Minnesota Vikings 23
Green Bay Packers 7
That was a fun start to the season. Few leads feel safe when playing against Aaron Rodgers. It was nice to have a game not come down to a heart-wrenching end. Last season aged me.
It didn’t take long for this game to feel it was going to be Minnesota’s day. The Vikings opened with a nice, crisp, 78-yard touchdown drive. The score came on a five-yard toss from Kirk Cousins to Justin Jefferson on fourth down. Rodgers attempted to respond on his first snap. He had rookie Christian Watson running free for a 75-yard touchdown. The ball dropped through his hands. It felt like it was going to be Minnesota’s day.
Jefferson, Jefferson, Jefferson.
Justin Jefferson was the best player on the field.
9 catches, 184 yards 2 TDs (5, 36)
The Packers and their “brilliant” defensive backs had no answers. Jefferson was running free all game. He nearly had a third touchdown but couldn’t quite get a foot down. The remarkable 23-year old receiver has been great his first two seasons in the league. Based on this game, he looks even better this season.
Kirk Cousins was easily the game’s best quarterback.
23/32, 277 yards, 2 TDs
He was only sacked once. He looked very calm and confident in the pocket. Perhaps the most calm and confident I’ve ever seen him. It’s only one game but this offense appears to suit him well.
Dalvin Cook quietly had a solid game.
20 carries, 90 yards
3 catches, 18 yards
Alexander Mattison added some strong and big runs.
The worst play of the day for the Vikings might’ve come from Cook at the end of the game. He let himself get pushed out of bounds on his final carry. That minor gaffe gifted the Packers an extra 40 seconds to add some garbage stats.
While Jefferson was brilliant and the Vikings offense was efficient, the difference in the game was probably the Vikings defense. They made things very difficult for Rodgers and the Packers offense.
The Packers squirrelly quarterback was ordinary.
22/34, 195 yards, 1 interception
The Vikings stopped the Packers on a four-down goal line stand in the second quarter. Instead of the Packers tying the game at 7-7, the Vikings had the ball and a great deal of momentum. The Vikings offense then smoothly moved the ball to the other end of the field. Unfortunately, the drive stalled at the Packers 5-yard line. They could only manage a field goal but the momentum and 10-point swing was big.
The Vikings defense sacked Rodgers four times and harassed him often. They took the ball on one of the sacks. The Packers were missing their starting offensive tackles and lost another starting lineman during the game. The Vikings took advantage. The defense made Rodgers look so sad throughout the game. It was beautiful. The poor Packers quarterback didn’t even finish the game. Jordan Love relieved Rodgers and added 65 yards of garbage yardage. Those 65 yards was about a fifth of the Packers offensive production.
I liked the defensive line rotation. I look forward to Ross Blacklock becoming a greater part of it.
It was a nice start to the season for a defense that’s still coming together.
Greg Joseph made all his kicks. 2 PATs and 3 field goals, with a long of 58 yards. The other two field goals were 28 and 29 yards. Settling for field goals after driving to the 10-yard line is frustrating. The offense has to punch those long drives into the end zone. Those six points helped put this game away.
Jefferson was the star of this game but it was a team win. After Jefferson, it’s tough to hand out superlatives. So many players on offense, defense, and special teams played a crucial role and made impact plays. It was a team win.
I expect a very motivated Packers team when the Vikings visit Lambeau on New Year’s Day. The Packers probably see this as a fluky loss. It wasn’t. The Packers might point to the dropped pass and the missing linemen. The Vikings came out swinging. Every time the Packers started the rumblings of a comeback the Vikings put a stop to it. More than 23 points would’ve been nice but this was a dominant win. The Packers might be motivated for that Lambeau game but the Vikings will be better. They are just getting started.
This was fun win over the Packers and a fun start to the season.
Congratulations to Kevin O’Connell on the first win of his hopefully glorious career.
Next up: The Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday Night.
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