Sam Darnold’s impressive performance against Green Bay’s defense highlighted a critical concern for the Packers as they approach the playoffs. The team has been dealing with several injuries in their secondary, making them susceptible to strong offensive teams. Jaire Alexander, a Pro Bowl cornerback for Green Bay, was sidelined for the sixth consecutive game due to a knee injury, and during this time, Darnold recorded a personal best of 377 passing yards in the Vikings’ closely contested victory over the Packers with a score of 27-25.
When questioned about the possibility of Alexander returning this season, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur could not provide a definitive answer, stating, “I don’t know.” Although Alexander is exceptional in coverage when healthy, he has only participated in 10 snaps over the last two months. His absence was felt during the team’s loss to Detroit on November 3, and his brief return against Chicago the following week was cut short by a relapse of his knee issue. “He’s been dealing with swelling and he doesn’t feel right to go out there and play,” LaFleur noted, indicating the severity of Alexander’s injury.
Other members of the Green Bay secondary are also facing challenges. Rookie safety Evan Williams is out with a quadriceps injury for the second game in a row. On the other hand, rookie Javon Bullard made a comeback after missing two contests due to an ankle injury, but Zayne Anderson had to exit the game with a concussion shortly after his breakout performance against the New Orleans Saints. This succession of injuries has clearly affected the team’s defense as the Vikings took advantage, with Darnold tossing three touchdown passes and building a significant 27-10 lead.
“We’ve got to do a better job in coverage, for sure,” LaFleur acknowledged. He pointed out that improving the pass rush would also enhance coverage, indicating an interconnectedness between the two aspects of their defensive strategy.
Currently, the Packers are seeded No. 7 in the NFC playoffs but could rise to the sixth seed if they overcome the Chicago Bears while the Washington Commanders lose against Dallas on Sunday. However, as the playoffs draw nearer, winning away games will pose a significant challenge if the team continues to perform poorly as they did against Minnesota. “I didn’t feel like it was to our standard,” LaFleur commented. “That’s a good football team, but there were many controllable factors where we failed to exhibit the necessary fundamentals and discipline. It was disappointing and resulted in sloppy football.”
Despite the setbacks, the Packers have displayed resilience in previous matchups against the Vikings, managing to mount comebacks from substantial deficits. Earlier in the season, they faced a 28-point deficit at Lambeau, ultimately narrowing the final score to a 31-29 loss. This latest encounter saw them reduce a 27-10 gap to only two points in the fourth quarter yet still come up short.
Areas needing improvement are also evident, particularly following their recent shutout victory. Green Bay allowed the Vikings to score three touchdowns along with two field goals in just six drives during part of the game. Additionally, they consistently struggle in the first halves of games against their divisional rivals, being outscored 85-27 by NFC North opponents, while dominating non-divisional rivals by a score of 192-89 in the first two quarters. Moreover, the Packers’ pass rush was lacking, recording only one sack and giving Darnold ample time to execute his throws.
In terms of players on the rise, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper displayed his potential by registering 10 tackles, including four tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Karl Brooks contributed with a sack and quickly recovered a fumble caused by cornerback Carrington Valentine at the end of an interception return.
On the downside, WR Jayden Reed continues to struggle, catching only one pass for six yards on four attempts, marking six of his last seven games with fewer than 35 receiving yards. Additionally, defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness has not managed to sack the quarterback in his last four games.
Injuries continue to plague the Packers’ roster; in addition to the secondary issues, defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt exited the game with a concussion. WR Christian Watson and LB Quay Walker also did not participate due to knee and ankle injuries, respectively.
One notable statistic is that Josh Jacobs of the Raiders has achieved a touchdown run in each of his last seven games, tying the franchise record famously set by Hall of Famer Paul Hornung in 1960.
Looking ahead, the Packers will prepare for the playoffs as they host the struggling Chicago Bears, who are in the midst of a ten-game losing streak and have not defeated Green Bay in their last eleven encounters.
