Three takeaways from Packers’ Week 11 loss to Vikings
Takeaways from the Packers’ three-point loss to the Vikings.
An entertaining game at U.S. Bank Stadium ended in a Green Bay Packers defeat.
While the Packers remain in control of the NFC North, this keeps the division race alive and puts a dent in Green Bay’s hopes of earning the number one seed for the second year in a row.
What did we learn from the defeat?
Elgton Jenkins could be done for the year
Unfortunately, the injuries just keep on coming for the Packers. And this could be a bad one.
Elgton Jenkins had to be carted off with a knee injury, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Packers worry it could be a torn ACL.
The fear is that #Packers stellar OL Elgton Jenkins tore his ACL, source said. Would be a significant blow, but he’ll have an MRI to determine the full extent.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 21, 2021
This would end Jenkins’ season and potentially keep him out of the start of 2022 as we’ve seen with David Bakhtiari this year.
Just brutal.
Mason Crosby under pressure
It’s been a tough year for Mason Crosby. He missed a field goal from 32 yards. It was his eighth missed field goal of the season.
Some of Crosby’s misses earlier in the year couldn’t all be blamed on him. The field-goal blocking was nowhere near good enough. Even when kicks weren’t blocked, many were close.
Not this time though. Crosby’s 32-yarder hit the upright against the Vikings, and at a costly time. The Packers were down by six points.
It’s Mason Crosby so he deserves a chance to get back on track, and he did convert all of his remaining four extra-point tries following this. But at what point will Crosby be under pressure for the kicking job?
The Packers have protected kicker J.J. Molson on the practice squad this season. Something to note.
A rough day for the defense
Green Bay’s defense has been phenomenal in recent weeks but ran into a very talented Minnesota offense on Sunday. Justin Jefferson was dominant, going 8-169-2. The Packers did shut down the run well and had opportunities for takeaways, but couldn’t come up with the key turnovers when it mattered.
Losing Rashan Gary was tough for this defense. Hopefully he’ll be able to return next week against the Los Angeles Rams.
For the first time in a while, the defense needs to take a big share of the blame.