The Green Bay Packers suffered a disappointing 27-25 defeat against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17, plagued by self-inflicted mistakes on offense and a pass defense that struggled without key players. Despite a promising fourth-quarter surge where the Packers scored 15 points, they were unable to stop the Vikings, who expertly managed the clock to secure their victory.

For the first time since 2017, the Vikings completed a season sweep over the Packers, improving their record to an impressive 14-2 as they head into the final week of the regular season. Here are five crucial statistics to digest from this tough loss:

1. Pressure Disparity

Sam Darnold, the Vikings' quarterback, faced pressure on only 14 out of 44 dropbacks. When kept clean in the pocket, he completed 26 out of 30 passes, showcasing a dominant performance. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged that the team failed to meet their standard in terms of pressuring the quarterback, stating that defensive adjustments were ineffective against Darnold.

2. Deep Ball Struggles

Jordan Love struggled significantly with downfield passes, going 1-for-5 on throws over 20 yards, with his only completion being a 35-yard catch to Tucker Kraft late in the game. Conversely, Darnold was an impressive 4-for-5 for 99 yards and two touchdowns on deep passes, exploiting a defense that had previously been strong against explosive plays.

3. Man Coverage Woes

The Vikings deployed man coverage on 47.1 percent of the Packers' dropbacks, and Jordan Love averaged a mere 4.2 yards per attempt when faced with this coverage strategy. The absence of Christian Watson, known for his ability to beat man coverage, severely hampered the Packers’ effectiveness. LaFleur admitted to lacking sufficient answers and adjustments early in the game as the offense struggled to find its rhythm.

4. Rookie Struggles

Rookie safety Javon Bullard faced a challenging outing, giving up two touchdown passes. He allowed Jalen Nailor to slip behind the defense for a 31-yard touchdown and was unwittingly beaten by Jordan Addison on a crafty double move to open the third quarter. Bullard, who had recently returned from an ankle injury, found himself in a tough spot after the Packers lost Zayne Anderson to injury early in the match.

5. Defensive Absences

The Packers' secondary was further hindered by injuries, which compounded the issues faced by the defense. With key players absent, the Vikings seized the opportunity to exploit mismatches and capitalize on any lapses in coverage.

This loss raises important questions for the Packers as they prepare for their final game of the season. Can they resolve their defensive issues and find a way to stabilize their offense before the playoffs? As the end of the season approaches, fans will be watching closely to see how the team responds to this setback. Will they rise to the challenge or continue to falter? Only time will tell!