GREEN BAY, Wis. — If you didn’t know any better, you’d think the Green Bay Packers didn’t find out who their opening-day opponent was until 48 hours before kickoff. But the reality is that they’ve known they’ll be squaring off against the Minnesota Vikings and their vicious defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, for several months.
And yet, the Packers appeared woefully unprepared for everything Flores threw at them.
“We knew that was the challenge going in,” said head coach Matt LaFleur on Monday after having a night to digest the Packers’ dismal 39-22 loss. They surrendered a 29-point unanswered run to the Vikings, including a 22-point fourth quarter.
“They were going to give you some tough looks. That’s the toughest test you’re going to face Week 1, is playing that defense in that environment.”
With injuries to starting left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele throughout training camp, it was unclear how the Packers would configure their offensive line for the Sept. 13 divisional bout. If anything was learned from Sunday’s events, it’s that the starting guard tandem of Donovan Jennings and Jacob Monk probably won’t stick.
