Bend, But Don't Break: Packers Falter in Season Opener

Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season has arrived and it set a unique tone for what to expect this season to look like. While writing off a team only one game into a season is a bit impractical, it is sensible to highlight weaknesses and errors in teams' performances early on. It will be a few weeks before the team landscape map is easier to read, but the foundation doesn't just build itself after the first game.

The 2021 Green Bay Packers were a prime example of a team's bad Week 1 performance that didn't completely drag down their season. After being drubbed 38-3 against the New Orleans Saints in the opener, the Packers put that loss aside and went on a tear in the NFC. They would only lose 3 more games, finished 13-4, and clinched the number 1 seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

However, did everyone expect the Packers to repeat a poor opening game performance, especially in a messy 23-7 loss against the rival Minnesota Vikings? Probably not, but with most of their starters taking little to no reps during the preseason it may feel like it was justified.

Leading up to kickoff, the Packers knew their offense would be in a tough position as WR Allen Lazard, OL David Bakhtiari, & OL Elgton Jenkins were listed on the inactive list. Bakhtiari and Jenkins have both been working on extensive rehabs from torn ACLs, but Lazard has been dealing with a recent ankle injury and did not practice much leading up to Sunday. With WR1 out, this meant that rookies WRs Christian Watson & Romeo Doubs would be getting more looks from Rodgers and in the mix with veterans Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins.

Things didn't look great early on for Green Bay. The Vikings marched downfield on their first drive and QB Kirk Cousins hit top receiver Justin Jefferson from 5 yards out for the first score of the game. Minnesota looked like a different team than in previous years, high stepping to its own beat under new head coach Kevin O'Connell. Now it was time for the Packers to do the same on their first offensive series.

But they may have played the wrong note, as on the first play for the offense Rodgers launched a great looking downfield pass to a wide open Watson, who had his man beat on the coverage, but the ball rolled off his fingertips and dropped what could have potentially been a 75-yd catch and run touchdown.

While it was a sour taste to the start of the post Davante Adams era, would the current receiving corp sweeten things up for Rodgers? Not so much. In the first half, Rodgers was 8 of 15 for 76 yards and threw an interception late in the 2nd quarter. Out of those 76 yards, only 10 of them were from his receivers and came from the veterans Cobb and Watkins.

The second half saw a slighty better tempo than the first half, but it was too little too late. RB AJ Dillon pounded in the only score for the green and gold late in the 3rd quarter and Rodgers went 14 of 19 for 119 yards, but also fumbled on the Packers first possession in the half. None of the receivers on the depth chart had more than 40 yards on the day.

There was visible frustration from Rodgers on his young wideouts not bringing in passes but also being pressured on 11 dropbacks and being sacked 4 times. The offensive line struggled to contain the Vikings defensive front, with second year players Jake Hanson & Royce Newman pulling extra weight after Jon Runyan left the game for a concussion.

As for the defense, it was just a bad performance. Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson made life difficult for the Packers zone coverage defense. He compiled 6 catches for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half, highlighted by a wide open reception under 2 minutes left, which he would take on a crossing route 36 yards for the score.

That particular TD was one of several bad coverage assignments by the Packers secondary. At one point, the Packers even had LB Preston Smith lining up across from Jefferson rather than on the edge.

The damage was more than enough to the defense's confidence. The Packers came into the season ranked as a top 5 unit defensively, but gave up 269 yards passing, the 8th most on Sunday. To add insult to the injury, Jefferson averaged 4.5 yards of separation between himself and defensive backs. That gave plenty of time for Cousins to link up with his top wideout.

There were some bright spots, as rookie LB Quay Walker had 7 solo tackles in his NFL debut before suffering a shoulder injury and the defensive front holding Dalvin Cook to under 100 yards on 20 carries. Stopping Cook was in part to ILB Krys Barnes, who left the game with a leg injury and will be out the next four weeks.

There are particular focuses leading up to another division rivalry game this upcoming week. Watson & Doubs will have to earn trust from Rodgers on their routes, and the receiving game will have to be more spread out. The offensive line need to patch up the leaks on pass protection against a Bears defense that only gave up 10 points the week prior, and the defensive front with Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Jarran Reed, and Devonte Wyatt should apply pressure on Bears QB Justin Fields to make a poor read decision in the pocket.

As mentioned at the beginning of the post, a lackluster opening game performance won't signal the end of the season- it's far too early for that. The Packers followed up their ugly Week 1 loss last season with seven straight wins and finished tied with the NFL's best record at season's end. Their schedule this season may tell a similar story, but if it's as strong as a bamboo tree they'll only bend but won't break.