Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – Carson Wentz came off the bench in the first quarter and threw three touchdown passes Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings scored 29 straight points to beat the Green Bay Packers 39-22 in the season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Wentz took over after new Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray was knocked out of his Minnesota debut with a concussion. Murray scrambled on third down late in the first quarter and was hit in the head by Packers safety Javon Bullard as he slid. Green Bay was penalized on the play. Murray walked off under his own power but was ruled out shortly afterward. He finished three of five for 18 yards with an interception.
Green Bay led 22-10 in the third quarter before Minnesota took over. Wentz hit Hockenson for a 16-yard score, then Aaron Jones ran in a three-yard touchdown with 6:42 left. Wentz found Justin Jefferson for a two-point conversion that gave the Vikings their first lead of the day at 25-22.
Jordan Mason added a one-yard touchdown run, and Wentz capped the afternoon with a nine-yard scoring pass to Jefferson, who also caught a 39-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Wentz did not turn the ball over.
The Vikings defense sacked Jordan Love four times, hit him 15 times and forced two fumbles. Love lost one of them on a sack, then threw an interception deep in Packers territory as Green Bay went scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Love finished 21 of 42 for 387 yards with two touchdown passes to Christian Watson and one interception. Green Bay outgained Minnesota 419 yards to 239 but converted just three of 12 third downs and was flagged 12 times for 98 yards.
The Vikings had no update on Murray’s status after the game. Concussion recovery timelines vary, and the team did not say whether he would be available next week.
Minnesota is 1-0 and visits the Chicago Bears at 12:00 p.m. Sunday. Green Bay falls to 0-1 and travels to the New York Jets at the same time.
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