I suppose there is the temptation to wring one’s hands after the Packers’ performance against the Vikings in the season opener, a 23-7 loss that looked a lot more lopsided than it was, and there was plenty of blame to be had on both sides of the ball. If memory serves, the Packers were blown-out 38-3 in last year’s season opener against the Saints, with Rodgers throwing for just 133 yards and two interceptions even with Davante Adams in the lineup. Jordan Love, though, looked “good” in junk time, completing 5 of 7 passes for 68 yards. The Packers went on to win 13 of their next 15 games.
In “normal” times, today’s game was certainly winnable. A play or two on the offense and defense could have revealed a different score. With the intended WR1, Allen Lazard, out after some moron stepped on his foot during practice, there was some hope that one of rookies would “step up” –like the Vikings third-year star, Justin Jefferson, who caught 88 passes for 1400 yards in his 2020 rookie campaign. In this game, nobody really stepped up their game on the Packer side, particularly on the offensive line and defensive secondary, as Rodgers was sacked four times—although each time Rodgers seemed to hold the ball too long, since his usual “go-to” guy is no longer on the team; the supposedly “solid” secondary was burned several times by Jefferson in the first half as the game got out of control in a hurry. Jefferson caught nine passes for 184 yards and scored both Viking touchdowns.
Although rookie Romeo Doubs caught four passes in an “attack” that saw the ball spread out to nine different receivers, the Vikings knew the Packers had no deep threat and stuffed-up the middle. Randall Cobb is supposed to be a good slot receiver, but his most “notable” play was being the target of a junk pass that Rodgers heaved under pressure that the undersized Cobb had no chance of catching and the ball was intercepted.
The Packers' longest pass play was a dump-off to rookie Christian Watson on the last play of the game, as he ran it out for 25 yards. The pass came from Love, who completed 4 of 5 for 65 yards, reminiscent of his junk performance against the Saints; unfortunately we remember how he played in the game against the Chiefs when Rodgers was out for a positive COVID test, in which Love was mostly awful in a surprisingly winnable game.
Last season’s opening day blowout
loss was of course much worse than this season’s opening blowout loss. But last
year it just seemed like it was meant to be a “humbling” experience for Rodgers
after what he put the team through during the offseason. But this season will
be different, because Rodgers and his new receivers are going to have to get on
the same page pronto, because I don’t think the defense is going to bail out
this team. Such is what happens when your starting quarterback feels he doesn't need to play a down in the preseason with a new cast of characters
By the way, I’m kind of wondering if Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is going to make the same mistakes Rodgers made. Against the Chargers today Carr seemed tunnel-visioned, targeting Adams 17 times, half his pass attempts. Adams did have a great game on paper, catching 10 passes for 141 yards, but Carr also threw three interceptions as the Chargers won 24-19, and Carr looked completely lost on the Raiders last drive. Over in Kansas City, it was “easy money” for Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who caught four passes for 44 yards; they’re paying him $10 million a year for that?
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