MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Green Bay Packers opened their 2026 season the same way they closed 2025: blowing a big lead late.
Green Bay led 22-10 with five minutes left in the third quarter of Sunday's game at Minnesota, only to be outscored 29-0 the rest of the way in a 39-22 loss to the Vikings.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter, when three separate defensive stops, a sack, a broken-up pass, and an interception—were each wiped out by penalties on the same Minnesota drive.
Cornerback Keisean Nixon summed it up afterward: "Can't leave it in the ref's hands."
Green Bay finished with 12 accepted penalties for 98 yards to Minnesota's three for 15, and the officiating crew has ranked among the NFL's most penalty prone for two straight seasons, according to Yardbarker.
The fallout was swift. Former Packers safety Nick Collins criticized the officiating on social media, saying, "Never entrust the game to referees, as they have consistently proven to be unreliable," while also saying the Packers had chances to close out the win themselves, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Former left tackle David Bakhtiari needed just one word for his reaction: "Ew."
Christian Watson's own family piled on as well. Watson's father, Tazim Wajid Wajed, a former Packer himself, called it an organizational failure and questioned the state of the offensive line, while Watson's brother, Tre Watson Sr., said the team's late game collapses have become an unacceptable pattern.
Coach Matt LaFleur added to the frustration with his own decision earlier in that same fourth quarter.
Leading by eight, LaFleur declined a penalty that would have kept points on the board and instead sent the offense out to try to convert fourth-and-1. Jordan Love was stopped on the sneak, handing Minnesota the ball and, eventually, the momentum.
LaFleur defended the call afterward, saying, "We're gonna try to go for the throat in that situation."
Former Packers backup quarterback Kurt Benkert went further, posting "Clean house" on X and criticizing LaFleur's play calling as too conservative.
The criticism spread to sports radio. Steve "Homer" True said on ESPN Madison that the Packers should consider moving on from LaFleur despite his recent contract extension, saying the team should "let him go tonight."
Green Bay, now losers of six straight dating back to last season, opens 2026 at 0-1 in the NFC North.
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