Packers prioritize offensive line overhaul after heavy pressure on Jordan Love

Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love was hit 15 times and faced ten unblocked pressures in the Packers’ 39-22 defeat by the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the highest total for any quarterback in Week 1 and tied for the most in a game over the past five seasons, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. The Vikings blitzed Love on 78.3% of his dropbacks, the fourth-highest rate in a game since 2018.

Coach Matt LaFleur said the team could not afford “protection busts that absolutely should not and cannot happen,” and identified the offensive line as the primary area to fix before the next game against the New York Jets. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich confirmed the line’s struggles, noting that Love was hit “18 times actually” according to internal counts.

The pressure culminated late in the fourth quarter when Love was sacked on consecutive plays, leading to a turnover that gave Minnesota the ball at the Packers’ one-yard line and sealed the win. LaFleur labeled the missed block on Vikings defender Dallas Turner a “bust,” while right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele attributed the breakdown to miscommunication among the line.

Injuries and limited practice time have left the line unsettled. Guard Aaron Banks missed significant reps due to a lingering knee issue, and Bako-Bewele was also recovering from offseason knee surgery. The coaching staff ultimately started Donovan Jennings at guard after evaluating recent practice performance.

Packers’ pass-block win rate ranked last in the league at 9% for Week 1, with several linemen posting the lowest individual grades among their positions. LaFleur said the team will “clean up” these issues this week, while acknowledging that the Vikings’ blitz-heavy approach is not typical across the NFL.