Packers Predictably Dominated by Vikings in Week 18 Preseason Game

MINNEAPOLIS – Jordan Love won the pregame coin toss.

That’s about the only thing the Green Bay Packers won on Sunday. The Packers were beaten, thoroughly and predictably, by the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The final score of 16-3 was as meaningless as the game was to the Packers.

The Vikings (9-8) came into the game looking to end the season with a five-game winning streak. The Packers (9-7-1) were looking to end the regular season without any more injuries that could impact their ability to win in the playoffs next week.

It was mission accomplished for the Vikings. Not so much for the Packers, who lost receiver/cornerback Bo Melton to a knee injury in the second quarter and nickel/safety Javon Bullard to a knee injury in the fourth quarter.

As the No. 7 seed, the Packers will play at either the Chicago Bears or Philadelphia Eagles in the wildcard playoffs next week. It will be a return trip to Chicago if the Bears beat the Lions at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon.

Packers Never Led

While the final score suggested the game was competitive, the final stats were a landslide.

The Packers were outgained 363-121. They finished with minus-7 net passing yards. Other than the Jets finishing with minus-10 earlier this season, it was the worst for any team since 2001.

With Jordan Love serving as the brake-glass-in-case-of-emergency backup quarterback, Clayton Tune was surrounded by a bunch of backups. Predictably, the offense was no match against Brian Flores’ powerhouse defense.

After three quarters, Tune was 3-of-6 passing for 18 yards. With three sacks thrown into the equation, the Packers had minus-13 net passing yards.

The Vikings started the game with the ball and drove to an opening field goal as J.J. McCarthy completed three passes to Justin Jefferson.

Green Bay’s defense, with Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson and Jonathan Ford as the defensive tackles and Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper and Jamon Johnson as the linebackers, played sturdy run defense. On third-and-1 on the second drive, defensive end Brenton Cox and Johnson stuffed started running back Jordan Mason. On third-and-1 on the third drive, Barryn Sorrell rocked Ty Chandler.

The Vikings led 3-0 after the first quarter. It was 97-2 in yards.

It was more of the same to start the second quarter.

Minnesota’s first possession of the quarter went three-and-out; McCarthy’s first-down incompletion was broken up by Johnson and almost intercepted by safety Kitan Oladapo.