The Green Bay Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings in a must-win game. This is a rematch from week 2 when the teams tied at 29. If the Packers want to keep any hope of making the playoffs alive, they must win tonight’s game. The offensive tempo needs to be picked up, and McCarthy needs to utilize Aaron Jones consistently. Rodgers and company also need to convert on third downs better than they have been this season. The Packers need to show progress in cleaning up their own miscues for a chance at winning this football game. Instead, the Packers offense continued to lack tempo. It is the same story week after week. The offense can’t do anything for the first couple of drives, they get a tempo going for two drives and then look absolutely clueless. When it comes to third downs, this team is horrible. They just can’t convert them. The play clock runs out on them, lack of hustle, just disorganized all around.
Here is the full game recap:
1st Quarter
The Packers need a fast start to try and get things going in a must-win game. The defense started out great, forcing the Vikings to punt on their first two possessions. The Packers first possession wasn’t much to write home about. The drive would have kept progressing, but on 3rd and 8, Rodgers scrambled out of the pocket and hit a wide open Davante Adams. Except, he stepped out of bounds before he caught the ball and the Packers were forced to punt. On their second possession, Rodgers and Adams connected for a 15-yard touchdown to start the scoring off. The drive featured Aaron Jones, and when he is included in the offense, this offense moves the football. Jones converted on 3rd and 1 and then got the ball again on first down to set up the Adams touchdown. The defense couldn’t stop the Vikings on their third possession. Kirk Cousins hit Stefon Diggs for a big 24-yard gain. Cousins immediately followed that up with a 26-yard screen pass to Dalvin Cook to tie the game. Packers 7 – Vikings 7
2nd Quarter
Starting off the second quarter in the midst of their third drive of the game at the Viking 14 yard line, Rodgers hit Aaron Jones for an 8 yard gain on a screen pass. Jones then took the handoff on the next play and went 6 yards for the touchdown to give Green Bay the lead again. After forcing the Vikings to punt on their first two possessions, the Green Bay defense allowed touchdowns on the next two possessions. The big play continues to hurt this defense. Kirk Cousins found Stefon Diggs for a 30-yard touchdown to even the score. After a 3 and out, the Vikings were looking to take control of the game. Their drive started out promising when Cousins hit Adam Thielen for a 33-yard gain to get the ball in Green Bay territory. For the second time this game, the defense stopped the Vikings offense on 3rd and 1. This time the Vikings were in field goal range. Looking to take the lead, Mike Zimmer sent out his kicker, Dan Bailey, but he ends up missing it wide left. The Packers offense continues to struggle on third downs. Through the first half, the Packers are 1 for 4 on third downs. That will need to change in the second half if they want to win this game. The Packers had a chance to get the ball back before half but the Vikings converted on 3rd and 10 to extend the drive. The Green Bay defense continues to bend but not break, allowing the Vikings to drive into Green Bay territory. The Vikings attempted a 56-yard field, but Dan Bailey’s kick sailed wide right. Packers 14 – Vikings 14
3rd Quarter
After both defenses forced the opposing offenses to punt, the Packers then got the ball on their own 35-yard line. They then went with a run to Jones, pass to Jones and run to Jones. On fourth and 1, officials were late in getting the ball set, they had it ready with 27 seconds on the play clock but the Packers ended up burning a timeout. They then called a run to Jones, and Harrison Smith came flying off the edge to stop him from gaining the 1 yard necessary. The Vikings offense then got the ball in great field position and held the ball for nearly 4 minutes and moved it 25-yards for a field goal. For the second week in a row, the Packers offense looks completely inept in the second half. This unit looks like they have no idea what is going on. Jones ran it for 2 yards off the right side, then Rodgers had to throw the ball away as he was under pressure. David Bakhtiari took himself out of the game. Then the Packers received a delay of game penalty making it a 3rd and 13. The offensive line then just got manhandled as Rodgers was sacked and the Packers had to punt it away. It only took the Vikings 4 plays to go 31 yards and extend their lead. Packers 14 – Vikings 24
4th Quarter
Speechless. This fourth quarter was essentially the nail in the coffin on the 2018 Green Bay Packers season. It is a complete second-half meltdown, as this team can’t do anything right. In the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Packers had the football for 2:39. When they do force the Vikings to punt the ball, the special teams unit fails them again. Veteran Tramon Williams, lets the ball bounce right in front of him, it takes a high bounce and hits him on the shoulder and the Vikings recover. Just miserable football by the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers was able to put a 9 play, 73-yard drive together in 2:31 that resulted in a field goal. It could have been 6, but a Rodgers throw went off the fingertips of a wide open Davante Adams. The Vikings were able to run out the clock after recovering the onside kick. Packers 17 – Vikings 24
Next Up: Green Bay hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, December 2 at Noon.
Anthony Haag is a writer for PackersTalk.com. He has been a Packers fan since the day he was born and truly bleeds green and gold. He makes annual visits to Lambeau Field and has attended his fair share of games. You can follow Anthony on Twitter at @anthony_haag
