How penalty-ridden drive doomed Packers in latest Matt LaFleur collapse

The Packers finished last season at a low point, blowing a sizable lead to the Bears for the second time in less than a month. After sitting with that loss for eight months, Green Bay didn't come out of the gate a different team.

The Vikings overcame a 22-10 deficit to take down the Packers on Sunday, even after losing QB Kyler Murray to a concussion in the first half. The combination of Carson Wentz and a terrific defensive front helped Minnesota surge in front, but the Packers beat themselves on the drive that gave the Vikings their first lead.

For coach Matt LaFleur, who received a contract extension after last season despite speculation about his future, the blown lead only ramps up the pressure just one week into the season.

Here's a look at how the Packers unraveled and where it ranks among Green Bay's worst collapses under LaFleur.

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Packers penalties vs. Vikings

The Vikings turned Sunday's game into a rout, at least on paper, with a 39-22 win, but the turning point came when Minnesota went down the field for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Wentz was far from perfect as he led the Vikings down the field while trailing 22-17, but the Packers repeatedly gave him extra opportunities with three penalties on third to extend the drive, along with one near-penalty.

An illegal contact penalty on third-and-11 prevented the Packers from getting the Vikings off the field in their own territory, and a roughing-the-passer penalty three plays later put Minnesota into Green Bay territory.

Packers flagged for illegal contact on this 3rd down play where they got a stop. Automatic 1st down for the Vikings pic.twitter.com/DRRDKER5xd

— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) September 13, 2026

Packers flagged for roughing the passer and the Vikings get another free 1st down pic.twitter.com/Z7kl9c13u5

— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) September 13, 2026

Just when it looked like Wentz threw the drive away with a confusing interception in the end zone, a defensive holding call for contact with T.J. Hockenson gave the Vikings new life. Minnesota cashed it in on the next play, took the lead and never gave it back. 

The drive also featured two apparent facemask penalties that went uncalled. While a defensive meltdown might be more excusable, the simple mistakes were enough to drive Packers fans mad.

Refs don’t call a face mask against the Packers despite Justin Jefferson getting pulled down from his helmet pic.twitter.com/i0XNo13y9K

— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) September 13, 2026

Here's more about Green Bay's recent blown leads under LaFleur.

MORE NFL WEEK 1: 

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• Baker Mayfield's turnover-filled day dooms Bengals
• How brutal INT drop costs Texans against Bills
• Deshaun Watson's horrid Week 1 brings more Browns QB questions

Packers blown leads under Matt LaFleur

The Packers' 2025 season might forever be best known for two late-season collapses against the rival Bears, one of which came in the playoffs. Those losses raised questions about LaFleur's status in Green Bay, but the organization ultimately decided to give him a new contract.

With the loss on Sunday, the Packers have now blown a double-digit lead in three of their last five games, including the playoffs. Green Bay saw a 10-point advantage slip away against the Bears in Week 16 last season, allowing 16 unanswered points after taking a 16-6 lead into the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, and a blown 21-3 lead to the same Bears team in the wild-card round went down as one of the Packers' lowest moments in recent memory.

If this result holds, the Packers will have blown double-digit second-half leads in their last three meaningful games against NFC North opponents.

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) September 13, 2026

After Sunday's loss, LaFleur admitted the Packers have to end the narrative that they can't finish games. “It’s gonna be a topic of conversation for all you guys until we do it," he told reporters.

The Packers have lost six straight dating back to last season and including playoffs, their longest losing streak 1990-91. They led by more than one score (9+ points) in the second half of four of those losses: Week 15 at Denver, Week 16 at Chicago, the wild-card game at Chicago…

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) September 13, 2026

A blown 12-point lead isn't a nightmare scenario in itself, but with the Viking scoring 29 unanswered points and the Packers already trying to prove they are past their 2025 collapses, the loss doesn't reflect well on LaFleur.

The Packers have now lost six consecutive games, including the playoffs, dating back to 2025.