The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Vikings vs Packers
Aaron hands out the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from the Green Bay Packers Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
By PackerAaron
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Comments (26)
Thegravedigger
September 29, 2024 at 06:03 pm
The ugly was the fact that we got no pressure and sam darnold had all day to throw. When both your top 2 corners are out, you have to get pressure with 4. Darnold had all day long to throw. The D tightened up at the end but it was too late. That was the biggest disappointment today, because if the packers get pressure in the first half, regardless of the kicker problems, they win this game.
Thegravedigger
September 29, 2024 at 06:04 pm
The good was wicks finally caught some balls, and love seems to have worked out his kinks. Hopefully those two tds to wicks will help him get his confidence back.
Oppy
September 29, 2024 at 06:45 pm
Wicks had 5 receptions on 13 targets.
He was dropping passes all game long.
He only got it together in the final 4 minutes or so.
***EDIT*** I re-read your comment, and I misunderstood your post. I originally had thought you stated that Wicks had worked out his kinks; I see that was NOT what you had stated. My apologies for the confusion.
I agree, I hope Wicks' TDs do help him get his confidence back on track. I believe he may be the most all-around talented WR on the roster if he can pull it all together. Great combination of physical attributes and play making ability. For now, Reed has been running away with the top billing in 2024.
Thegravedigger
September 29, 2024 at 07:10 pm
Yeah man I don't think wicks worked it out, but I hope those two tds put him back on track. I just keep thinking about davantes sophomore slump cuz that makes me feel a bit better about it. But even his first td he was wide open and struggled to haul it in, which made me think he's just overthinking shit. but honestly none of it will matter if gb can't get to the quarterback
SicSemperTyrannis
September 29, 2024 at 09:10 pm
I'm a big fan of Wicks but with 3 other people at his position with markedly better speed I don't think you can call him the most talented in the room. I don't think you can call him the most skilled, either? I'd say his unique talents can serve a role no one else can, and I note that Malik Heath is his substitute on the depth chart.
Certainly we want him to continue to develop, and I don't think we've seen his ceiling yet. Same with all our skill position offensive players with the singular exception of Josh Jacobs, who will hopefully continue to become more effective with this team. (I don't think that's player development so much as playcalling and design, using people at their best, and the team gelling with all that)
Oppy
September 30, 2024 at 06:04 pm
Wicks is a baller. I'm sticking with my assessment. His ceiling is high.
There's a lot more to playing WR than Speed.
If it was all about speed, I'd be giving the title to Watson, but I am on record for saying I think in terms of skill and complete all around package, Watson is #4 or #5 in terms of overall talent at the position- how good he is at his craft.
Leatherhead
September 30, 2024 at 07:00 pm
You are on target here Oppy. It is about stuff other than size and speed and RAS. It's about being able to run good routes, and catch. It's about being savvy enough to set up the defender so you can sneak behind them, like Jordy was able to do. On quite a few snaps, it's about blocking, or clearing out an area for another receiver.
We have Wicks for the next three years, cheap. He's going to keep getting better, unless he's one of those rare people who just doesn't improve with practice. He may never be a Superduper, but he'll be a solid addition to any 4 man WR group. He has skills that can help us.
With our preference for playing 3 WRs, you really need 4 in the rotation, so you can give everybody some rest. Right now, with Watson injured, I'd say it's Reed, Doubs, Wicks, and Melton for next week, against the weakest pass defense in the league.
Oppy
October 01, 2024 at 07:10 am
I'm in the minority, but I prefer Malik Heath over Bo Melton in terms of total prowess.
Melton is another example of a player who might not be the most talented or polished player, but he has that speed that makes him attractive. Not taking away from his down-the-stretch 2023 performances- limited sample size but impactful. I just think Malik Heath has a better overall tool set than Melton.
People get mesmerized by raw speed. I get it the impact it can have on a defense and speed can tilt a field and open up everything else a bit for the rest of the team, but I think people fall in love with it and mistake speed for skill.
asmith1969
September 29, 2024 at 06:14 pm
Good-Daniel Whelan. Arguably, our best punter in decades. He puts special in special teams.
Bad-Pass Rush. D-Line & LB’s are overshooting gaps namely Van Ness. Pathetic.
Ugly-Penalties. Not acceptable. Too many of them. 1st half was a joke. Go Pack Go!
SicSemperTyrannis
September 29, 2024 at 09:14 pm
Was this the same pass rush as last week? It was certainly the same players.
Apparently the Titans O line isn't the Vikings, who are (sadly, right now) looking like the best team in the conference.
Notice that our players did NOT give up! I can't say that we see 100% effort from every player on every play, but on that metric I see a clear improvement over 2022.
rstain99
September 29, 2024 at 06:31 pm
The Good: Didn't quit, comeback was great. Bullard and Mckinney are playing well at safety.
The Bad: Not showing up till it was 28-0, no pressure on Darnold
The Ugly: Kicker Narveson sorry not going to be here for next game, tryouts Monday should be able to come up with someone. Love throwing into heavy coverage, timing was off with receivers.
JA needs to be ready all that talk and pulls up lame for game, all show not enough go. All the hype about DC hopefully they will grasp the system as they haven't yet.
WD
September 29, 2024 at 06:48 pm
We really missed two of our top CBs. When combined with a mediocre pass rush the first half was a disaster. Way too many penalties, dropped passes , fumbles, interceptions and the all too familiar missed kicks. Great comeback in the second half but too little too late. The good news is everything is correctable.
SinceLombardi
September 29, 2024 at 06:54 pm
The Good: I honestly don’t think there was anything. When you fall behind 28-0 to a division rival at home there is nothing good. Even if you end up losing by 2.
The Bad: Walker, Gary, Nixon, Narvelson, Clark, Hafley… pick any.. same old tired story. Some really hard to root for guys on this defense.
