The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Packers’ Collapse Against The Vikings

THE UGLY

SAME OLD, SAME OLD:Collapsing late in games was the story of the Packers’ 2025 campaign.

Green Bay had double digit leads in the final minutes twice against Chicago and also vs. Cleveland and somehow went 0-3 in those games. The Packers’ odds of losing all three of those contests were 1-in-250,000, yet they somehow did it.

That pattern continued Sunday when Minnesota scored 22 straight fourth quarter points in just 2 minutes 42 seconds and turned a 22-17 deficit into a 39-22 lead.

“I mean, we’ve just got to finish,” Packers wide receiver Christian Watson said last week. “I think that’s just got to be the mindset. When we get into that third and fourth quarter, regardless of being up or down, we’ve got to approach it like we’re at 0-0.

“And I mean, I think it’ll just come down to execution. We’ve got to find a way to execute in those moments. Regardless of the mentality, the mindset, it’s just about doing it. We’ve just got to find a way to do it.”

The Packers couldn’t do it a year ago — and they couldn’t do it again Sunday.

And until they figure out how to finish, they have no chance of success.

TRIPLE PLAY: Minnesota marched 83 yards to take a 25-22 lead with 6 ½ minutes left.

Three times on that drive the Packers appeared to have a stop. Three times, though, Green Bay was called for a defensive penalty.

First, nickel back Javon Bullard was flagged for illegal contact, wiping out an Edgerrin Cooper sack that would have ended Minnesota’s drive.

Next, Minnesota quarterback Carson Wentz threw incomplete on third-and-3. But Packers defensive tackle Chris McClellan was called for an extremely questionable roughing the passer.

Then, Green Bay safety Evan Williams intercepted Wentz in the endzone. But safety Xavier McKinney was called for defensive holding.

On the next play, former Packers running back Aaron Jones had a 3-yard touchdown run, then Wentz hit Justin Jefferson on the two-point conversion to give Minnesota a 25-22 lead. The Vikings only added to the lead from there.

NO DISCIPLINE: Granted, it’s Week 1, so teams are still rusty.

But there’s still no excuse for Green Bay having 12 penalties for 98 yards. The Packers had eight penalties for 70 yards in the first half alone.

Among the most egregious were:

• Nickel back Javon Bullard was called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty that knocked Minnesota quarterback Kyler Murray out of the game in the first quarter.

• Center Sean Rhyan was called for holding that helped kill a drive midway through the second quarter.

• Safety Evan Williams was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness on Justin Jefferson.

THE BAD

OUTER BANKS: Packers left guard Aaron Banks, who missed much of the preseason with tendinitis in his knee, was inactive.

“I don’t think anybody’smore frustrated than I am,” Banks said last week. “But like that does it no justice, no good, right? To be frustrated and angry all the time doesn’t do any good.”

The Packers signed Banks to a four-year, $77 million deal in free agency in March, 2025 and have gotten almost nothing back on that investment.

Banks dealt with back, ankle and groin injuries in 2025. When he played, he was mediocre, at best.

Banks earned an overall grade of 53.5 from Pro Football Focus last season, which ranked 64th among 81 qualified offensive guards. His pass-blocking grade of 52.2 ranked 68th among 81 guards, and his run-blocking grade of 54.6 ranked 58^th.

With Banks sidelined, undrafted Donovan Jennings made his first career start and played in just his third NFL game.

RISKY BUSINESS: Trey Smack made a 40-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give Green Bay a 25-17 lead. Minnesota was off sides on the play, though, so the Packers accepted the penalty and took the points off the board.

On fourth-and-1, though, Jordan Love was stopped for no gain on a quarterback sneak. For some strange reason, the Packers didn’t have a “pusher” behind Love to give him the extra shove he needed.

When Love fell short, Minnesota took over at its own 17-yard line, drove for the go-ahead score and never looked back.

GAME CHANGER: The Packers held a 22-10 lead with 5 minutes left in the third quarter after a 26-yard field goal by Trey Smack.

Minnesota’s Myles Price returned the ensuing kickoff 68 yards to the Packers’ 28-yard line. Six plays later, Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz hit tight end T.J. Hockenson with a 16-yard touchdown pass that pulled the Vikings within 22-17.

THIS AND THAT: Green Bay rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse has all the makings of a future star. Cisse found himself one-on-one, though, with Minnesota star receiver Justin Jefferson late in the first half. Jefferson won the battle, made a nifty adjustment on a deep ball and hauled in a 39-yard touchdown behind Cisse. … Daniel Whelan, who set the Packers’ single-season franchise record with a 51.7-yard gross average last season, had a chance to uncork one early in the third quarter. Instead, Whelan had a dud that traveled just 22 yards. … The Packers ran the ball for just 66 yards on 21 carries, a 3.1 average.

THE GOOD

CHRISTIAN WATSON: The Packers gave Watson a four-year, $110.5 million extension in June. On Sunday, Watson showed why.

Watson had five receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. He finished with six receptions for 147 yards and the two TDs.

“Obviously they gave me the opportunity to be here for longer (with the contract extension), so obviously I take pride in that,” Watson said this week. “And obviously the amount of money that they paid me to continue to do what I’m doing, so I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”

Watson certainly made the most of his opportunities Sunday.

His first catch of 2026 was a memorable one, as he turned a 20-yard reception into an 81-yard touchdown reception that gave Green Bay a 9-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Watson came free on a crossing route, 20 yards downfield. Watson, who entered the NFL with 4.36-second speed in the 40-yard dash, quickly got to the left edge. Watson picked up a key block from fellow wideout Matthew Golden, turned the corner and outran the defense for an 81-yard TD.

Just before halftime, Watson had a 32-yard catch down to the Minnesota 7. Two plays later, quarterback Jordan Love ran a nifty play-action fake and Watson leaked out and caught a 2-yard touchdown pass that gave the Packers a 19-10 halftime lead.

JORDAN LOVE: Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores blitzed an NFL-high 51.2% of the time last season. Flores brought extra rushers even more on Sunday, but Love hung tough against the pressure.

Despite being sacked four times, Love never blinked, threw for 387 yards and two touchdowns.

BO MELTON: It was quite a week for Melton, who was released Friday, immediately signed back to the practice squad and elevated to the active roster.

Melton then did what he always does — he made plays.

Melton had a 59-yard kickoff return that set up a Trey Smack field goal. He downed a punt at the Minnesota 4-yard line. And he had a 10-yard reception for a first down before leaving with cramps.

TREY SMACK: Packers rookie kicker Trey Smack made his first NFL field goal attempt a memorable one.

Smack drilled a 59-yarder to give Green Bay a 3-0 lead just 3 minutes into the game. That was the second-longest field goal in franchise history, behind only Lucas Havrisik’s 61-yarder in 2025.

Smack finished the day 3-for-3 on field goals, although he missed an extra points.

WELCOME BACK: Tight end Tucker Kraft, playing in his first game since suffering a torn ACL on Nov. 2025, had three catches for 65 yards.

Kraft signed a four-year, $75 million contract extension on Saturday. That average of $18.75 million made Kraft the NFL’s third-highest paid tight end, behind only San Francisco’s George Kittle ($19.1) and Arizona’s Trey McBride ($19M).

THIS AND THAT: Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper had seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. … Cornerback Keisean Nixon had an interception, two quarterback hits, a tackle for loss and ½-sack.