"Tucker Kraft — Only three targets, which is odd, but the two receptions were the Packers’ biggest chunk plays. He needs to be involved much more in the passing game."

If they weren't stopping the pass rush anyway, why not dump a few quick ones to the TEs and backs to open up the D a little?

I see this game as three things that went wrong.

First, self inflicted mistakes. Wicks with two procedural penalties. The offside on the missed field goal at the end of the half. Holding on a touchdown run and skipping the field goal in the first half. These happen most of the year or in big games. Even Lafluer needs to rethink things.

Second, this defense can get torched by good QB's. And it happened last night. Until the DB's can stop the dagger route, the defense will struggle. Nixon was close, but Stokes was terrible. And Stokes has NO hands. He had a chance at an interception and his hands were two feet apart and the ball went through them.

And last, Love needs to learn to use check downs more. Darnold did all game. With Jacobs and Kraft great at run after the catch, these guys need to be used more to open up the long game.

The mistakes were more than enough to win. They have to be eliminated.

Well said Jonathan. The team is young and raw but it is becoming clear that we are a level below the top teams including the two in our own division. It also appears that Hafley is on the same track that Barry, Pettine and Capers were on. Not a good enough D-line to control a game and not enough pass rush to make a QB uncomfortable. This falls on Gutekunst, who repeatedly drafts Nick Perry then bargain shops in late rounds for the rest of his big body projects.

Not sure what to think of Love in the grand scheme of things. He fearlessly stands in a collapsing pocket, eyes downfield then doesn't quite make the throw. I think he is good but isn't playing up to potential. It would help if we had true route running quality WRs. Again, Gutekunst likes to shop at the discount store for our receivers and it shows. Aside from actually catching the ball, our kind of offense needs guys who can separate. Doubs is about the only guy who can create a window of time for a QB. Maybe a WR coach who actually played the game could help.

Overall, it is disappointing to know that the talent isn't quite there to challenge for the big prize. My worry is that our formula for building a championship team is wrong and we won't have good enough D-line, secondary or wide receivers to make the leap. Defeat Monday coming down. Arrrgh.

Why the long passes when shorter, possession ones designed to develop rhythm would have complemented Jacobs runs. There was a Musgrave sighting and as mentioned Kraft being underutilized. Defensively, GB is lacking a dominant pass rush(er). The DL is mediocre at best. Gary, Engabare, LVN, Cox all pretty much MIA. I would like to think Hafley will have input on the next draft and free agency.

Against the “physical” NFC teams ( Tampa, Detroit, Minnesota and Detroit and SF) the last two years the Packers are 1-7 and the one win against SF this year should not even count.
It’s not about mistakes.. mistakes are what happens when physical teams pressure you. They will happen EVERY time when you are “out physicaled”
We signed Jacobs and McKinney and it wasn’t enough.
We need a physical leader and philosophy on defense. We have neither.
It’s a regression from 2023 unless they win a divisional round game.. that’s just a fact.
Another big difference is we’re paying $220 million for a quarterback that I can think of at least 10 that are playing better than him right now. And none of them have Josh Jacobs. Love is ok, but certainly not a “ franchise quarterback “ like we have had for 30 years previously.

From the article: "here’s hoping Brian Gutekunst is recognizing the serious need to upgrade the edge, middle linebacker and corner positions in the off-season."

Is this the same Brian Gutekunst who drafted Edge Rashan Gary (he of the 6.5 sacks on the season) 12th overall and then gave him a 4 year-$96,000,000 deal despite Gary never having reached double digit sacks?

The same Brian Gutekunst who last year drafted Edge Lukas Van Ness 13th overall and subsequently watched LVN fail to deliver through his first 33 games in the NFL?

The Gutekenust who drafted LB Quay Walker 22nd overall only to see Quay completely lack the instincts to play the position? (To be fair, Gute seems to have hit on Cooper).

The Gutekunst who drafted CBs Josh Jackson in round 2 and Eric Stokes in round 1?

