3 takeaways from Packers’ dominant win vs. Vikings in Week 1

2. The good and the bad from MVS

A potentially great sign for this offense was the performance of Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Dealing with injuries in the second half of the 2019 season, MVS struggled to make much of an impact after a promising start to the year. Now fully healthy, we saw just how big a role Valdes-Scantling can have in this offense.

With his speed, MVS can be a deep threat for the Packers and he showed it on Sunday. Rodgers connected with Valdes-Scantling for a beautiful 45-yard touchdown pass right before halftime. MVS used his speed to get open and made a phenomenal catch deep downfield. Later on, they connected again for a 35-yard reception.

However, we also saw some simple mistakes from the third-year receiver. On Green Bay’s opening drive of the second half, Rodgers hit MVS wide open on third-and-six. It was a perfect play-call and execution, right up until the catch. It’s a reception you’d expect any receiver to make 99 times out of 100, but on this occasion he dropped it and the Packers had to punt. Had MVS made the catch, there might have been no stopping him taking it all the way for a score.

On the first play of the next drive, Valdes-Scantling did the hard work to get open deep downfield. The throw was on the money but it bounced out of his hands. It could’ve been a 61-yard touchdown.

The good news? Valdes-Scantling was in position to make both plays, and he bounced back with a great catch later on. Reduce the mistakes and the Rodgers-to-MVS connection can be a great one for the Packers.