Packers are producing big plays.
Now they need to start delivering big point totals
[September 17, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Producing big plays wasn’t a problem for the
Green Bay Packers offense in their season opener.
Turning those long gains into points proved much more troublesome.
It’s something the Packers must fix as they try to avoid their first
0-2 start in two decades.
Green Bay had seven pass completions of at least 20 yards Sunday,
but still lost 39-22 to the Minnesota Vikings after scoring only one
touchdown on four red zone possessions.
“When you tallied up the explosives, we were winning that by a large
margin,” tight end Tucker Kraft said. “It’s the consistency.
Execution is good, but when your drives just fizzle out and you’re
not putting sevens on the board — you’re just putting threes on the
board — that’s where we’ve got to pick up the pace.”
That inability to finish drives results in a continued inability to
finish games.
Green Bay led Minnesota 22-10 in the third quarter but never broke
the game open, enabling Minnesota to rally by scoring the game’s
final 29 points.
As Green Bay gets ready to visit the New York Jets (1-0) on Sunday,
the Packers have dropped six straight games, counting last season’s
31-27 playoff loss at Chicago.
The collapse against Minnesota was noteworthy in part because of how
effectively the Packers moved the ball for much of the game. Jordan
Love had five completions of at least 30 yards, including an 81-yard
touchdown to Christian Watson.
The Packers were tied for fourth among all NFL teams with 10
explosive plays, defined as a run of 12-plus yards or a pass of
16-plus yards.
Green Bay’s seven plays of 20-plus yards represented a contrast from
last season, when the Packers didn’t have any gains of at least 20
yards in either of their two games with Minnesota. The Packers
rested all their starters in one of those games to get ready for the
playoffs.
“As an offense, that’s what we always talk about,” said Love, whose
387 yards passing were two off his career high. “We’re hunting those
explosives. I think we did a good job in the game. I think there’s
still a lot more explosives out there, some missed opps we had, and
that’s the unfortunate part.”
The Packers also missed plenty of opportunities once they got into
scoring position.
They had a first down at the Minnesota 27 and eventually reached the
20 before settling for a 43-yard field goal early in the second
quarter. They had first-and-goal at the 7 in the third quarter
before losing a yard on the next three plays and again settling for
a field goal. They lost the ball on downs in the red zone twice in
the fourth quarter.
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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) runs the ball
for a touchdown after catching a pass as Matthew Golden (0) helps
defend against a tackle attempt by Minnesota Vikings cornerback
Isaiah Rodgers (2) during the first half of an NFL football game,
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Part of the problem was an inefficient rushing
attack. The Packers gained just 66 yards on 21 carries while playing
without three-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs, who’s on the
commissioner’s exempt list after pleading no contest to two
misdemeanor charges stemming from a May altercation with his
girlfriend at the time.
The other issue was an offensive line that didn’t create enough
running room and also failed to protect Love from the Vikings’
constant pressure. The Vikings had three sacks and offensive
coordinator Adam Stenavich said Love was hit 18 times.
“Our plays were working,” Kraft said. “It was just that we’d be
turning around to look for the football and Jordan would be
off-schedule because he has internal or external pressure and he’s
trying to make a throw on the run.”
That offensive line had left guard Donovan Jennings making his first
career start and right guard Jacob Monk starting for just the second
time against the Vikings. Stenavich said the Packers would rotate a
few guys there in practice this week as they tried to find the right
combination.
Green Bay could get a boost whenever left guard Aaron Banks returns
from the knee issue that prevented him from playing against the
Vikings. Banks practiced on a limited basis Wednesday.
NOTES: Edge rusher Lukas Van Ness and defensive tackle Javon
Hargrave are in concussion protocol and were limited participants in
Wednesday’s practice. Hargrave also has a knee issue. OT Zach
Bako-Bewele (knee), LB Ty’Ron Hopper (Achilles), edge rusher Barryn
Sorrell (foot) and DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle) also were limited. ...
DT Warren Brinson (calf) didn’t practice.
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