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Live Updates: Packers at Vikings

The Green Bay Packers are facing some big challenges as they kick off the 2022 NFL season at the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Follow along for updates.
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MINNEAPOLIS – The Green Bay Packers will kick off the 2022 NFL season with an NFC North showdown at the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Aaron Rodgers will face a major challenge without his starting offensive tackles, perhaps putting the pressure on a touted defense to win the game for Green Bay.

Follow along all day for updates.

Final Score: Vikings 23, Packers 7

Click here for our quick game recap, with game ball, questionable call and more.

Fourth Quarter

Vikings 23, Packers 7 (3:45 remaining)

The Packers dinked and dunked their way into scoring position but, in fourth-and-1, Aaron Rodgers’ pass to tight end Robert Tonyan didn’t have a prayer against double coverage by the Vikings. That probably sealed the deal.

Vikings 23, Packers 7 (6:48 remaining)

Greg Joseph kicked a 29-yard field goal to perhaps put this game out of reach. The big play came on third-and-7. With a stop, Green Bay would have had a fighting chance. Instead, Kirk Cousins found Justin Jefferson streaking through the secondary, and he made a 21-yard grab with a leaping catch against safety Darnell Savage.

Injury update: With rookie LB Quay Walker (shoulder) out of the lineup, Krys Barnes took over but wound up being carted off the field with an injury of his own. He was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Vikings 20, Packers 7 (11:52 remaining)

The Packers overcame one sack, with Aaron Rodgers hitting Romeo Doubs for 23 after getting sacked by Danielle Hunter, but not another. On third-and-6, Rodgers dodged Hunter’s late blitz but couldn’t avoid D.J. Wonnum. For the third time, the Packers almost had a punt blocked. Time is running short; the defense needs to make a big play.

Injury updates: LG Jon Runyan (concussion) is out. CB Keisean Nixon (shoulder) is questionable and LB Quay Walker (shoulder) is questionable.

Third Quarter

Vikings 20, Packers 7 (1:13 remaining)

A big run stuff by T.J. Slaton and a critical open-field stop by cornerback Keisean Nixon on third down forced a punt. It was a rare snap of dime defense by coordinator Joe Barry and Nixon might have suffered a shoulder injury on the tackle.

Vikings 20, Packers 7 (5:16 remaining)

Getting a helping hand from rookie receiver Christian Watson and rookie lineman Zach Tom, AJ Dillon pushed his way into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown. Aaron Jones got things going with a darting, shifting 29-yard run, Dillon and receiver Romeo Doubs had 11-yard runs and Doubs had a catch for 9 to set up the touchdown. Notably, Doubs had a pesky downfield block on Jones’ big run.

Vikings 20, Packers 0 (9:46 remaining)

The Packers have a pulse. Not much of one. But it’s a pulse. After an Aaron Rodgers fumble, the defense prevented the Vikings from gaining a first down. Greg Joseph tied the Vikings’ record with a 56-yard field goal.

Injury update: Packers left guard Jon Runyan is in the concussion protocol and rookie Zach Tom is in the lineup.

Vikings 17, Packers 0 (12:06 remaining)

It might be curtains for the Packers. Would a hard-charging 15-yard run by AJ Dillon get the Packers going? Nah. Aaron Rodgers rolled out to his left, found nobody open and got sacked by linebacker Jordan Hicks. Hicks jarred the ball free, the Vikings recovered and Rodgers was slow to get up after getting sandwiched between some Vikings defenders and left guard Jon Runyan.

Halftime

Vikings 17, Packers 0

Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson has six catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings have an overwhelming 262-100 edge in yardage. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers’ NFC North dominance has taken a hit.

