An Amazing Vikings Turnaround in a Memorable Opening Win Over the Packers

I predicted a double digit win for the Vikings in their opener against the Packers. I know from experience that games rarely go as planned but I certainly didn’t envision the wild swings of momentum that resulted in the turnaround from a 22-10 seemingly hopeless third quarter deficit to a 39-22 Purple victory in which the Vikings scored the final 29 points and outscored the Packers 22-0 in the fourth quarter.

Here are my reactions: to a crazy, highly entertaining opening victory that was extra important since it was against a division rival at loud U.S. Bank Stadium.

Unpacking the Vikings’ Wild Week 1 Win

1. Losing Kyler Murray on his 11th play to a concussion on a cheap shot hit in the head area from safety Javon Bullard was an early shock to the Vikings. I thought Bullard should’ve been ejected for targeting which didn’t happen but he’ll be fined by the NFL.

Carson Wentz took over. As expected with his limited reps with the starters in camp and before the opener, Wentz missed a few throws early to Jordan Addison. But Wentz justified Kevin O’Connell’s decision to make him the backup ahead of J.J. McCarthy with a solid performance that included a few plays McCarthy may not have made. These include drawing Lukas Van Ness offside with a hard count for the free play that resulted in the 39-yard deep TD pass to Justin Jefferson (a great throw and catch for the first TD), telling T.J. Hockenson to make a route adjustment that led to the 16-yard TD pass in the third quarter that brought the Vikings within 22-17, and changing the play to a run on Jordan Mason’s 28-yarder on the game-winning drive.

We’ll see if Murray clears concussion protocol in time to play in Chicago on Sunday but there is more confidence than ever before in Wentz after his Sunday performance (12 of 19 for 133 yards, 3 TDs, no turnovers and an impressive 123.5 passer rating).

2. The Vikings had contributions from all three phases. Myles Price’s 68-yard kickoff return jump-started the Vikings comeback when they were down 22-10 in the third quarter. There was a crushing block by newcomer DeeJay Dallas to help Price and the Vikings had to love that the block was against Evan Williams who threw a head shot at Jefferson on a pass play.

The defense overcame too many big pass plays allowed (seven pass plays over 20 yards and five over 30 yards including Christian Watson’s 81-yard first quarter TD that was misplayed by Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus, among others).

Brian Flores blitzed Jordan Love on 78% of his drop backs and the Packers offensive line became tired and confused late to the point they couldn’t block Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner. The D was phenomenal on the last four Packer drives in which they stopped the Packers on downs; produced a lost fumble by Love on the combined strip sack by Cashman and Van Ginkel; then Love threw an interception on Cashman’s pressure and deflection that bounced off Harrison Smith and was picked off by James Pierre, and finally the Packers were again stopped on downs.

The fatigue factor also affected the Packers defense as the offensive line, tight ends, and fullback Max Bredeson led the way for Mason’s 28-yard run on the game-winning drive and TD runs by Aaron Jones (his first against his former team) and Mason. Time of possession was deceptive in the first half with the Vikings having the ball for 20 ½ minutes to 9 ½ minutes for the Packers and ultimately holding a 33-27 edge for the game. That also played a role against the Packers banged-up and reshuffled O-line in Week 1 when starters have not yet played a full game.

3. In their last four drives not including a kneel-down at the end, the Vikings scored four TDs and a two-point conversion (on a perfect throw from Wentz to Justin Jefferson) to go from a 12 point deficit to a 17 point win. In this amazing turnaround, the Vikings scored three TDs in 2:39 of game time. It’s the first win in franchise history in which the Vikings won by more than 15 points despite being outgained by over 150 yards (419-239).

4. Matt LaFleur’s bad decision—it just didn’t make sense to take points off the board in a divisional road opener when the field goal would’ve given the Packers an eight-point lead with 13 minutes left. And to run the QB sneak in a loud road venue without a pusher behind Love was a mistake.