The Ugly: The Packers have lost 3 straight NFC games ( SF, Phi, Minn) and Jordan Love had multiple turnovers in each game. Sorry but Love’s “ holdout “ during training camp really pissed me off. He’s got a LOT to prove. I don’t want to hear about 400 yards today. A 28-zip hole lends itself to big yardage against a prevent defense. Three more interceptions. He hasn’t played well since January against Dallas. Some good teams are emerging in the NFC and Green Bay doesn’t look like a lock against anyone.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 29, 2024 at 09:21 pm
Remember that the Vikings defense had something to say about all this. As did their O line. Right now the Vikings look like the best team in the conference, and Baltimore is at least as good as expectations if not surprisingly good. It's a purple year?
We knew this week would be a test, we didn't know we'd be plagued by injuries.
MEO73
September 29, 2024 at 07:00 pm
The good: didnt quit. McKinney. JR as the new Davante.
The bad: No pass rush.
The ugly: Narv-dog to Narv-shit. Penalties. Defensive game plan.
The uncertain: Love was rusty and got better. But didnt protect the ball the way be needed to. Hopefully he'll be second half of the season J Love instead of first half of the season J Mediocre.
RobinsonDavis
September 29, 2024 at 07:15 pm
The ugly for me was Hafely being out-coached at the beginning of the game on 3rd and 2nd and longs. You clearly have a d-line that in previous games struggled to get pressure in the first half of games. Combine that with the FULL knowledge you had 2 of your top 3 CBs out of this game and playing zone predominately, against a very good receiving corp. Additionally, you have an opposing QB with a career 73.4 QB rating that has a tendency to make poor decisions when pressured....And you play the same ol D scheme, rushing only 4, with zero, novel blitzes? You played the same scheme you played in previous games. Do you think the opposing team did not have film? You owe your team an apology.
I think you will see a lot of positives on film review, especially in the effort column. This, of course, is balanced by some blunders too. But, I loved the fight we saw in this team, and we will be better. In fairness, and don't hold me to the number, but I believe the D made 8 straight non-TD stops. Jordan had opportunities for first downs instead of hero ball...he will learn. And, Aaron's call out on Reed is spot-on!
Last, our VETERANS need to step-up! The mental mistakes must stop! One game early in the season is not doomsday.
Celise...
September 29, 2024 at 10:20 pm
one of the first things i had read about Hafley when he was hired was how he kind of specialized in training players how to tackle...how to get correct angles and keep yards after catch down. all i see are players who are more aggressive getting to the ball but out of control to make a stop. doesn't matter how fast you get there if you end up running right past them.
mbpacker
September 29, 2024 at 07:32 pm
The Good: Reed, we didn't give in and made a game of it, I make a mean bowl of chili- yum!
The Bad: Penalities, turnovers, mistakes, slow start again. I ate two many bowls of my chili.
The Ugly: Packers if your listening- we need a kicker again. Maybe we should see if Mason is in shape. He can't do any worse. Think he makes the 30 something FG's
joejetson
September 29, 2024 at 08:29 pm
Good-
They didn't give up after a disastrous start. But the hole they dug was too deep.
Reed- great game, again.
Bad-
The defense. Bad isn't a strong enough word to describe it. They show flashes here and there, and then throw it away by giving up 3rd and long when they really need a stop. Giving up that late field goal after they fought almost all the way back was disgusting.
Ugly-
The field goal fiasco keeps rearing it's ugly head.
The pass rush. You must have consistent pressure. Not one play here, then none the next. They have enough high priced players on the d-line that they shouldn't all just disappear for long stretches of the game. I hope Hafley has a plan to fix this mess.
Doug_In_Sandpoint
September 29, 2024 at 09:49 pm
Not sure if it this good bad or ugly would have changed, but how can McDuffie drop that first drive int. Right in his hands. Would have changed the game early..
Starrbrite
September 29, 2024 at 10:09 pm
Yes—agree Doug. The dropped INT changes much about this game.
harleycops
September 29, 2024 at 10:51 pm
The good: we play the Rams next week
The bad: Coach Lafleuzy going off his rocker and getting an unsportsmanlike penalty while Pack was on the 3 yr line. Our own coach cost us the chance to win this game and NOBODY is mentioning that. This was a travesty, an outright blowout of the head guy who shot his mouth off to make a point.
The ugly: this whole Sunday of upsets, mixups, and losses of my pick'ems & fantasy teams,
Starrbrite
September 30, 2024 at 12:41 pm
ALL heads coaches do what LaFluer did and are never called for it. MLF had a right to be furious. The spineless ref couldn’t tolerate an irate coach.
RichBeckman
September 30, 2024 at 12:51 pm
I wasn't able to see or hear the game. Are you talking about the unsportsmanlike penalty at the end of the first half? How exactly did that cost the game when the Packers scored a touchdown on the next play? From NFL.com play by play:
-12 Yard Pass
(:39) (Shotgun) J.Love pass short middle to R.Doubs to MIN 1 for 2 yards (B.Murphy).
PENALTY on GB, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 14 yards, enforced at MIN 1.
1st & 3 at MIN 3
Touchdown Packers
(:20) (Shotgun) J.Love pass short right to J.Reed for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2nd & 15 at MIN 15
veteranviewer
September 29, 2024 at 11:29 pm
The good:X and Reed. The BAD: Narveson. THE ugly:Lafluef acting like a 2 year old.
Starrbrite
September 30, 2024 at 12:36 pm
I’m sick of crappy officiating. I don’t blame the loss on the refs, but they sucked! If the NFL wants to make the games more enjoyable—stop flagging every other play. This lineman downfield penalty has gotten ridiculous. You need the Hubble telescope to make some of these calls.
Go Packers!!!