I too hope Gutekunst recognizes that the defense continues to lack talent at Edge, LB, and CB, but Gute's drafting track record at Edge, CB, and LB does not exactly inspire confidence that he will fill the voids at those positions.

And as he heads into his 8th season as Packer GM, perhaps it is worth considering whether the Packers ongoing talent deficiencies at Edge, LB, and CB are not due to Gutekunst's failure to recognize those deficiencies but rather his inability to rectify them.

Perhaps Love is not now top tier QB and maybe never will be and to be successful he has to be surrounded by very good talent at WR and O line...I really dont see much growth from him and that is also on MLF and his mediocre staff...the D line while rushing four has very little impact on a game...Gary, Clark, LVN, they should be traded while something can still be gotten from them....MLF is not a great HC that should be obvious..good OC not a great leader of men...his locker room speeches after games are rather cringe to these guys is my bet...he try's to seem tough but it dont work...will they make much noise in the playoffs?? Still to be determined, sure hope they dont play Eagles, with or without Hurts...oh yah, enough of the "young" team excuse...so are the Vikes and a few other teams with true rookie QBs....

face it. we are clearly a second tier team and will stay one because we bet our future on Love who just is incapable of making accurate routine throws often enough. He has his moments, but what one needs at that position is reliability. watching the amazing jayden daniels he will never be, but hell he was outplayed by sam darnold.

The game was decided in the trenches. The Packers couldn't generate any pressure with four rushers. When they did send more, they were quickly and efficiently picked up. Meanwhile, Love was constantly finding himself facing opposing players. Brian Flores is a master of finding ways to pressure QB's. Hafley hasn't found a way yet. If Saleh is still "advising" the team, maybe he could come up with some way to get pressure without weakening the back end. And the continued inability to protect the middle of the field has been a problem for several seasons.
This team is still a work in progress. Which is frustrating. Another very slow start to the year for Love, who then improved considerably, only to seemingly regress the last two weeks. And only three passes to Kraft? I can understand wanting to ease Musgrave back into the mix, but Kraft has shown he is a top tier TE.
In short, a better team (painful to say, but true this season) allowed their opponent to make things interesting in the end. But this only occurred when the defense changed, and the Vikings went into more of a "prevent defense" at the end of the game.

Several points:

1. Love is NOT that good. Accuracy is problem, and he lofts the ball far too much.

2. The D line is pathetic. Play after play they lack the ability to break away from blocks, giving qb's all sorts of time.

3. What was with the O line? It looked like the Vikings were playing with 15 guys. There was way too much pressure on Love.

I was okay with going for it on 4th and 2 in the second quarter. That is the usual call in the NFL nowadays, especially against a high scoring team like the Vikings. The Packers already had to settle for a field goal earlier in the game, and I'm sure the Vikings would have been very happy to hold them to another field goal.

The word "Middle" says it all, as that's where the Packers stand as an NFL team!

"A middling pass rush"? Where? Other than Brooks and Cooper it was almost non-existent yesterday!
"Inadequate (coverage) in the middle of the field". Inadequate? Coverage, what coverage? Both the D and the O treat the 'Middle' like the Bermuda Triangle, almost refusing to enter it. Hafley allows weekly beatings to take place there, and MLF would rather have Love throw a 40 yard, inaccurate bomb on 3rd or 4th and 3, or run it for 2 yards than throw over the Middle for 6 or 8! First downs be damned, and to hell with putting points on the board!
Worse yet was that as the Packers often wait until halftime, the Middle of the game, to get their heads out of their asses, yesterday they waited until the Middle of the 4th quarter.
The good teams will eat them alive!

Head scratching decisions by MLF. Going for it, instead of kicking the field goal to get within striking distance. Two weeks in a row, either play caller and/or Jordan Love fail to run the 2 minute offense at the end of the first half, but instead throwing up hero balls on third and manageable distance and instead hand the ball over with plenty of time on the clock. Against the the JV last week, it didn't hurt, but Minny made them pay. Just very, very poor game management.

Regardless of the score, Minny was visibly the better team. JA better heal up fast, or this team will go nowhere trying to play zone defense against the 2 or 3 seed come play off time.

