Packers vs Vikings Preview

(by Travis Aune MSU Founder)

When the NFL schedule comes out most Vikings fans, the first thing that they do is look to see when the Vikings play the hated Green Bay Packers.  There is so much animosity between the fan bases it is unbelievable.  This year the game pits the 4-1 Green Bay Packers and the 3-2 Minnesota Vikings with the game at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Last Week

Last Week the Vikings traveled to Chicago and took on the Bears, while the Packers took on the Dallas Cowboys.  In the Vikings game QB, Sam Bradford attempted to come back from a knee injury, but he was a shell of his former self and ended up being pulled before halftime.  Backup Quarterback Case Keenum along with a great defense led the Vikings to a 20-17 victory over the Bears to move to 3-2.   Keenum had 140 yards passing and a touchdown to Kyle Rudolph.  Jerick Mckinnon chipped in 146 all-purpose yards in the victory for the Vikings.



The Packers moved to 4-1 with a  35-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.  Aaron Rodgers completed a pass to Devante Adams with eleven seconds to play to clinch the win.  Rodgers went for 221 yards and three touchdowns.  Rookie Aaron Jones rushed for 125 yards with a touchdown for the Packers.

Vikings on Offense

Now onto the game this week, the Packers defense is average at best.  However, the Vikings will be missing Sam Bradford, Dalvin Cook, and Stefen Diggs.  The Packers are sturdy enough to beat when you have a full complement of players, but without Bradford, the Vikings are counting on Keenum to pull his weight.  A combination of Jerick Mckinnon and Latavius Murray will carry the load at running back after Cook was lost for the season.  Losing Diggs now is the one that hurts as he was the one real deep threat and you need to take some shots downfield.  Adam Thielen is an excellent receiver, but he is more of a possession guy and midrange yard guy.  The Vikings are hoping that Michael Floyd can regain some of his magic he had in Arizona and get some deep receptions.  The big thing is the Vikings need to protect with a young and sometimes so-so line defensive coordinator for the Packers Dom Capers will blitz a lot.

Vikings on Defense

This is simple but hard to do the Vikings need to keep Aaron Rodgers in the pocket.  When he gets outside, he is deadly, and with the cast of receivers, they have you need to do it with a four-man rush.  The positive is the line is excellent as Linval Joseph is good at stopping the run.  Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter will be counted on to chase Rodgers.  Another positive is the Vikings have what I consider the top corner in football in Xavier Rhodes.  Look for him to pursue Jordy Nelson around the field.  That will leave Trae Waynes and Terrance Newman and Mackenzie Alexander to cover Devante Adams and Randall Cobb.  Again if the Vikings can keep Rodgers in the pocket, for the most part, they should be ok.

Prediction

I look for Rodgers to make some plays because he is Aaron Rodgers.  However, for the most part, they can hold Green Bay to 20 pts.  The two keys for the Vikings are Jerick Mckinnon as I expect them to try to run the ball to keep Rodgers on the sideline.  The other is Michael Floyd and or Laquan Treadwell as the Vikings try to make some chunk plays these are the two most capable.  This goes against everything that makes sense, but I think the Vikings find a way today.

Vikings 20  Packers 17