November 3, 2024

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5 takeaways from Packers’ down-to-the-wire loss to…

5 takeaways from Packers’ down-to-the-wire loss to...



2. The defense’s biggest missed opportunity came on the first play of the final drive.

Adams was referring to a would-be interception by safety Darnell Savage on a Kirk Cousins deep ball to start the final possession. But the ball came out of Savage’s grasp and grazed the turf as he went to the ground, so the turnover was overturned via replay.

The Packers never did get the ball back, and on an off day for a Green Bay defense that ranked third in yards and points allowed coming in, the regrets were many.

Savage had a pick early in the game wiped out by a roughing-the-passer penalty on Kingsley Keke, leading to a Vikings TD. He also had his hands on another deep ball that receiver Thielen batted away, almost like a defender.

On the final drive, cornerback Rasul Douglas looked to have an interception chance on the 26-yard sideline completion to Thielen, but overran the throw and the play ruptured into a big gain.

Cousins finished 25-of-34 for 341 yards with three TDs and no interceptions (128.4 rating), but the Packers certainly had their opportunities to change those stats.

“That’s the chance to get their offense off the field and not let them get the ball rolling,” Smith said of the misses, another coming on his sack that knocked the ball out, but the Vikings recovered. “Kirk hit his throws today. We allowed him to be comfortable and that’s what happens when you let him get comfortable.”

Jefferson had eight catches for 169 yards to go with the two scores, accounting for almost half of Cousins’ passing yards.

3. Rodgers put up monster numbers despite not practicing, and while dealing with a toe injury that appears to be getting worse.

With the Packers scoring touchdowns on all three of their second-half possessions, Rodgers wound up 23-of-33 for 385 yards with four TDs and a 148.4 passer rating, his biggest statistical game of the season. In addition to Adams going over 100 yards, Valdes-Scantling (four catches, 123 yards) did, too.

The big-time production helped make up for yet another missed field goal by Mason Crosby earlier in the game, which loomed large for a while but in some ways felt moot with the Vikings kneeling on the ball late in the game.

Rodgers said his injured toe, which kept him out of practice except for some limited work on Friday, got stepped on early in the game, making it flare up. He got it looked at and treated at halftime and appeared no worse for wear as the game went on, but without specifying how the injury came about, he confessed it’s “very, very painful” and “a little worse than turf toe.”

He’s hoping it’ll start feeling better after the bye week, but he’s got to get through one more game before getting that rest.

https://www.packers.com/news/game-recap-5-takeaways-from-packers-down-to-the-wire-loss-to-vikings