Love has simply got to play better. He's missing receivers left and right.

…Is Hafley truly an upgrade over Barry? I see the best D-Coords blitzing far more often than Hafley.
…I have consistently raved about Jacobs, but the fumble was unacceptable and reminded me of what Aaron Jones did in some critical moments.
…Can there be a game where the officiating doesn’t help determine an outcome. The free FG given to the Vikings was another pathetic overreach by the officials.
…Love seldom looks for a check down—move the chains.
…the game plan and management by LaFluer was lacking. Reed, Wicks, and Jacobs could have helped the narrative, but I felt Lafleur was badly out coached.
Go Packers!!!

Game Balls: Edgerrin Cooper and Romeo Doubs.

Lame Calls: MLF play calling, choosing not to kick the FG in the 2nd quarter. Officials calling neutral zone infraction against Cooper on the Vikings missed FG.

In a game that ended in a 2 point difference not kicking the FG and the bad call against Cooper resulted in a 6 point swing in the Vikings favor. Admittedly the Packers did not play well enough to win but those 2 plays made an impact in the final result of the game. Thanks, Since '618

We got manhandled and are clearly a second tier team. That’s the consensus and it’s hard to argue. Reading the 20 or so comments above the fanbase wants to fire the GM, fire the coach, change QBs, and trade the entire D line as well as upgrade the O line. Let’s do that (assuming you can find any takers for such a group of untalented bottom feeders). If we work really hard we can be the second iteration of the Bears, Giants, Jets or Panthers. The only thing not suggested is to rip up the organizational structure and offer the team to a multibillionaire. Perhaps Murphy should just notify the NFL that the team forfeits week 18 and desires to skip the playoffs because they need to work on their offseason plans. Sheesh….

Everyone keeps calling Alexander a starter. He's only started 4 or 5 more games than me this year. Lol

I’ve read all the responses to this article and to say that I’m quite surprise would be an under statement. This team cannot win against a quality opponent with the mistakes that they make, plan and simple. Comparing Hadley to Joe Barry is not right. Hadley will probably be a head coach next season. The GM will address the defensive needs in the off season. Gutey needs to stop drafting high picks from the SEC. We wasted three number one picks from that conference ( Stokse, Wyatt and Quary). Alexander has missed 19 games in two seasons and will probably be gone. How many teams are fortunate to keep winning year after year.
I’ve been a true fan since 1967. It pains me to watch this tough losses just like everyone else but, let’s be realistic, we’re a young team that needs to keep on improving. The mental mistakes are killers. LaFluer is one of the best coaches in the NFL. Let’s just relax and hope for the best in the playoffs.
There are millions of other fans that wish that they could just have a winning season let alone make the playoffs, GO PACK GO!!!

LaFluer is simply stupid in early on decisions, take the effing points and forget the try at first downs. Second game he lost because of early on going for first down and team failing to do so!

We all have seen that the Packers are are 11-0 vs teams no the Lions, Vikings or Eagles but another stat that is telling is the Packers are 1-5 vs teams that will be making the playoffs. They are consistent in that they beat the teams they should but in the big games the team is falling short as well.

With that said they are in a good place in the 2nd year with Love and having a team that is one of the youngest in the league. The Packers finally have a run game they can hang their hat on but the defense is still a problem. LVN needs to step on and become the pass rusher opposite of Gary and Gary himself should be causing more havoc then he does. In the past it was the offense that got all the big contracts and high draft picks but that isn't the case at the moment. There is a lot money and high picks on that side of the ball, it needs to improve in 2025.

Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep dark depression, excessive misery

Losing a game doesn't bother me as much as the incessant blather about one of the best franchises in the NFL. Seriously, some of y'all should root for the Browns.

the game was exactly as close as the score. that's how it works. welcome to overreaction Monday.

the season starts in two weeks, take a valium.

