By admin 
The Green Bay Packers watched a fourth-quarter lead evaporate in a 39-22 loss to the rival Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Despite receiving a contract extension during the offseason, plenty of concerns lingered about head coach Matt LaFleur, and he did little to quiet those doubts in the season opener.
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Below is a breakdown of LaFleur’s performance and his final grade.
Offensive Line and Running Game Looked Unprepared
Entering Sunday, there was uncertainty at both offensive line and running back. Those concerns didn’t creep up overnight, but still, both units looked wholly unprepared on Sunday.
The offensive line had quarterback Jordan Love running for his life the majority of the game, allowing 16 pressures, six quarterback hits, and three sacks. Meanwhile, they did little to open up holes for the running game.
MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks split the running back duties, managing only 66 combined yards off 20 carries. Filling the shoes of a number one running back was never going to be easy for either player, but the Packers failed to put them in positions to succeed, which falls on LaFleur.
Execution and Discipline Were Lacking
Opening week of the NFL season usually produces some sloppy football, especially with the near elimination of preseason games. The Packers did nothing to buck this trend.
Offensively, the Packers put up an impressive 419 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per play. However, when it mattered most, they came up small.
LaFleur’s unit finished just 3-of-12 on third down and scored only once in four trips to the red zone. Also, they turned the ball over on two consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter, which led to 14 points.
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Meanwhile, as a team, Green Bay committed 12 penalties, costing them 98 yards.
Costly Fourth-Quarter Decision
The Packers held a lead through three quarters, but a poor gamble in the fourth quarter by LaFleur turned the tide on Sunday.
With the Packers nursing a 22-17 lead and 13:21 left on the clock, LaFleur chose to go for it on fourth-and-one from the Minnesota 17-yard line unsuccessfully. This came after he declined a Vikings’ penalty following a successful field goal, which would’ve given the Packers an eight-point advantage.
Following the unsuccessful quarterback sneak from Jordan Love, the Vikings took the lead on the following drive. Minnesota would go on to outscore Green Bay 22-0, running away with a double-digit victory.
Final Grade
Considering LaFleur’s recent track record, it may be safe to say that he lacks a feel for the game, especially in its later stages. Perhaps most concerning is that it doesn’t seem like he’s taken any lessons away from how last year ended.
It’s only one game, but LaFleur clearly wasn’t at his best this week. Coming off an offseason and an entire training camp to prepare, it’s inexcusable.
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Final Grade: D-
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 10:13 PM.