MINNEAPOLIS, MN (WHBL) – The Green Bay Packers trailed early and could not get their offense on-track in a 23-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in the season opener on Sunday.
The Vikings marched down the field on their first possession and scored a touchdown. The Packers looked like they’d answer with a touchdown of their own, but rookie receiver Christian Watson dropped a wide-open ball in the clear.
The Packers only other first-half scoring opportunity came midway in the 2nd quarter. Trailing 14-0, A.J. Dillon was stopped for no gain on 4th and 1.
Down 20-0 in the 3rd, the Packers would score their only touchdown of the afternoon on Dillon’s 2-yard touchdown run.
Aaron Rodgers struggled with a depleted receiving corps. He completed 22 of 34 passes for 195 yards. In the second half he was intercepted once and fumbled while being sacked. Allen Lazard, the leading returning receiver, didn’t play because of an ankle injury. Starting tackles David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins were also inactive.
The Packers suffered more injuries during the game: Jon Runyan left the game with a concussion. Linebacker Quay Walker – the team’s first round draft pick – left the game with a shoulder injury. Backup linebacker Krys Barnes was carted off the field with an ankle injury in the 4th quarter.
Kirk Cousins was 23-of-32 for 277 yards with two touchdown passes for the Vikings while wide receiver Justin Jefferson had the best game of his career with 184 receiving yards along with two touchdowns.
The Packers will host the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field next Sunday night.
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