MINNEAPOLIS – The Packers' regular season ended Sunday with a 16-3 loss to the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Against Minnesota's starters, Green Bay played mostly backups while resting regulars for next week's playoffs, which the Packers enter as the No. 7 seed with a 9-7-1 record following their fourth straight loss.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
- It was tough sledding offensively.
Minnesota's complex, blitz-heavy defense dominated most of the game against No. 3 QB Clayton Tune and a somewhat makeshift offensive line.
The Packers had only eight first downs in the game until their final possession, when they managed to drive for a field goal on the game's last play to avoid a shutout.
"That's a really good defense, one of the better defenses in the league," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. "They're really aggressive. They got us on a couple things in protection when we tried to throw the football.
"We wanted to lean on the run game but it wasn't good enough. They had free hitters in the hole at times."
Running back Emanuel Wilson managed to lose 18 yards on one running play when he kept trying to get away from the pursuit but was only making a bad situation worse.
Tune was sacked four times, all when the Vikings had a free rusher coming at him unblocked, sometimes via scheme and others via protection failures.
LaFleur by no means put the offensive struggles all on Tune, who threw for only 34 yards.
"It's a very tough one to judge based on, it's the perfect storm," he said. "Going against one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL, in a tough environment on a silent count."
- The defense held its own.
The Vikings, quarterbacked first by J.J. McCarthy and then Max Brosmer in the second half, managed just one touchdown and three field goals, a respectable showing by Green Bay's defensive reserves.
"I told the guys I was proud of their effort, the way they competed," LaFleur said. "Guys played physically for four quarters, that was the style we wanted to see."
Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson caught eight passes for 101 yards and running back Jordan Mason rushed 14 times for 94 yards, but the Packers held Minnesota to just 2-for-10 on third downs and generated a takeaway in the red zone.
- Some defenders might've earned a role in the postseason.
Defensive ends Barryn Sorrell and Brenton Cox Jr. stood out on Green Bay's defense, both as the run defense was better than a week ago and the pass rush had its moments.
They combined on the turnover, as Cox sacked Brosmer after he tried to get up following a stumble and the ball came out. Sorrell, the rookie fourth-round pick, recovered the fumble and had eight total tackles in the game, including a zero-yard sack.
"I thought both those guys played really hard," LaFleur said. "I've got to go take a look at it, do a deeper dive on it and critique it, but the energy and how they competed, I was happy with that."
Newly arrived cornerback Trevon Diggs also played some, getting a taste of Green Bay's defense heading into the postseason. Diggs arrived via waivers on Thursday, but with the Packers so banged up at cornerback, LaFleur wouldn't rule out the former All-Pro possibly starting in the playoffs, saying "everything's up for discussion."
"Certainly it was good for him to hear some of the calls, get acclimated to our defense, and we can build on that going into this week," LaFleur said.
- The Packers did not escape injury-free.
Resting as many guys as possible so as not to add to the injury list, the Packers did leave Minneapolis with a couple injuries.
Receiver and special-teamer Bo Melton went down with a knee injury after making a tackle on a punt return in the first half, and safety/slot corner Javon Bullard also left the game late with a knee injury.
LaFleur said Bullard was in the game only because they didn't have enough reserve defensive backs available to play nickel coverage.
"I think he's going to be OK," he said. "We tried to protect as many as we could."
- The playoffs await.
As the No. 7 seed in the NFC for the third straight year, the Packers will be road warriors for however long they last in the postseason. They were waiting until later Sunday to find out their opponent and destination as well as game date and time for next week.
"We're in the tournament," LaFleur said. "Everybody is zero-and-zero. We're going to have to go on the road and embrace the opportunity."