Second Quarter

Vikings 17, Packers 0 (35 seconds remaining)

How many elite cornerbacks does it take to cover Justin Jefferson? More than three, apparently. Just before halftime, Kirk Cousins threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson. Jefferson caught the ball at the 19 and retreated to the 20 upon the catch; he must have been stunned that there wasn’t a Packers defender within a 150-mile radius of U.S. Bank Stadium. The Packers’ hyped defense has been destroyed by the Vikings’ hyped receiver. Fans are chanting “MVP!” And it's not for Aaron Rodgers, who faces an incredible challenge to rally the team.

Vikings 10, Packers 0 (2:58 remaining)

A huge series awaits after the Packers’ defense after the offense went three-and-out. Aaron Jones dropped a third-and-8 pass. It would have been a tough catch and he might not have gained the first down, anyway. The Packers have three drops; the Vikings have three incompletions.

Vikings 10, Packers 0 (3:54 remaining)

Greg Joseph kicked a 28-yard field goal to cap a drive that started from the 1. Three runs by Dalvin Cook gained 22 yards. Successful running plays set up deep shots on play-action. Sure enough, Kirk Cousins faked the handoff, stepped up in the pocket and found his star receiver, Justin Jefferson, running deep between safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage for a gain of 63. On third-and-2, Cousins just missed Jefferson for a touchdown.

Jefferson has 111 receiving yards. The Packers have 98.

Vikings 7, Packers 0 (7:58 remaining)

On fourth-and-goal from the 1, AJ Dillon was stuffed. The Packers’ passing game, which went in reverse in the first quarter, got clicking to open the quarter. First, it was a crossing route to tight end Robert Tonyan, who was wide open for a catch-and-run gain of 23. Next, it was a simple swing pass to running back Aaron Jones, who was wide open for a catch-and-run gain of 22. Another pass into flat, this time to running back AJ Dillon, gained 12 to the 20. On third-and-goal from outside the 7, Dillon caught a pass into the flat, cut back inside and almost plowed his way into the end zone. That set up fourth-and-goal. Za’Darius Smith was in the middle of the goal-line stand as he sliced his way down the line. Right guard Jake Hanson didn’t get any movement, either.

Vikings 7, Packers 0 (14:11 remaining)

On third-and-2, defensive tackle Kenny Clark blasted through the middle of Minnesota’s front and crunched Kirk Cousins to force a punt. It was Clark’s second big rush of the day; he was on the scene on Rashan Gary’s first-quarter sack.

End First Quarter

Vikings 7, Packers 0

The Vikings have 74 passing yards. The Packers have minus-2.

First Quarter

Vikings 7, Packers 0 (5:27 remaining)

The offense had excellent field position but failed to take advantage. On third-and-8 from the outskirts of field-goal range, Za’Darius Smith bull-rushed right guard Jake Hanson and sacked Rodgers.

For the second consecutive time, the Vikings got a bit too close to blocking Pat O’Donnell’s punt. His coffin-corner try went only 33 yards to the 15.

Vikings 7, Packers 0 (5:27 remaining)

Green Bay’s defense forced a three-and-out. Rookie linebacker Quay Walker, who is starting his NFL debut (scroll down a bit for more on that topic), drilled receiver K.J. Osborn after a short completion and Rashan Gary collected his first sack of the season on third down. Strong defense and a 12-yard punt return by Amari Rodgers has the offense set up at the 46.

Vikings 7, Packers 0 (7:28 remaining)

The Packers almost had the quickest of quick-strike answers. On the first play, Aaron Rodgers fired a perfect deep ball to rookie Christian Watson for what should have been a 75-yard touchdown vs. former All-Pro Patrick Peterson. But Watson dropped the ball at the Vikings’ 30. The Packers got one first down but Rodgers and rookie Romeo Doubs weren’t on the same page on third-and-7.

“He’s big, he’s physical, he’s fast,” coach Matt LaFleur said this week of Watson. “I think he’s really worked hard in a short period of time at getting up to speed and maximizing his reps and his opportunities.”

Vikings 7, Packers 0 (9:17 remaining)

For one series, anyway, the Packers’ defense has filled to live up to all the hype. The Packers won the toss and deferred, and the Vikings sped right down the field for the opening touchdown. On fourth and about a foot, Kirk Cousins faked the handoff to Dalvin Cook and found star receiver Justin Jefferson all alone in the flat for a 5-yard touchdown.

