The Green Bay Packers came into Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, with a LOT of momentum. Eight sacks, 2 interceptions and total dominance in a victory over the Tennessee Titans. Games like that, though, tend to worry me. You just wait for the other shoe to drop and dropped it was.

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was able to take advantage of Green Bay’s double teaming of Justin Jefferson. A necessary move for the Packers as they were without top corner Jaire Alexander and Carrington Valentine in the secondary. So much so, they amassed a 28-0 lead in the first half. If not for a gaff by their special teams that lead to Green Bay’s first score of the game, Vikings would’ve been flawless in the first half. They “settled” for a 28-7 lead at the half.

How poorly all 3 phases for the Packers played in the first half, is how much grit and fight they showed in the second half. Two of the three phases finally showed up (Narveson missing 2 field goals is showing up but in the wrong way) and made a comeback plausible. A 29-3 run by Green Bay brought them within earshot of a miraculous comeback. But, it was those final 3 given up by the Packers that proved costly and secured the loss.

The fallout (see what I did there) from games like this fill me with dread because of the vomit-inducing hot takes that, inevitably, come with it. But, as the common sense of sports, allow me to extinguish those hot takes right now:

No, the Packers SHOULDN’T have started Malik Willis. They made the right call in starting Jordan Love and by the second half, he seemed to have shaken off the rust.

No, the defense isn’t trash. Vikings are playing well right now, but took advantage of a Ja$-less secondary. When Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley figured them out, they only allowed 3 points in the second half. A rough day, but far from trash. And, yeah, y’all owe Jaire an apology.

Yes, the Packers need to think about replacing Brayden Narveson with a new kicker. Head coach Matt LaFleur was praying every time Anders Carlson hit the field last season. He rode it out and it (essentially) cost them a playoff game and their season. The trauma is now back in the form of Narveson and I’m not being facetious. Four straight games with a miss. The only reason it’s officially 3 games with a miss is because last week’s failed attempt was wiped out by penalty. LaFleur need not live Carlson trauma from last season, with Narveson this season. Confidence be damned, a new kicker needs to sought.

“It was a humbling game”, said LaFleur during postgame pressers. Indeed it was. Perhaps it was needed. We shall see if lessons were learned in Week 5’s clash against the Los Angeles Rams.