13 Snap Reactions after Vikings-Packers

The Vikings 2022 Defense by the Numbers: After Week 12
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Za'Darius Smith, left, and linebacker Jordan Hicks, right, celebrate with D.J. Wonnum. © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK.

From a suggestion by a reader, we continue our “snap reactions” weekly piece detailing thoughts and analysis after a Minnesota Vikings game.

This will be off-the-cuff, a wee bit “random,” and hopefully insightful.


1. Foremost, for generating positivity and legitimacy for the 2022 Vikings, this game had everything. All phases of the game looked competent and sharp.

2. While it’s possible for good teams to rebound from lousy Week 1 losses, lousy teams don’t typically dominate good teams in Week 1. That should indicate Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell created a pretty good football team in the last eight months.

3. Kevin O’Connell’s no-brainer to go for it on 4th and Goal during the first drive was his Welcome to Minnesota moment. The past regime would’ve waffled, probably ultimately gone for it, and ran the football into the line of scrimmage. O’Connell was decisive — and right — signaling the formal page turn to a new era.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. © MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK.

4. Christian Watson’s 1st Quarter drop of a certain touchdown was catastrophic for Green Bay, killing instant momentum and irking Aaron Rodgers. Life without Davante Adams won’t be as rosy.

5. The Packers did break off chunk yards early in the game and even in the middle. That was not ideal, but the Vikings somehow capped the damage to seven points. You should complain about nothing.

6. The Vikings goal line stand signified a rebirth of the defense. Mike Zimmer’s defense floundered in 2020 and 2021 — especially in crucial spots like those — and standing Green Bay up from a yard away changed the game’s dichotomy much like Watson’s boneheaded drop.

7. O’Connell felt like a gambler early on with the 4th and Goal touchdown to Jefferson, but he showed containment when settling for the field goal that made the score 10-0. Therefore, the Vikings should blend risk-taking and common sense the rest of the way. It won’t always be the wild west on 4th Down.

8. Remember all that talk about Justin Jefferson filling “the Cooper Kupp role?” Well, it’s happening.

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

8. Greg Joseph punished a 56-yard field goal — tying a Vikings record — and fans really didn’t have any anxiety about it during the lead-up. That should tell you something.

9. Rodgers authored two turnovers, which is like Steph Curry missing eight free throws. When Rodgers turns the ball over, the opposing defense is doing something right — and probably pissing him off.

10. The Vikings had three penalties. There should be a parade to celebrate the low total. Facetious — but you get the point.

11. Kirk Cousins was magnificent, laying credence to the theory of “pairing him with a coach who wants him there.” If only for a week, the experiment with Cousins and O’Connell seems quite wise.

12. Ed Ingram got off to a rough start, especially early on. Such is life with rookies in their first game.

13. The Packers will be back. They essentially pulled this same trick one year ago, almost to the day. Unlike the Vikings, Green Bay seemed to have rust.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

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