3 Big Things from Packers lackluster loss to the Vikings

It’s the start of a new season for the Green Bay Packers, but we still saw the same lackluster loss in Week 1, this time to the Minnesota Vikings.

The defense fell behind quickly, while the offense never gave themselves a real opportunity to work their way back into the game. The result was a game that the Vikings controlled from start to finish.

Now that I’ve had the chance to go back and rewatch this game, I have my three big things from the Packers’ performance.

Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur have to be better

There are a lot of players on this team who have to be better moving forward, but at least from an offensive perspective, that begins with Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur. The two guys who make this whole thing go.

There, of course, is no replacing Davante Adams, but attempting to make up for his lost production is going to require Rodgers playing at a high level and LaFleur scheming players open like we know he can do. All of which will make things easier on the Packers’ pass-catchers, specifically the wide receivers.

However, that didn’t happen in Minnesota.

Behind a make-shift offensive line, Rodgers looked uncomfortable for much of the game. And with a duo of young pass-catchers, along with Sammy Watkins in his first game with Green Bay, Rodgers often looked hesitant. All of this led to Rodgers holding onto the football, which then led to pressures and sacks.

Rodgers, admittedly, didn’t make the best decisions either when he did get rid of the football. On the fourth and goal run by AJ Dillon, that play was an RPO, and after the game, Rodgers acknowledged that he should have held on to the ball given that the defense was in a man-look and Za’Darius Smith was crashing in. He also never should have thrown up that prayer to Randall Cobb that resulted in an interception.

Without seeing the All-22, it’s difficult to speak with any sort of certainty, but from a play design standpoint, it certainly didn’t look like there were many opportunities for Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson to get the ball quickly and in space. Rather, it was a lot of them having to win their matchups. Also, where was the motion and pre-snap eye candy to get the defense guessing?

When this Packers offense was at its best was when their playmakers — Aaron Jones, Robert Tonyan, and AJ Dillon — had the football. However, somehow, Jones touched the ball only eight times during the entire game, which is inexcusable. Tonyan, meanwhile, had five targets but may have been on a pitch count, and Dillon had 15, although he certainly could have had more.

Now, again, it’s not as if others on this Packers offense aren’t without blame. Watson had a pair of dropped passes. Doubs and Rodgers weren’t on the same page on the opening drive, and overall, there were routes that were ran wrong. The offensive line also really took their lumps as well without Elgton Jenkins and David Bakhtiari.

But with that said, in order for this group to be much better, it begins with LaFleur and Rodgers, from the play designs and calls, to the decision-making and execution.