It was a huge momentum boost for the Vikings when Love was stuffed by rookie third rounder DT Domonique Orange who played 22 defensive snaps while his draft classmate and first round pick Caleb Banks was on the field for 16 defensive snaps (both played seven special teams snaps). Big Citrus (Orange) was credited with two tackles while Banks had none and second rounder Jake Golday only played special teams as Kyle Van Noy had 25 plays at linebacker with one tackle.

5. Terrible officiating—it was one of the worst officiated games I’ve seen in a long time with two blatant facemask calls missed on the Packers against Wentz (that would’ve extended a drive) and Jefferson (the Vikings still scored a TD on that drive). A block in the back could’ve been called on Watson’s long TD catch and run. The body weight roughing call that kept the Vikings winning drive alive was a very questionable call. And there were several hits to the head not called along with holding by both teams that went unflagged.

6. Penalties, third/fourth downs, and red zone—it was a positive discipline-wise for the Vikings to have only three penalties for 15 yards as opposed to the Packers’ 12 for 98 yards including five penalties that gave the Vikings first downs (three on the wild game-winning drive). The Vikings converted 8 of 15 on third down while holding the Packers to 3 of 12 of third down and 0 for 2 on fourth down. In the red zone, the Vikings were 4 for 4 and the Pack 1 for 4.  

7. Things to clean up—the Vikings have a lot to clean up before heading to Chicago including: coverage mistakes–it was better when Harrison Smith was in there more in the second half as the key communicator but concerns remain about the problems Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus have in coverage and it was probably Byron Murphy’s worst overall game as a Viking when Christian Watson burned him several times; better coverage also is needed on the tight ends after Tucker Kraft and Jonnu Smith combined for five catches and 115 yards (with Smith left wide open on a 43-yard catch) and the Bears have two good tight ends—Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland; run it more consistently (they had the two rushing TDs but only a 3.1 yard average with 107  yards on 34 carries for Jones and Mason), and Reichard should kick off deep into end zone as he often did last season so there are no returns (Bo Melton averaged 31 yards per kickoff return including a 59 yarder as the Vikings coverage units have a lot of young players still learning the ropes). 

8. Bottom line—1-0 is a great place to be headed to Chicago to battle a Bears team that put 59 points and 552 total yards on Carolina. There’s a lot to fine tune especially in the secondary but as Kevin O’Connell said postgame, it’s a lot better to fix things after a home divisional win over an arch-rival.

Other Week 1 games involving NFC North teams

As just mentioned, the Bears offense rolled on Sunday with QB Caleb Williams throwing for 269 yards and two TDs and running for 65 yards and two more TDs. D’Andre Swift (124 yards, 3 TDs) and Kyle Monangai (100 yards, 1 TD) were part of a 291 yard rushing day. The Vikings run D was solid against Green Bay with only 66 yards allowed on 21 carries (3.1 yard average). The Bears defense gave up 478 yards and 37 points but did force three turnovers (after leading the league last year in the category).

The Vikings and Bears split their two games last season with each team winning on the road (and the Vikings could’ve swept if they had covered Devin Duvernay’s kickoff return in their Week 11 loss that may have cost them a playoff spot and possibly the division title).

The Lions staggered a bit out of the gate, blowing a 21-0 lead at home against New Orleans before winning 31-30 in overtime when the Saints couldn’t convert a two-point attempt. Jahmyr Gibbs had 156 rushing yards and two TDs and added 30 yards receiving. The Lions pass defense was lousy as Tyler Shough passed for 410 yards and three TDs (but he did throw two picks).

Detroit has a tough Week 2 game at Buffalo with the Bills coming off an exciting 36-31 win in Houston. Josh Allen had 357 total yards in the game with four TDs (two rushing and two receiving). It will be a short travel week for the Lions as it’s a Thursday night game and there will be a lot of fanfare as the Bills open their new stadium.

I’ll be back on Friday to preview Vikings-Bears this Sunday at Soldier Field.

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