Cousins was 7-of-8 for 73 yards on the drive, with three completions to 47 yards to Jefferson. The Packers are playing sides with their cornerbacks, with Eric Stokes the cornerback on the left side of the defense, rather than having Jaire Alexander follow Jefferson.

Big Day for Quay

The Packers haven’t had their first draft pick start in Week 1 of his rookie season since Nick Perry in 2012.

Quay Walker will break that decade-long drought.

“Quay, he’s still a rookie, but you guys have seen him and watched him here for the last three months. Special kid, special player,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said on Thursday.

Walker seemed caught off-guard about being called “special” by his defensive coordinator.

“I wouldn’t consider myself being good,” he said. “I haven’t played a game yet. The main thing with me is I want to be neutral at all times and don’t want to get ahead of myself. I’m still a rookie. It’s a long, long season. I’m just trying to get better each and every day and continue to work. To what you said, I just think that everything that I did in college has translated over to me being in the NFL. A lot of things that we do now are kind of similar, so it was pretty easy for me to pick up on the transition.”

It's helped Walker to be running alongside All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell all season.

“It means a lot just to have a guy like that who was All-Pro, who’s similar to my size,” Walker said. “It’s a whole lot that I do with watching him and seeing how he moves and things like that. It’s an honor to play alongside him.”

Jaire Alexander, who earned all-rookie honors in 2018, played 49 snaps in his debut but didn’t start until Week 3. Fellow cornerback Eric Stokes played merely eight snaps last season against New Orleans. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark played only nine snaps against Jacksonville in 2016. Like Alexander, they didn’t start until Week 3.

Walker will be ready for the sped-up start.

“He don’t need much talking, man. He’s ready to go,” Campbell said. “He comes from a championship program. He’s played in big games. It’s football. He’s been playing football his whole life. Ain’t nothing different. Just go out and be you. You’re here for a reason.”

Pregame Notes

- Without David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, the Packers will roll with the same offensive line that started the three preseason games: left tackle Yosh Nijman, left guard Jon Runyan, center Josh Myers, right guard Jake Hanson and right tackle Royce Newman.

- From the vantage point of your TV screen, kicker Mason Crosby made a 54-yard field goal to the right and a 55-yarder to the left. He also hit the left upright from 51.

- Rookie long snapper Jack Coco’s training continues. Every time he snapped the ball on field goals, he got shoved by an assistant coach.

Big Swing in Betting

The Packers were 1.5-point favorites at the start of the day. With the starting offensive tackles and No. 1 receiver inactive, Green Bay is a 2-point underdog at SI Sportsbook. At FanDuel, 53 percent of the money is on Minnesota but 58 percent of the bets are on Green Bay.

Packers at Vikings: Prediction

Let’s make this short and simple. Where the Vikings are weak (their secondary), the Packers are not strong (their receivers). Where the Packers are weak (offensive tackle), the Vikings are powerful (Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter). How on earth are the Packers are going to make the critical plays?

Vikings 24, Packers 17.

Packers at Vikings: How to Watch

TV: The game will be aired nationally by Fox. With Joe Buck and Troy Aikman moving onto ESPN, the new A-team consists of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen on the call with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi serving as the field reporters.

Live stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial).

Radio: Packers Radio Network (Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren), ESPN Radio (Jay Alter and Kirk Morrison) and SiriusXM 133 or 386 and the SXM App.

History: Packers lead 64-56-2, including 1-1 in playoffs. Packers coach Matt LaFleur is 4-2 against the Vikings, with one of those losses last year at U.S. Bank Stadium. The teams are 30-30 in Minneapolis.

Packers-Vikings Inactives

Not only are the Packers without their best offensive linemen, David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, but receiver Allen Lazard is inactive, too. Click here for the full story.

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