The Green Bay Packers coughed up a 22-17 lead to the Minnesota Vikings, collapsing into a brutal 39-22 loss right out of the gate in Week 1. It was an absolute meltdown in Minneapolis on Sunday, September 13, and if you saw the fourth quarter, you know exactly what kind of ugly bag we’re talking about. This isn’t just a loss; it is another chapter in a frustrating saga for Packers fans who have now watched their team suffer six straight defeats. Coach Matt LaFleur is catching a lot of heat, and honestly, when your team pulls a field goal off the scoreboard and then lets the opponent rack up 29 unanswered points in the second half, that criticism is gonna be loud.
The Third-Down Flags That Sank Them
Forget the score for a second, because the real gut punch came from the officiating. We’re talking 12 yellow flags for 98 yards. That is a ton of real estate given up for free, and it is the kind of self-inflicted wound that absolutely leads to a loss. What is worse? Three of those crucial fouls happened on third down, keeping the Vikings’ go-ahead scoring drives alive. You know those calls are going to have fans screaming, especially when some of them looked questionable at best.
The pain started early in that fourth quarter. Leading 22-17, the Packers looked like they had Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz stopped cold on three separate third-down snaps. First, on a critical third-and-11, Edgerrin Cooper and Devonte Wyatt combined for a huge sack on Wentz. It looked like a momentum-shifting play, but then a flag flew for illegal contact on Javon Bullard, handing the Vikings a first down.
Then came another head-scratcher. On third-and-3, rookie defensive tackle Chris McClellan was whistled for roughing Wentz after an incompletion. Officials said he drove Wentz to the ground, but replays showed McClellan easing up at the very end of what looked like an aggressive hit. Another free pass for the Vikings. But the biggest one? On third-and-5 from the 6-yard line, Evan Williams intercepted a Wentz throw right in the end zone. The entire defense erupted, only for another yellow flag to appear. Defensive holding on Xavier McKinney. Ouch. Former Packers running back Aaron Jones then scored on a 3-yard touchdown run on the very next play, and the fourth-quarter follies just kept coming.
Fans Are Fuming After This Latest Collapse
This latest performance, especially with those 29 unanswered points and the constant flow of flags, has social media absolutely ablaze. Packers fans are frustrated, and they are not holding back on their feelings about the officiating crew. This Week 1 loss is a brutal start to the season for a team that has already been struggling. With LaFleur taking blame for some serious strategic decisions and the defense looking like it cannot get off the field, the pressure is on. They have got to clean up these penalties and find a way to finish games, or this “ugly bag” of a season is only going to get heavier.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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