The Green Bay Packers fell behind the Minnesota Vikings early, couldn’t find clutch plays late and lost a fourth consecutive game on Sunday at Lambeau Field to fall to 2-5 through seven games of the 2023 season.
It was a familiar script for Green Bay in Week 8.
The Packers trailed 10-0 in the first half, fell behind 24-3 in the third quarter and then turned the ball over on downs on three straight possessions after threatening a comeback in the fourth quarter.
The 24-10 loss was the Packers’ fifth in six games after starting 1-0.
The Packers kicked a field goal as time expired to cut the first-half deficit to 10-3, but another slow start had Matt LaFleur’s attempting to dig out of a two-score deficit in the first 30 minutes of play. Green Bay hasn’t scored a first-half touchdown since Week 2 and has been outscored 73-9 in the first half of the last five games.
The Vikings scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to open the second half and extend the lead to 24-3.
After Jordan Love threw a touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs to cut the lead to 24-10, the Packers failed to score on back-to-back possessions despite having the ball 1st-and-10 from the Vikings’ 15-yard line.
Minnesota’s offense converted 11 third or fourth down situations.
The Packers were penalized 11 times for 99 yards, Love threw an interception for the fifth straight game and the offense finished 1-for-4 scoring touchdowns in the red zone.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins appeared to suffer a serious lower leg injury in the fourth quarter and did not return.
The Packers are now 2-5. LaFleur’s team will welcome the Los Angeles Rams to Lambeau Field next week.
