The Green Bay Packers suffered a 27-25 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, with quarterback Sam Darnold outperforming their defense. The undermanned Packers pass defense struggled against a talented group of receivers and a well-designed passing scheme by Kevin O’Connell.
With cornerback Jaire Alexander, safety Evan Williams, and linebacker Quay Walker missing due to injury, and backup safety Zayne Anderson suffering a concussion, the Packers were severely depleted at the back. Darnold targeted an open receiver on 67.4% of his passes, completing 23 of 27 for 257 yards and two touchdowns.
The Vikings had four pass-catchers produce over 60 receiving yards, including Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson with at least 20-yard catches. Running back Cam Akers scored a touchdown on a screen pass, and C.J. Ham’s catch sealed the win. Aaron Jones caught four of five targets.
The Packers’ pass rush failed to pressure Darnold, taking just one sack and being hit five times in 43 dropbacks. Coach Matt LaFleur expressed concern that the defense needs to apply more pressure when faced with long drops back.
The loss serves as a wake-up call for the Packers, who must now address their defensive issues before the playoffs. With top quarterbacks like Darnold’s on the horizon, surviving the postseason requires facing and overcoming such challenges.
Source: https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2024/12/29/packers-passing-defense-shredded-by-vikings-qb-sam-darnold