National Sports

Slew of penalties slows Packers’ progress

The Green Bay Packers are committing penalties at an alarming rate rarely seen before in this franchise’s storied history.

Green Bay rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the New York Jets 20-17 in overtime on Sunday despite getting penalized 14 times for 133 yards. That followed a 39-22 loss at Minnesota in which the Packers committed 12 penalties for 98 yards.

According to Sportradar, that matches the Packers’ second-highest penalty total for a two-game stretch within the same season since at least 1950. The Packers also committed 26 penalties over two games from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 in 2007, and they were penalized 29 times over two games from Nov. 1-8 in 1987.

Green Bay’s 26 total penalties for 231 yards represent the highest totals for any NFL team in either category heading into Monday night’s game.

“Those are things that stop drives, put you behind the sticks obviously, and it’s tough to overcome,” quarterback Jordan Love said after Sunday’s game. “That’s an area we’ve got to focus, clean up, figure out what’s going on, especially on just pre-snap alignment penalties, things like that.”

The Packers’ 14 penalties didn’t prove costly Sunday, in part because the Jets were flagged 13 times for 156 yards.

But the Packers (1-1) might have beaten the Vikings if they hadn’t been penalized on three third down plays in Minnesota’s go-ahead touchdown drive. One penalty wiped out an interception. The other two turned potential punting situations into first downs.

“The ones that are just mind-blowing are just the false starts, jumping offside, lining up offside,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “Those are the ones that’ll get you beat.”

Green Bay had a number of those on Sunday. The Packers also had multiple unnecessary roughness and holding infractions.

What’s working

After getting outscored 90-15 in the fourth quarter and overtime of a six-game skid that began last season, the Packers showed they could finish by scoring the final 13 points in a come-from-behind victory Sunday. … Special teams made a big difference, with Skyy Moore’s 63-yard punt return setting up Trey Smack’s tying 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter before Smack won the game with a 26-yarder in overtime. Moore and Smack both received game balls.

What needs help

The Packers went 1 of 9 on third down situations after going 3 of 12 at Minnesota. Their third down conversion rate of 19.1% is the worst in the league. ... The Packers also rank last in the NFL in yards rushing per game (64.5) and were 29th in yards per carry (3.3).

Injuries

WR Jayden Reed and OL Zach

Bako-Bewele were carted off the field on consecutive plays during Green Bay’s opening drive. Reed injured his neck and was hospitalized overnight, though the Packers reported after Sunday’s game that he had movement in his extremities and he posted on X that he was “doing much better.” Bako-Bewele hurt his knee, and LaFleur said after the game that “I think he could be out for a long time.”