• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Thursday, September 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Packers stick it to Vikings again!

by Larry Fitzgerald
September 15, 2020
34
SHARES
676
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
Packers
MGN


A wise man once said, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” On that note, hang in
there, Vikings fans.

On a Sunday in an empty U.S. Bank Stadium, a day the Vikings celebrated as the beginning
of their 60th NFL season, the Vikings honored the family of George Floyd with a ceremony on
the field before kickoff. Floyd was murdered on 38th and Chicago by four Minneapolis police on
Memorial Day.

The Vikings made a huge mistake, however. Outside U.S Bank Stadium (remember, no fans
allowed) the two entrances were manned by the Minneapolis Police Department.
That had to be humiliating for the Floyd family while entering U.S Bank Stadium, and
maybe it was an omen for what was to come later.

The Sounds of Blackness sung the national anthem, and the Vikings stood arm in arm except
for one Vikings players who may have been the first in franchise history to take a knee. The
Packers chose to stay in the locker room.

After years of opposing players protesting police brutality, the NFL has embraced the
movement. Players wore shirts and masks bearing racial justice slogans, and several teams
stayed in their locker rooms for the national anthem.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

It was the first time in this border battle rivalry that Green Bay opened the season in
Minnesota. Call it a wasted opportunity.

The Packers humbled the Vikings 43-34. It was the most points ever allowed by the Vikings
on NFL kickoff weekend. As I left U.S. Bank Stadium I glanced at a portrait of the Purple
People Eaters—Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen. I could almost see tears in
their eyes.

Green Bay had 522 yards total offense and 31 first downs. They scored more than a point a
minute, and they had the ball for 41 minutes 16 seconds. Aaron Rodgers threw for 364 yards and
four touchdowns. Receiver Davante Adams’ 14 catches for 156 yards torched the Vikings
secondary.

The Vikings actually led 7-3 and made a gutsy goal line stand. Yes, they actually stopped the
Packers at the one-yard line. Unfortunately, two plays later quarterback Kirk Cousins was sacked
on a blitz for a safety.

With Vikings 7 and Packers 5, after the punt Green Bay added a field goal: 8-7 Packers. In
the next series, Cousins throws an interception and Rodgers quickly hit Adams for a touchdown:
15-7 Packers. It appeared that Adams did not get both feet down, but after review it was ruled a
touchdown.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Can you say, “That’s all, folks”? The Vikings could not get pressure on Rodgers, and the
Packers kept moving the chains. Green Bay did not punt until midway in the third quarter. Defensively it was a horrendous performance. The Vikings had no sacks. It’s an understatement to say the Vikings missed their best player, Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter and his 14½ sacks and leadership.

Hunter is on injured reserve for three weeks with a neck injury. Yannick Ngakoue, the new
defensive star traded for from Jacksonville two weeks ago, had no impact. He looked out of
shape and helpless.

Mike Zimmer has a big problem: He’s 2-5 vs NFC Central teams the last two years. He’s now
0-3 vs. Matt LaFleur and 0-2 at U.S Bank against the second-year head coach of the Packers,
who’s 15-4 now.

Zimmer is supposed to be a defensive coach, a fixer. He has a lot work ahead this week. Next
week the Vikings travel to Indianapolis to play Phillip Rivers and the Colts.

That was one of the worst defensive performances I’ve seen by a Vikings defense. Maybe it
was no fans and the players adjusting. Or was it first game jitters? We’ll see.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Teams that win NFL kickoff weekend have a 52% chance of making the playoffs. Right now
the Division is in the hands of Green Bay.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

“Losers”???!!!

Next Post

Minnesota State Fair to host encore Fall Food Parade

Larry Fitzgerald

Larry Fitzgerald is a longstanding contributing columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.

You Might Also Like

​The search for elusive Black fans continues
Sports

​The search for elusive Black fans continues

New Vikings GM confident he hired the best head coach
Sports

New Vikings GM confident he hired the best head coach

First flag football season could be the start of something big
Sports

First flag football season could be the start of something big

Flag football gains momentum with Vikings support
High School

Flag football gains momentum with Vikings support

Flores resists NFL’s forced arbitration threat
Sports

Flores resists NFL’s forced arbitration threat

NFL agrees to end ‘race-norming’
Sports

Fallout from NFL lawsuit continues

Next Post
Minnesota State Fair to host encore Fall Food Parade

Minnesota State Fair to host encore Fall Food Parade

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 28
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

Sep 30
10:00 am-12:00 pm

dem Blessings for Parents: A Morning of Creative Nourishment with Sharon Bridgforth

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: