Green Bay is mired in a four game slide and its 2023 campaign is going nowhere fast.
LaFleur couldn’t win last year with a veteran team. And with the NFL’s a youngest roster this year, the Packers are getting worse — not better.
Green Bay’s recent struggles have taken the bloom off the rose for LaFleur.