Comeback falls short against Vikings

Four turnovers doom Packers in divisional matchup
By: 
Luke Reimer
Correspondent

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It was a tumultuous return to action for Jordan Love, as his four touchdown passes were overshadowed by three interceptions in Green Bay’s 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 29.

Finding itself down 28-0, Green Bay outscored Minnesota 29-3 from the 15-second mark in the second quarter but was unable to recover a desperation onside kick attempt with 56 seconds left in the game and dropped the NFC North matchup.

“I am super proud of our guys’ effort,” said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. “That is one thing – these guys battled. It is interesting when you are down 28-0, like how you are going to respond, and I think you saw the character of our locker room today, in terms of just how our guys went out and competed.”

In total, Love finished the game completing 32-of-54 passes for 389 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Love’s 389 passing yards and four touchdowns mark career highs, while the three interceptions tie a career high.

Wide receiver Jayden Reed was the main benefactor of Love’s big day through the air, as the Michigan State alum recorded 139 yards on seven receptions and one touchdown. Dontayvion Wicks added 78 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while tight end Tucker Kraft finished off the quartet of touchdowns.

“As the game went, it seemed to me that he looked more and more comfortable. We made more explosive plays, which is tough to do when a team is sitting back in two shell (coverage),” said LaFleur, on what he saw from Love in this game. “There are a lot of good lessons that come out of every game.”

As for Minnesota, quarterback Sam Darnold completed 20-of-28 passes for 275 passing yards and three touchdowns. With Packers defensive back Jaire Alexander out of the game, Minnesota star receiver Justin Jefferson led the air attack with 85 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. Jordan Addison and Josh Oliver also scored one touchdown each.

In his return to Green Bay, Vikings running back Aaron Jones finished the game with 93 rushing yards on 22 carries and 46 receiving yards on four receptions.

Minnesota jumped out to a blazing start, as it scored on its first three drives of the game, putting Green Bay into a big 21-0 hole. That 21-0 hole was exacerbated by Green Bay missing two field goals and throwing an interception on its first three drives.

“I think that it comes down to that we just didn’t make enough plays,” said Love, on the Packers’ slow start. “I had a turnover early, and we just didn’t make plays. Just did not play well enough, personally. Accuracy was a little bit off, a little bit shaky, and it was definitely making it hard on some of the guys, which led to us getting off of the field early and not being able to put up points. We got in a hole early with all of that.”

Following the 21-point deficit, things only got worse for Green Bay, when Love threw his second interception of the game. Minnesota immediately capitalized on the interception, as Darnold connected with Jefferson for a 14-yard touchdown.

After Green Bay turned the ball over on downs in its next possession, the teams traded punts. That is when Green Bay caught a spark of life.

Punting the ball away, Vikings returner Jalen Nailor lost the ball in the sun and muffed the punt. Green Bay recovered the ball on Minnesota’s 4-yard line. Love connected with Romeo Doubs close to the end zone but, after a bobble, was marked short. In an attempt to stop the clock to take another look at the play, the officials did not see LaFleur trying to call a timeout, so the Packers coach ran out onto the field screaming at the officials and was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, pushing Green Bay back to the 15-yard line. On the next play, Love connected with Reed to score Green Bay’s first points of the afternoon.

After a scoreless third quarter, Wicks and Kraft converted a touchdown each, while Minnesota traded in a field goal. Wicks’ second touchdown of the day came with 56 seconds left and cut the deficit to two, before Minnesota ended the game by recovering the onside kick.

“I am just happy that we just continued to play,” said Packer linebacker Quay Walker. “Sometimes, our best is not going to lead to a victory, and sometimes you have to be OK with that.”