Encore: Packers meltdown again, lose Week 1 opener to Vikings

The Green Bay Packers blew a 21-3 lead in Chicago in January, ending the 2025 season in gut-wrenching fashion. The encore for Matt LaFleur's team? Blowing a 22-10 second half lead by giving up 29 unanswered points to the Minnesota Vikings to open the 2026 regular season on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The Packers failed in the red zone and kicked a short field goal to go up 22-10 with 5:46 left in the third quarter. From there, the Vikings scored 29 straight points, including 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Packers collapsed in epic fashion once again.

Meltdowns are becoming more and more common in Green Bay . The offseason focus was on finishing. You get what you emphasize? Not for this team.

The Packers gave up double-digit leads in back-to-back games against the Bears to end the 2025 season and have now started the 2026 season following the exact same blueprint.

LaFleur's team led 19-10 at halftime and were in control for most of the first three quarters. But everything got away from the Packers during the final 20 minutes or so, and now Green Bay will limp into Week 2 with a demoralizing defeat and a 0-1 record.

Jordan Love battled Brian Flores and his relentless blitzes all afternoon, but the wheels came off late. He lost a fumble on a sack, setting up a short touchdown run, and he threw an interception on a deflected pass under pressure to set up Minnesota's final score.

The Packers out-gained the Vikings 419 to 239 but lost by 17 points. Green Bay finished with 12 penalties, including multiple defensive penalties on Minnesota's go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter.

The Packers will go to New York to play the 1-0 Jets next Sunday.