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News Sports Packers Business Real Estate Advertise Obituaries eNewspaper Legals GREEN BAY PACKERS Game review: Packers' disastrous second half leads to Week 1 loss vs Vikings Emmett Prosser Christopher Kuhagen Dominique Yates Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Updated Sept. 13, 2026, 8:01 p.m. CT Up 22-10 in the third quarter, the Green Bay Packers surrendered 29 unanswered second-half points and fell to the Minnesota Vikings, 39-22 in the 2026 season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sept. 13.
The game turned when Packers coach Matt LaFleur decided to take a Trey Smack field goal off the board after an offsides penalty on the Vikings with 13:17 left to play in the game.
Instead, the Packers went for the first down and quarterback Jordan Love was stopped for no gain on a sneak. Minnesota took over on downs.
Love threw for 387 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but he was sacked four times in the second half, lost a fumble and threw a late interception during an awful fourth quarter for the Packers.
The Packers had 12 penalties for 98 yards and more than a couple of those flags gave the Vikings key first downs during their comeback.
The ugly loss put a damper on an outstanding day for Packers receiver Christian Watson, who finished with six catches for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Love's 81-yard scoring throw to Watson was the longest touchdown pass of his career. The Packers lost despite outgaining the Vikings 419-239 in total yardage.
Vikings backup Carson Wentz threw a pair of touchdowns to Justin Jefferson during the victory. Wentz entered in the first quarter after Kyler Murray left the game with an injury after a late hit. Wentz threw for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and PackersNews provided live coverage before, throughout and after the game. You can review the game here:
Hear from Packers head coach Matt LaFleur after his team blew a 12-point second-half lead and were outscored 29-0 over the game's final 20 minutes:
Hear from Jordan Love after the Packers' 39-22 loss to the Vikings.
Love, who was under duress all day against Brian Flores' defense, completed 21 for 42 passes for 387 yards for two touchdowns. He also had a fumble and interception in the game-deciding fourth quarter as he was suffocated by the Vikings defense. His INT was tipped at the line.
Here are the final stats in the Packers' 39-22 loss to the Vikings in Week 1 of the 2026 season.
Three completions including a 20-yard throw to Smith get the Packers to the Vikings 20-yard line with two minutes left. A 3rd and 2 pass to the end zone Golden is too low. On fourth down, Love overthrows Skyy Moore and the Vikings will take over and run out the clock. Minnesota scores 29 unanswered points and rallies to defeat the Packers, 39-22 despite Love throwing for 387 yards.
After a 7-yard completion to Jayden Reed, Love is picked off by James Pierre, intended for Christian Watson after being tipped by Harrison Smith. Vikings take over at the Packers' 14. On 3rd and 5, Wentz hits Jefferson on the move and the star receiver sheds a tackle attempt and finds the corner of the end zone. The Vikings have scored 29 unanswered points and lead, 39-22.
On 1st and 10 from the Green Bay 30, Lloyd is stuffed for a 3-yard loss. Dallas Turner gets into the backfield and sacks Love on second down. Love fumbles the ball, but Zach Bako-Bewele recovers. However, Love is hammered again on the next snap by Adam Van Ginkel and Van Ginkel recovers Love's fumble at the Packers' 1-yard line. Mason breaks the plane of the goal line and the Vikings suddenly lead 32-22 with 4:48 to play
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