Packers Collapse: Green Bay Blows 22-10 Lead in Stunning 39-22 Loss to Vikings as Jordan Love, Matt LaFleur Trend Nationally

The Green Bay Packers suffered one of the most stunning collapses in recent franchise memory on Sunday, blowing a 22-10 third-quarter lead and surrendering 29 unanswered points in a 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings to open the 2026 season. The defeat has vaulted the Packers to the top of national sports conversation, with Jordan Love, coach Matt LaFleur and the franchise itself trending across the country in the hours after the final whistle at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Green Bay controlled the first half behind an explosive connection between Love and receiver Christian Watson, who hauled in two touchdowns, including an 81-yard strike that stands as the longest passing touchdown of Love’s career. The Packers led 19-10 at the break and pushed the margin to 22-10 early in the third quarter. From there, the game unraveled completely, with Minnesota outscoring Green Bay 29-0 the rest of the way to complete the comeback in front of a stunned home crowd.

Love’s Big Night Undone by Costly Turnovers

Love finished the afternoon 21 of 42 for 387 yards with two touchdowns, an interception and an 88.1 passer rating. Watson was his primary weapon, catching six passes for 147 yards and both of Green Bay’s touchdown receptions, the first a wide-open 81-yard sprint down the sideline and the second a two-yard score with 14 seconds left in the half. Despite the gaudy yardage, Love’s mistakes proved decisive. He lost a fumble on a sack that set up a short Minnesota touchdown run, and late in the fourth quarter he threw a deflected pass that was intercepted by James Pierre, setting up one of the Vikings’ final scores. The Packers were out-gained by nearly 200 yards, 419 to 239, yet still lost by 17 points.

Minnesota’s rally was fueled by an unlikely source. Starting quarterback Kyler Murray left the game in the first quarter after suffering a concussion in his Vikings debut, and backup Carson Wentz stepped in and directed the second-half comeback. Wentz connected with star receiver Justin Jefferson on a 39-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 12-10 late in the second quarter, and Jefferson finished with eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Minnesota scored 22 of its 29 unanswered points in the fourth quarter alone, turning a game the Packers controlled for nearly three quarters into a blowout on the scoreboard.

Penalties and a Familiar Finish Sink Green Bay

Green Bay was also flagged 12 times, including multiple defensive penalties that extended Minnesota’s go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. The meltdown echoed late-season collapses from a year ago, when the Packers blew leads against Chicago and again in the postseason. LaFleur’s team had preached “finishing” games throughout the offseason, only to open the year with the exact kind of unraveling that defined its 2025 finish. For a team that entered the season with real expectations of contending in the NFC, the manner of the loss will draw scrutiny in Green Bay all week, particularly the defensive breakdowns that let a backup quarterback erase a 12-point deficit.

Bettors who backed the Packers on the moneyline or against a game total that opened near 46 points felt the sting of the collapse directly, given how competitive the contest looked deep into the third quarter. Fans tracking the game live and looking to get a jump on next week’s slate can check the latest lines through resources like a DraftKings Promo Code or a FanDuel Promo Code before Green Bay’s Week 2 matchup.

The loss drops Green Bay to 0-1 to start the season, while Minnesota moves to 1-0 atop the NFC North standings. The Packers will look to regroup quickly, with their next game on the road against the New York Jets on Sunday, September 20. LaFleur will need answers from his defense and a cleaner performance from Love if Green Bay hopes to avoid an 0-2 start after entering the year as one of the more talked-about teams in the conference.

For fans looking ahead to how sportsbooks will price Green Bay as a road underdog or favorite in the coming weeks, tools like an Odds and Probability Calculator can help make sense of shifting lines after a result like Sunday’s. Readers weighing whether to place money on the Packers bouncing back can also review sportsbook options through the FanDuel Sportsbook Review or the broader Sportsbooks hub for platform comparisons ahead of Week 2.