Green Bay Packers Offense Stumbles in Season Opener Against Minnesota Vikings

The Green Bay Packers and their new-look receiving corps were positively hammered in their first game of the regular season, and the Minnesota Vikings couldn't have been happier to do it. The Vikings dominated on both sides of the ball, jumping out to 17-0 lead at the half before cruising to a 23-7 victory and potentially announcing themselves as the new team to beat in the NFC North.

If the Packers knew trading five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams would have led to this, they may have reconsidered. The problems started early, with rookie second-round draft pick Christian Watson dropping a potential 75-yard touchdown bomb on the first Packers pass attempt of the game. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked tentative for the rest of the afternoon, holding onto the ball too long and getting crushed for four sacks, eventually finishing the day with a paltry 162 net yards passing on 38 dropbacks. Even an efficient run performance couldn't keep the Packers in the game; alleged future Pro Bowlers Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon combined for 94 yards at a highly efficient 6.27 yards per rush. If the Packers want to remain competitive in the NFC, they'll need a lot more from their passing attack going forward.

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On the other hand, the Vikings got their first game under new head coach Kevin O'Connell off with a bang. The team scored a touchdown on its opening drive, and superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson exploded for an amazing 184 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions, benefitting from the increased pre-snap motion brought about by O'Connell's new scheme. The run game contributed with an effective 126 yards on 28 carries, quarterback Kirk Cousins added a mistake-free game, and the Vikings put together everything they needed to declare themselves a new playoff contender in the NFC.

In Week 2, the Green Bay Packers will get a chance to rebound when they host the Chicago Bears in their home opener on Sunday Night Football, and the Minnesota Vikings will look to keep the good times rolling with a massive showdown on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.