Aaron Rodgers identifies reason behind Packers' Week 1 loss

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Aaron Rodgers underlined that the Green Bay Packers simply can't allow themselves mental mistakes if they want to be competitive and win football games. The Packers didn't impress in Week 1 as the Minnesota Vikings handed them a 23-7 defeat.

"Obviously, it'd be great to have a 75-yard touchdown to start the game," Rodgers said, per ESPN. "But drops are going to happen. It's part of the game. It's the mental stuff that we just can't have because we're hurting ourselves.

Whether we're going the wrong way on a block or missing a protection something or missing a great [route] or not running the right route [at] the right depth, there was just too many mental mistakes."

Rodgers preaches patience with young receivers

On the Packers' first offensive play of the season, Rodgers delivered a great pass to rookie wide receiver Christian Watson, who couldn't secure the ball.

Had Watson made the catch, that would have given the Packers a 75-yard touchdown pass on their first offensive action of the season. Going into the season, the Packers' inexperienced wide receiver corps was a big concern.

In Week 1, that definitely cost the Packers some points. But Rodgers is refusing to throw his young receivers under the buss as he wants to give them more time to adjust to the life in the NFL. "Look, we've got to have patience with those guys," Rodgers said.

"They're young. They haven't been in the fire. The patience will be thinner as the season goes on, but the expectation will be high. We'll keep them accountable, but it's going to happen. There's going to be drops. Hate to see it on the first play, but it's part of it -- there's going to be drops throughout the season." In Week 2, the Packers host the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.