I posted this in another article, but this team is living on last year's laurels. Their EFFORT was horrendous. The offensive gameplay was very flawed, if Love followed the script. I mentioned before the game set up the run, which they did sans fumble, short passes over the middle- slant, TE and RB swing passes, then go with throws down field.
The Packers have enough talent to compete. What they are missing is heart. Last year w/o Jacob's they were in the final eight. This year it's like they think they can turn it on whenever they want...except that can't.
Just MHO

Add to Brooks' game ball the recovery of Valentine's fumble.

I think the statement you are what your record says you are is absolutely true of this team. Good but not good enough.

"And his insistence on choosing to take the ball first rather than deferring is simply bad strategy."

That's your opinion, Jonathan and I do not agree with it.

I agree with this Jonathon who stated a few sentences later: "His (Jacobs) fumble killed what was shaping up to be a successful Packers’ first drive and altered the tone of game from the jump."

Looks like you feel strongly both ways!

So if taking the ball for successful first drive did end up "altering the tone of the game" would you have written the first sentence above? I doubt it.

Hindsight is perfect vision.

We have to keep in mind, we have a team that is top 10 in offense and defense in most all categories. I’m confident this team can beat anyone and make a run for it. Yes, they need to clean up things and that will determine whether they fail or not IMO.

The dysfunction goes back much further to the time Mark Murphy seized control and upset the previous balance and decreed he retain full control as President/CEO. He was 'awarded' this role by the Board, many of whom are friends and business contacts.
He has hired men he can control. -For many years Gute did not operate w/the full autonomy one would expect as a GM.The best GMs would not tolerate Murphy's interference. MLF was hired as a fledgling 39 y/o with no HC experience.
And, though Murphy is scheduled to retire July 2025, I don't believe he will go quietly into the night. He is too invested in Titletown. Ed Policy is not a strong replacement-more of a company man, from what I've seen. Murphy can pull strings while in the background.
In order for Green Bay to compete with Minnesota and Detroit, a profound shake-up would need to occur-something like the metamorphosis in Detroit or Washington. Additionally, Bylaws would need to be re-written to return to the fairer, better-balanced individual silos. The current structure is not fair, crosses boundaries and gives one man too much power.
I do not see Ed Policy being that man, nor do I see Murphy graciously removing himself from covert influence.

As a result, MLF and Gute will remain, hopefully Hafley will over-ride Gute's D Draft 'projects' (most recent Ty-Ron
Hopper) and the Pack will emerge a B-B+ team. They won't go further though with this current management.

I appreciate your honest take as opposed to a blinded one.

"A middling pass rush." That's being kind. I would settle for that. Vikes OL looked almost bored out there...even when the Packers blitzed,

"Jeff Hafley’s crew has padded some stats over the past few weeks against weaker teams." Everyone should be able to see this. Most don't want to accept it.

"Carrington Valentine — His interception in the fourth quarter came at a key moment." It stopped the game from being a blowout and was the toughest catch made while others on O dropped less difficult passes.

"Lukas Van Ness is mediocre." And he's not the only one. Reminds of Dean Lowry. But I just don't get Van Ness. He's got all the tools to be a force, so I'm not going to give up on him this early. I would think he could be developed into that force, but maybe tools don't mater as much as just being able to play the game.

You're right about taking the ball first being bad strategy, it's also stupid. You have a whole league full of teams that agree with you. It's not like he knows some secret the others don't. But to his credit, he's the only coach that hops up and down on the sideline like a bunny.

Landing the seventh spot. "Which would mean a very tough visit to Philadelphia, a team that does everything that gives Green Bay trouble." Even if Hurts doesn't clear protocol, Packers wouldn't get to play against a dismal back-up QB again (Allen, Howell, Streeter), as Kenny Pickett is not in that category.

I still don't know what to think about Jordan Love, but he's "the guy" since they paid him like "the guy." I'd be willing to bet Malik Willis could have got them into the playoffs also.

This constant "You are what your record says you are" BS needs to stop. They're 0-5 against the top three seeds and 1-4 in their division, almost 0-5. Right now they're fortunate to be a playoff team. Hope they're not "one and done."

Rodgers was 11-5 in his 2nd year, lost to the Vikings twice in the regular season and lost in the wild card round to the Arizona Cardinals.