Wentz delivers three touchdown passes as Jefferson finishes Vikings comeback

Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes in relief of Kyler Murray, and Minnesota turned a 12-point third-quarter deficit into a 39–22 win over Green Bay on Sunday. The Vikings scored the final 29 points at U.S. Bank Stadium, with two late takeaways helping them pull away after Aaron Jones Sr. put them ahead.

Justin Jefferson caught eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Wentz finished 12 of 19 for 133 yards without an interception, giving Minnesota enough offense after Murray left with a concussion in the first quarter. Murray’s health remains a separate question after a season opener the Vikings salvaged decisively.

Green Bay had the game’s most explosive connection. Jordan Love found Christian Watson for an 81-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 2-yard score just before halftime. Watson finished with six catches for 147 yards; the Packers led 19–10 at the break.

Trey Smack’s third field goal made it 22–10 in the third quarter. Minnesota answered with Myles Price’s long kickoff return, then Wentz’s 16-yard touchdown throw to T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings had cut the deficit to five before Green Bay faced the decision that changed its afternoon.

Early in the fourth quarter, Matt LaFleur accepted an offsides penalty that erased a made field goal and sent his offense back out on fourth-and-1. Love’s sneak gained nothing against a stop credited to rookie Domonique Orange. Green Bay left that possession without points.

Minnesota followed with its go-ahead drive, helped by Green Bay penalties. An apparent end-zone interception by Evan Williams was wiped out by defensive holding on Xavier McKinney. Jones scored from 3 yards, and Wentz found Jefferson for the two-point conversion and a 25–22 lead with 6:37 remaining.

The Vikings’ pressure then forced the game open. Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman shared a sack of Love; Van Ginkel forced and recovered the fumble, returning it to the Green Bay 1. Jordan Mason scored on the next play. James Pierre’s interception on the following Packers possession set up Jefferson’s second touchdown, a 9-yard reception.

The final statistics show how much Green Bay wasted. Love threw for 387 yards, and the Packers outgained Minnesota 419–239. But Green Bay converted only three of 12 third downs, scored a touchdown on one of four red-zone trips and committed 12 penalties for 98 yards. Minnesota went four-for-four in the red zone.

Acme Packing Company’s Evan “Tex” Western highlighted Green Bay’s protection breakdowns and penalties on the go-ahead drive. Those failures outweighed Watson’s big day and Matthew Golden’s six catches for 95 yards. Minnesota begins 1–0; Green Bay carries a division loss into its next game against the Jets.

The roster takeaway

Minnesota’s receiving production survived the quarterback change, but Murray’s next availability remains unresolved. Wentz’s relief line establishes what happened Sunday; it does not settle the starting decision for the next game.