Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spent the game correcting the mistakes of the officials. He challenged and won three of their mistakes. Three challenges! That doesn’t happen often. The officials also gave the Packers safety Xavier McKinney an interception that he never actually caught inbounds. He was still bobbling the ball when he hit the white of the sideline. It wasn’t an interception. How the official’s didn’t rule it as such on the obligatory turnover review is a mystery. The official’s gaff took Vikings points off the board. It was 2nd &1 from the Packers 20-yard line. I say a touchdown was taken away. I’m always an optimist. 35-7 with about 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter would’ve been nearing hopeless territory for the Packers. At the very least, a field goal was taken off the board. Even 31-7 would’ve been a tough climb. Instead, the officials gave the Packers an interception that McKinney never caught and a little bit of hope. The Packers received a lot of breaks as they climbed from that 28-0 hole. They needed every one of them.
Going into this game, one of my biggest concerns was the spongy Lambeau turf. In each of the past two seasons, a Vikings player suffered a popped Achilles. It was Brian O’Neill in 2022 and Kirk Cousins in 2023. Despite being an optimist, I was seriously worried about the possibility of a third. I’m so thankful that the Vikings are leaving Green Bay apparently healthy. And with a win.
The Vikings gave the Packers a tremendously generous gift just before the half. With 39 seconds on the clock, the Vikings were up 28-0 and cruising into the break. This tremendously generous gift started being wrapped several plays earlier when receiver/punt returner Brandon Powell was injured. That put Jalen Nailor on the field to return this punt. He either misjudged the ball’s flight or lost it in the sun. Whatever happened, he muffed the punt and gave the ball to the Packers at the 3-yard line. A meltdown by Packers coach Matt LaFleur made it a little more challenging than it should’ve been but the Packers accepted the tremendously generous gift and took the touchdown. What should’ve been a 28-0 halftime lead was now 28-7. The Packers had some life and momentum. If the Vikings hadn’t given this tremendously generous gift, I don’t think the Packers get close to making this a one-score game.
It’s a win. It’s a win against the Packers.
Welcome back Jordan Addison.
After missing the last two games with an ankle injury suffered in the first game, Addison returned to the lineup against the Packers. He was a very welcome addition.
3 catches
72 yards
1 touchdown (29 yards)
1 run
7 yards
1 touchdown
Four touches and two touchdowns. It was an excellent and much-needed return to the field. Jalen Nailor had filled in well the past two weeks and will continue to be a significant contributor. Addison is a different sort of difference-maker. He’d be the #1 receiver on several teams across the league. The Vikings excellent and efficient start to the season was mostly done without Addison and entirely without tight end T.J. Hockenson. It’s way too easy to get overly excited about the possibilities of this Vikings offense when all the team’s playmakers are on the field. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jalen Nailor. Oh my.
Speaking of Jefferson, he was great. As always.
6 catches
85 yards
1 touchdown (14 yards)
His touchdown and key, second half sideline catch were of the spectacular variety.
Speaking of Aaron Jones, he was great as well.
22 carries
93 yards
4 catches
46 yards
It’s fun having Jones on this side of the rivalry.
Other than the interception that shouldn’t have been, Sam Darnold was solid. Again. It was his best statistical game of the season.
20/28
275 yards
3 touchdowns
Darnold leads the league with 11 touchdown tosses.
I’m not sure if Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores switched things up to protect a 28-0 lead but it sure looked like the Vikings spent the entire second half in a bend-but-don’t-break prevent defense. There was room all over the intermediate part of the field and in front of the deep defenders for the Packers fleet of receivers to freely roam. There were holes seemingly everywhere. The Vikings defense didn’t look anything like the fluid, flexible, and aggressive group that was such a problem for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Texans. Jordan Love is a terrific quarterback. Even on a balky knee, his arm is still intact. After throwing the ball 54 times, that arm might be a little sore this morning. I don’t think the Packers wanted to have him throw 54 times but the score forced it. The Vikings defense did force two late turnovers. Without those, this game might have ended with the Packers winning.
I’m not sure what is the greater story. The Vikings taking apart the Packers in the first half. Or, the Vikings withstanding the officials and a plucky comeback in the second half. The Packers are a good team. LaFleur is an excellent coach. They weren’t going to stay down for an entire game in Lambeau. The Vikings never panicked. They made the plays in the second half that they had to make to preserve the big lead that they built in the first half. It was a great win. It was a great win against the Packers.
The Vikings are 4-0. Next up, is a long trip to London and a supposed home game against the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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