GREEN BAY – Missed opportunities and mental errors were the Packers' biggest regrets in the aftermath of the season-opening loss to the Vikings.
On Monday, Head Coach Matt LaFleur lamented the offense's 1-for-4 showing in the red zone, which ultimately didn't produce enough points despite a bounty of explosive plays.
Defined as a run of 12-plus yards or a pass of 16-plus, the explosive plays numbered 10 for a total of 313 yards, but the Packers scored just 22 points.
Christian Watson's 81-yard catch-and-run for a score in the first quarter was the biggest highlight, but the other nine explosives (for 232 yards) produced just one touchdown and two field goals.
"Anytime in this league, if you kick enough field goals, you're able to get beat," LaFleur said. "We didn't take advantage of short fields at times."
Those were two possessions that began in Minnesota territory, one at the Vikings' 40-yard line and another at their 36. The Packers came away from those chances with three total points, in part due to penalties.
Mental errors were a factor there, as each of those drives contained a false start. Six of the Packers' 12 penalties were pre-snap infractions – three false starts on offense, three offsides on defense.
The worst one defensively came at the end of the first half, when the Vikings were at the line of scrimmage trying to draw an offside but content to run the clock down to the two-minute warning if they couldn't get the Packers to jump.
But Lukas Van Ness did, giving QB Carson Wentz a free play, and he launched a 39-yard TD pass to Justin Jefferson.
Mental miscues on offense also led to protection breakdowns, some of which LaFleur labeled "busts that absolutely should not and cannot happen."
Whether miscommunications or missed assignments, or both, dealing with the Vikings' blitzes and pressure packages toggled back and forth between gashing them for big plays and getting overwhelmed.
"There was some really good stuff, but when your quarterback gets hit 15 times or whatever it is, that's too many times," LaFleur said.
"It was feast or famine."
As for the personnel on the offensive line, which featured Jacob Monk starting at right guard for the first time and Donovan Jennings making his first pro start in place of the injured Aaron Banks at left guard, LaFleur suggested changes could be considered.
"Potentially, yeah," he said. "It's a competitive situation. Certainly whatever we do, we need to make sure that we find continuity as quickly as possible.
"I think that's part of the problem, is we've had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup. I'm not making excuses. It is what it is. You've got to find a way to get it done. But I do think the more guys play together, typically the better they play together."
