Packers are producing big plays. Now they need to start delivering big point totals

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Producing big plays wasn’t a problem for the Green Bay Packers offense in their season opener.

Turning those long gains into points proved much more troublesome. It’s something the Packers must fix as they try to avoid their first 0-2 start in two decades.

Green Bay had seven pass completions of at least 20 yards Sunday, but still lost 39-22 to the Minnesota Vikings after scoring only one touchdown on four red zone possessions.

“When you tallied up the explosives, we were winning that by a large margin,” tight end Tucker Kraft said. “It’s the consistency. Execution is good, but when your drives just fizzle out and you’re not putting sevens on the board — you’re just putting threes on the board — that’s where we’ve got to pick up the pace.”

That inability to finish drives results in a continued inability to finish games.

Green Bay led Minnesota 22-10 in the third quarter but never broke the game open, enabling Minnesota to rally by scoring the game’s final 29 points.

As Green Bay gets ready to visit the New York Jets (1-0) on Sunday, the Packers have dropped six straight games, counting last season’s 31-27 playoff loss at Chicago.

The collapse against Minnesota was noteworthy in part because of how effectively the Packers moved the ball for much of the game. Jordan Love had five completions of at least 30 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown to Christian Watson.

The Packers were tied for fourth among all NFL teams with 10 explosive plays, defined as a run of 12-plus yards or a pass of 16-plus yards.

Green Bay’s seven plays of 20-plus yards represented a contrast from last season, when the Packers didn’t have any gains of at least 20 yards in either of their two games with Minnesota. The Packers rested all their starters in one of those games to get ready for the playoffs.

“As an offense, that’s what we always talk about,” said Love, whose 387 yards passing were two off his career high. “We’re hunting those explosives. I think we did a good job in the game. I think there’s still a lot more explosives out there, some missed opps we had, and that’s the unfortunate part.”

The Packers also missed plenty of opportunities once they got into scoring position.

They had a first down at the Minnesota 27 and eventually reached the 20 before settling for a 43-yard field goal early in the second quarter. They had first-and-goal at the 7 in the third quarter before losing a yard on the next three plays and again settling for a field goal. They lost the ball on downs in the red zone twice in the fourth quarter.

Part of the problem was an inefficient rushing attack. The Packers gained just 66 yards on 21 carries while playing without three-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs, who’s on the commissioner’s exempt list after pleading no contest to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a May altercation with his girlfriend at the time.

The other issue was an offensive line that didn’t create enough running room and also failed to protect Love from the Vikings’ constant pressure. The Vikings had three sacks and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said Love was hit 18 times.

“Our plays were working,” Kraft said. “It was just that we’d be turning around to look for the football and Jordan would be off-schedule because he has internal or external pressure and he’s trying to make a throw on the run.”

That offensive line had left guard Donovan Jennings making his first career start and right guard Jacob Monk starting for just the second time against the Vikings. Stenavich said the Packers would rotate a few guys there in practice this week as they tried to find the right combination.

Green Bay could get a boost whenever left guard Aaron Banks returns from the knee issue that prevented him from playing against the Vikings. Banks practiced on a limited basis Wednesday.

NOTES: Edge rusher Lukas Van Ness and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave are in concussion protocol and were limited participants in Wednesday’s practice. Hargrave also has a knee issue. OT Zach Bako-Bewele (knee), LB Ty’Ron Hopper (Achilles), edge rusher Barryn Sorrell (foot) and DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle) also were limited. ... DT Warren Brinson (calf) didn’t practice.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) runs the ball for a touchdown after catching a pass as Matthew Golden (0) helps defend against a tackle attempt by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson (9) and Jordan Love (10) celebrate Watson's touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (0) celebrates after catching a pass for a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) and the offense jog off the field after Love threw an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Christian Yelich’s two-run double in the seventh inning sent the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Yelich grounded his double down the left-field line off Carmen Mlodzinski (7-7) to erase a 4-3 deficit. His big hit came one night after the Brewers became the first team in the major leagues to clinch a division title this season, winning their fourth consecutive NL Central crown.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy played all his regulars. The Brewers have the best record in the majors at 95-57 and hope to finish atop the overall standings to earn home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Milwaukee has won seven of its past eight games.

Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe and Rafael Flores Jr. homered in consecutive innings to put the Pirates ahead 4-3 in the sixth. The Pirates, who have lost four of five, have hit a franchise-record 174 home runs this season, breaking the previous mark of 171 in 1998.

Antonio Senzatela (11-5) retired two batters and Trevor Megill pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save.

Both starting pitchers, Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson and Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones, allowed three runs in five innings. Jones struck out nine and Henderson fanned eight.

Henderson has given up three runs or fewer in each of his first 22 career starts, one shy of the major league record set by Zac Gallen from 2019-20 with Miami and Arizona.

Consecutive RBI singles by the Brewers’ Andrew Vaughn and Cooper Pratt in the second inning opened the scoring. Brice Turang doubled home a run in the fifth.

The series concludes Thursday afternoon with Brewers LHP Kyle Harrison (10-4, 3.98 ERA) starting against RHP Wilber Dotel (1-5, 4.84).

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Pittsburgh Pirates' Rafael Flores Jr. celebrates as he rounds second base after hitting a solo home run off Milwaukee Brewers' Logan Henderson during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Milwaukee Brewers' Andrew Vaughn (28) follows through on a single off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jared Jones, driving in a run, during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill, right, celebrates with catcher William Contreras after getting the final out of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich (22) celebrates with first base coach Spencer Allen after driving in two runs with a single off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich hits a single off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski, driving in two runs, during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)