Over the final 20 minutes, the Vikings scored 29 points. The Packers scored 0. It was an improbable, ridiculous rebound. During those 20 minutes, the Packers actually did score three points. Early in the fourth quarter with the Packers holding a 22-17 lead, Smack booted a 40-yard field goal. On the kick, Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner was flagged for an offside penalty. Instead of an eight-point lead, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur decided to toss the three points aside and take the penalty. That flipped a fourth-and-six to a fourth-and-one opportunity. The Vikings defensive line (rookie Domonique Orange) stopped the Jordan Love sneak about six inches short of the yard to gain. That little turn of events flipped the game. For more than three quarters, the Packers had all of the momentum. Suddenly, after that fourth down stop, the Vikings had some and they built on it. The Vikings offense responded with a seven-play, 85-yard touchdown drive. It was a drive heavily assisted by the officials. Three times, the Packers defense was flagged for an infraction on third down. Three times, the Vikings failed to convert and a penalty flag kept them on the field. These weren’t imagined penalties. The Packers kept doing stupid shit that kept the Vikings offense on the field. Football has rules for a reason and this undisciplined group kept breaking those rules. If the Packers are looking for a reason for this loss, they should start by looking in the mirror.
The Packers undisciplined play started with a cheap shot that took Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray out of the game. Packers safety Javon Bullard and lineman Lukas Van Ness converged and hit a sliding Murray. Bullard used his helmet as a weapon while Van Ness took a swing at Murray’s head. It’s the kind of bullshit play that should get a player thrown from a game and suspended for a few more. For most of the rest of the game, I couldn’t help but wonder if knocking Murray out of the game was part of the Packers gameplan. Bullard and Van Ness collectively decided to take illegal shots at the head of a defenseless player sliding at the end of a run. It sure looked like the Packers had a plan to get Murray out of the game. With their undisciplined tactics throughout the game, I actually think it’s the way this defense is going to play. Great. It lost them this game.
For the bulk of this game the Vikings didn’t play well. Offense, defense, special teams. The Packers dominated all aspects. That can happen when a team loses their quarterback in the first quarter. About the only thing the Vikings did right was not let the Packers get more than 12 points ahead. It actually felt like it could’ve ballooned to more than a three-score lead at any moment. Call it scrappy. Call it whatever. The Vikings did enough things to not let the score get out of control. That may have been as much a key to the game as the 29 points that closed it.
Another reason for the win was the play of Dallas Turner
10 QB Pressures
4 QB Hurries
4 QB Hits
1 Sack
1 Forced Fumble
Turner was in the Packers backfield as often as their backs. Big things are expected from the young edge rusher this offseason and this was the first step.
How improbable was the Vikings rebound? According to OptaSTATS:
The Vikings are the first team in NFL history to be down 12+ points with under 20 minutes left in regulation and end up winning by 17+ points.
That’s something.
Another something is the play of the Vikings defense to close the game. The Packers final three possessions:
1. 3 plays, -22 yards - fumble
2. 2 plays, 7 yards - interception
3. 11 plays, 53 yards - turnover on downs
A further something is the Vikings offense scoring 22 points over 2:42 in game time.
Thanks to a splash of Packer stupidity, the Vikings flipped a demoralizing loss into a thrilling win. The Vikings are 1-0. Now, it’s on to a trip to Chicago and a Week 2 matchup with the Bears. Hopefully, the Vikings can play an entire game against the Bears like they did for twenty minutes against the Packers.
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