Preview: Packers vs. Vikings

With a commanding 3.5 game lead over the Vikings going into Sunday’s meeting in Minnesota, the Packers can all but clinch the NFC North with a win. Under coach Matt LaFleur, Green Bay is 2-0 at U.S. Bank Stadium. To make it 3-0, here are the five keys to victory:


1) SLOW DOWN COOK

LaFleur is 13-1 against the North. The one loss was to the Vikings last November at Lambeau Field. In that game, Dalvin Cook had over 200 total yards from scrimmage. The Pro Bowl running back especially took advantage of the Packers’ subpar play at inside linebacker. Rookies Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin started that day. A vastly-improved Barnes and newcomer De’Vondre Campbell, who’s having a Pro Bowl-caliber season, have turned a weakness into a strength and should give Joe Barry’s third-ranked defense a much better chance of containing Cook.

2) BE AGGRESSIVE ON D

Along with slowing down Cook, making Kirk Cousins uncomfortable in the pocket is the best way to keep the Vikings’ very talented offense from having a big day. Pressuring the veteran quarterback would be a lot easier if Za’Darius Smith (back) and Whitney Mercilus (biceps) weren’t on injured reserve and if emerging star Rashan Gary weren’t dealing with a dislocated elbow. Barry may need to be a little more aggressive than usual on Sunday, so don’t be surprised to see more blitzing from a defense that much prefers to rush only four in obvious passing situations.

3) POUND AWAY WITH A.J.

The Vikings are allowing 130 yards a game on the ground, so the first start of A.J. Dillon’s young career has a chance to be a very productive one. If the Packers can quiet the crowd and slow down the pass rush by running the ball effectively, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have an easier time attacking Minnesota’s shaky corners (Mackensie Alexander and Baushad Breeland). Look for Dillon to attack the edges of a defense that’s strongest up the middle.

4) GET MVS INVOLVED

Marquez Valdes-Scantling is an improved player this season, but you wouldn’t know it by his lack of involvement in the passing game. The fourth-year wide receiver has been targeted only 12 times in his last four games. That needs to change starting this week. With tight end Robert Tonyan out for the season and Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones out this week, the offense needs another player to step up. If given a chance, MVS could be that player.

5) KEEP IT CLEAN

Beating a good team on the road – and the Vikings are a good team despite their losing record – is never easy, so it’s more important than ever for Green Bay to protect the football. Because Minnesota has so many weapons on offense, it’s imperative to make them play on a long field. That means no turnovers, good punting, and solid work by the coverage units. If Cousins has to go 75 or 80 yards, there’s a good chance something will happen to disrupt the drive.

 

PREDICTION: Green Bay will once again take on a much healthier opponent. Along with all the key players on injured reserve (Smith, Robert Tonyan, Josh Myers, and Jaire Alexander), the Packers have ruled David Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones out and listed Allen Lazard as doubtful and Gary as questionable. Meanwhile, Wyatt Davis is the biggest name on Minnesota’s injury report. It’s a credit to the front office, the coaching staff, and the players that the Packers keep rolling along. It’s also further proof of the importance of having a great quarterback. Rodgers, regardless of circumstances, always gives his team a chance to win.

The Packers are favored by 2 points, and they’ve covered the spread for the past nine weeks. It would be foolish to bet against them… but I will. All of these injuries, coupled with the very late bye, have to catch up with the most resilient team in the league at some point, doesn’t it? MINNESOTA 27-20 (Season record: 6-4 straight-up; 2-7-1 vs. the spread)

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Michael Rodney

Packers Notes is the creation of Michael Rodney, who has been writing about the Green Bay Packers for over 30 years. His first blog, Packer Update, hit the internet in 2004. Before becoming a public educator, Rodney worked as a journalist for a couple of newspapers in his home state of New Jersey and covered the Philadelphia Eagles for WTXF-TV. He's had numerous articles on the Packers published, and he's been featured on both television and radio over the years.

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Joe
Joe
November 21, 2021 8:23 am

#5 addendum – no field goal screwups

Eric
Eric
November 21, 2021 9:58 am

Agreed that this looks like a game they likely lose. Looks like a lot of people out there are picking against the Pack. I could certainly see them losing today and then winning out. I’m really interested to see how the Packers corners, especially Stokes, do against Jefferson.

If the Pack can just win either this week or next I think they’re still primed for #1 seed. Rodgers toe is concerning but this is a defense heavy team so I’m most curious about whether the defensive studs can get healthy in December.

The bye can’t come soon enough!

Jerry
Jerry
November 21, 2021 11:23 am

Besides getting a win, it would also be nice to get out of a game without an injury.

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