Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper voiced his frustration with the team’s inability to finish games after a 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers defense held Minnesota to 239 total yards and knocked out quarterback Kyler Murray, but allowed 22 fourth-quarter points.
Cooper stated, “No, just correct the things we need to correct. We didn't finish. I'm tired of saying this every time. I don't want to talk about it no more, but it's what we got to do. So we just got to figure it out.” Green Bay managed only 66 rushing yards on 21 attempts and failed to score in the fourth quarter.
Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele suggested the issue isn’t personnel, but execution. “I don’t think it’s a question of the guys we have in the room. I think it’s more so, can we execute and make plays when you need them?” Minnesota ran 61 plays for 239 yards, averaging 3.9 yards per snap, with 151 passing yards.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur attributed the Vikings’ extended drives to penalties, not coverage breakdowns. “Yeah, I thought our defense played really well,” LaFleur said. “You know, again, there were some unfortunate penalties we had that extended drives, and then I thought in the fourth quarter especially, offensively we put them in some really tough positions.” Green Bay was flagged 12 times for 98 yards, with five penalties resulting in Minnesota first downs.
Carson Wentz replaced the injured Murray and threw three touchdown passes, two to Justin Jefferson and one to T.J. Hockenson. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason scored rushing touchdowns for Green Bay in the fourth quarter, but a two-point conversion to Jefferson secured the Vikings’ victory. Micah Parsons is on the reserve/physically unable to perform list with a torn ACL and is ineligible to return before Week 5. Lukas Van Ness led the Packers with six quarterback hits. Parsons indicated he is monitoring the Week 6 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, stating, “We will see.” Defensive coordinator Johnny Franklin emphasized the Packers’ intent to dictate the intensity of play, stating, “We’re not matching anybody’s intensity, we set the tone for how we play. Minnesota’s just the first test. It's going to be good to put that on tape and let the league know what the Green Bay Packers defense is all about.”
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