Six straight losses. Four blown two-score leads. Three consecutive defeats to NFC North opponents. The Green Bay Packers opened the 2026 season with another second-half meltdown on Sunday, surrendering a 22-10 advantage and allowing 29 unanswered points in a 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis.
Matt LaFleur did not sugarcoat it.
"Obviously, very disappointed," the Packers coach said in his post-game press conference. "We were in command of the game. The fourth quarter, the big momentum shift happened when we went for it on 4th-and-1 and didn't convert. They were able to capitalize…we didn't answer."
The decisive moment came with the Packers leading 25-17. LaFleur faced a fourth-and-1 and chose to keep the offense on the field rather than take a field goal that would have made it a two-possession game. Jordan Love was stopped short on a quarterback sneak.
"We're going to be aggressive. It was going to be an 8-point game. It would have been a two-possession game, I might have thought otherwise," LaFleur said. "We're going to be aggressive and go for the throat in that situation."
The coach defended the call, pointing to the analytics and the look the defense gave them.
"I'm sure the analytic people would say go for it. We liked our call. They gave us a look for the quarterback sneak, we checked into it, we didn't get it," LaFleur said. "I felt in my heart we could get one yard, and we didn't do it."
The failed conversion swung the game. Minnesota capitalized, and the Packers never recovered. Love was sacked four times and hit 15 times on the day. LaFleur acknowledged the difficulty of facing Brian Flores' defense once the game script changed.
"That's a tough defense to go against. In the fourth quarter, when we had to start throwing it, when we got behind the sticks, it opens up the floodgates," he said.
Penalties compounded the collapse. The Packers were flagged three times for drive-extending penalties on Minnesota's go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, including a holding call that negated an interception in the end zone.
"My point to the team was, you can't put it in the hands of the officials," LaFleur said.
The coach spread the blame across the board.
"Coaching, playing, it's all of us. We have to do a better job of putting our players in position, and when we are in position, we have to execute. Far too many penalties tonight," he said.
The loss extends a worrying pattern. Of the Packers' six consecutive defeats, four have included giving up two-score leads. Melting down is becoming the identity of LaFleur's team, a reality the coach acknowledged when asked about the recurring issue.
"It's going to be a topic of conversation for you guys until we do it. That's the bottom line," he said.
After the failed fourth-down conversion, the Packers had chances to answer. Down 25-22, they needed a response. Instead, MarShawn Lloyd was dumped for a 3-yard loss, and Love got strip-sacked two plays later.
"You have to answer. I think we had a run for minus four yards, now you're behind the sticks. You're playing right into their hands. We have to look and see, I think that's a safe, downhill run, but it got blown up," LaFleur said.
One bright spot was the play of Donovan Jennings at left guard. LaFleur said the lineman earned the starting job through his offseason work.
"It was more time on task throughout the course of the offseason. He's done a nice job. We felt he earned that opportunity," LaFleur said. He did not elaborate on Aaron Banks, saying only he wasn't ready to go.
The Packers now face a quick turnaround. They travel to face the 1-0 New York Jets next Sunday.
"It's get back to work. Be critical of the tape. Stay together. And you have to have a great week of prep…we have to rebound. It's always hard to go on the road in this league. We have a great challenge in front of us, and we have to pick up the pieces," LaFleur said.
According to Yahoo Sports.