Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur faced intense fan backlash after his team blew a 22-10 second-half lead in a 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on September 13, 2026, marking their sixth consecutive defeat dating back to the previous season.
The Green Bay Packers rolled into Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season hoping to turn the page on a frustrating finish to their previous campaign. Instead, they delivered a nearly identical script, watching a comfortable lead evaporate in a devastating fourth-quarter collapse at U.S. Bank Stadium. What began as a controlled afternoon unraveled entirely over the final fifteen minutes.
Fourth-Quarter Meltdown and Penalty Trouble Against the Minnesota Vikings
The Packers held a 22-10 advantage in the third quarter before the Minnesota Vikings mounted a furious comeback—even after losing starting quarterback Kyler Murray to a concussion in the first half. Backup Carson Wentz stepped in and orchestrated a surge, aided by a string of costly Green Bay penalties that kept Minnesota drives alive during the go-ahead sequence.
An illegal contact penalty on third-and-11 erased a stop in Green Bay territory, and a roughing-the-passer call three plays later pushed the Vikings deeper. Later in the drive, a defensive holding penalty on contact with T.J. Hockenson gave Minnesota new life in the red zone. Aaron Jones then punched in a 3-yard touchdown with 6:37 remaining in regulation, followed by a Justin Jefferson two-point conversion that put the Vikings ahead 25-22.
Matt LaFleur Defends Aggressive Playcalling Amid Mounting Pressure
Before the game slipped away entirely, head coach Matt LaFleur made a high-stakes gamble early in the fourth quarter. After a defensive offsides penalty on a field-goal attempt, LaFleur took points off the board to accept the penalty, setting up a fourth-and-1 from the Minnesota 17-yard line. The Packers dialed up a quarterback sneak with Jordan Love, but the play was immediately stoned at the line.
Watt weighed in on the sequence during the CBS broadcast, offering a split verdict on the decision.
“I like the aggressiveness, I like that he said, ‘I believe in you guys, let’s go win this right now,’ What I don’t like, is no pusher. We’ve all seen in today’s NFL with these quarterback sneaks how difficiult it is when you have these massive bodies – no pusher. And now he’s running into ‘Big Citrus’ down here, and he stonewalls him, and no one’s there to help him get that extra push that he needs.”
J.J. Watt, CBS color analyst
The turnover on downs fueled Minnesota’s momentum. Following the go-ahead score, a subsequent Love interception led to another Vikings touchdown, sealing a final score of 39-22 and capping a 29-0 unanswered run by the hosts.
Historical Context of Late-Game Collapses Under LaFleur
The opening-week defeat extends a troubling trend for Green Bay. The Packers have now blown a double-digit lead in three of their last five meaningful games, echoing late-season collapses against the Chicago Bears during the 2025 campaign—including a wild-card playoff loss after leading 21-3 at halftime.
According to team records tracked across league coverage, Green Bay has now lost six consecutive games dating back to last season and the playoffs, representing the franchise’s longest losing skid since the 1990–91 seasons. Addressing reporters after the final whistle, LaFleur acknowledged the growing narrative surrounding the team’s inability to close out contests.
Kurt Benkert and Frustrated Fans Call for Radical Changes
The loss sparked immediate outrage across the fan base and former players alike. Former Green Bay quarterback Kurt Benkert took to social media immediately following the blowout to voice his displeasure with the direction of the coaching staff.
“Clean house,” Benkert wrote on X, calling for aggressive organizational changes.
While LaFleur holds a strong 76-41-1 regular-season record since taking over in Green Bay, critics point to a 3-6 postseason record and a lack of deep playoff runs outside of Aaron Rodgers’ tenure. With frustration mounting immediately after the Week 1 stumble, the Packers face an urgent turnaround task ahead of their Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets.
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