Not sure what was gloomier, the weather all week in Green Bay or the mood of Packer fans. The last time I saw sunshine was last Sunday afternoon in Denver, Colorado. That’s where the Broncos handed the Packers a third straight loss, nearly a carbon copy of the prior two which has left the Green and Gold faithful coming to grips with the fact their team is now looking up to yes, the middle class of the NFC. They’ve been weaned on perennial playoff contenders for decades, Super Bowl favorites have been coming around with regularity. Getting adjusted to watching a floundering, mistake prone, extremely young and injured 2-4 professional football team is out of the ordinary, has not been easy, and it might get harder. That sound you hear to the west, approaching fast, is the dreaded Gjallarhorn, the favorite instrument of those pillaging Norsemen of centuries ago, now deployed by Green Bay’s most despised North Division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, due to arrive at Lambeau Field at high noon this Sunday.
These border neighbors have pretty well dominated the North for the last 30 years, The Detroit Lions may well get their first Division title since 1993 in a couple of a months, the Chicago Bears somehow put a good season together every seven to 10 years and it’s been Green Bay or Minnesota the rest of the time. If the Packers aren’t careful, they could find themselves nudging closer to the cellar dwelling Bears and in the company of other division bottom feeders like one win Arizona and winless Carolina. A 4th straight loss, coming at home, to their most bitter rival, could leave fans wishing for an even earlier winter to take their mind off football.
Despite the dreary weather, the Packers were upbeat on the practice field all week. Offensive players stayed after school and held their own meetings to try and come up with solutions for a unit that hasn’t found the end zone before halftime in more than a month. The defenders are dealing with a shuffled deck in the secondary thanks to the never ending injury plague. Can this all come together in time to beat the reigning champions of the North? The Vikes started this year 0-3 but have seemed to find their way, especially after dispatching a solid San Francisco team at U.S. Bank Stadium last Monday night. Let’s match ’em up.
When the Packers have the ball.
Even though it was damp, it was unseasonably warm all week. Come Sunday, it’s going to cool down considerably, maybe the low 40’s but the Vikings defense will bring their own heat. The Packer offensive line may have it’s most severe test yet. Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores has dialed up more blitzes than anyone in the league this season, by a wide margin. It’s produced the desired result against young quarterbacks like Bryce Young, Justin Fields and even Brock Purdy. No reason to think Flores will back off against Jordan Love. Danielle Hunter is the catalyst, he has nine of the teams’ 16 sacks, lining up primarily at left end. When Elgton Jenkins was asked how the offense is going to handle Hunter, he deadpanned, “Zach Tom.” Even Tom admitted Jenkins wasn’t wrong but added it will take a collective effort to communicate and execute. If protection holds, the Packers will continue to take shots downfield. Head Coach Matt LaFleur is dying for more explosive plays. They are more likely to lead to points than steadier eight to twelve play drives. The more snaps, the more chances a mistake occurs. That’s what has been neutering the offense. Negative plays and penalties have left the offense behind the chains and ultimately behind on the scoreboards almost weekly. Down to down, Minnesota’s defense can be attacked, they rank just one spot ahead of the Packers in yards per game, right in the middle of the NFL pack. Aaron Jones admits he’s still not 100 percent but plans to play. A.J. Dillon has put up above average efforts the last two weeks. It was supposed to be this tandem taking pressure off Love but to this point, it hasn’t happened. Sunday at home would be a start. The perimeter game just isn’t winning downfield consistently enough, until the Packers are in desperate comeback mode. Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and the rest will have to be on point when it comes to hot reads on Viking blitzes. If Love can find connections quickly in stride or in space, explosive plays might come.
When the Vikings have the ball.
Kirk Cousins’ first quarterback coach was Matt LaFleur in Washington. Since he became a full time starter in 2015, he’s put up some big numbers but last season was only the second time he’s reached double digit wins. His two biggest playmakers the past couple of seasons in the Twin Cities aren’t around. Dalvin Cook joined a host of ex-Packers to play with Aaron Rodgers in New York and Justin Jefferson, the fabulously talented wide receiver still has three more weeks to get his hamstring right on injured reserve. The big numbers are still coming though because Cousins has another phenom receiver and a tight end who is much more than a security blanket. First round draft pick Jordan Addison is stretching secondaries every week and former Detroit Lion T.J. Hockenson has become the favorite target of Cousins. He leads the team with 47 catches and 59 targets. The Packers, maybe like the Vikings defense, might want to consider dialing up some pressures to hurry up that passing game. Easier said than done. The Vikings threw 46 times against San Francisco yet Cousins wasn’t sacked once. Minnesota’s offensive line is rounding into form. They’re far from road graders though. Alexander Mattison gives them just enough on the ground, the addition of Cam Akers, the former Los Angeles Ram could give them a little more. Getting De’Vondre Campbell back after a month would be welcome, Jaire Alexander believes his sore back will be better and that would mean just one new starter Sunday. Jonathan Owens will get first dibs with Darnell Savage on injured reserve. The focus should be on Hockenson, Cousins can’t resist looking his way. Just a little pressure could go a long way toward coming up with the elusive takeaway. The Packers have just five this season and it’s been a big emphasis from DC Joe Barry all week.
The bottom line.
The Packers should have a better handle on the litany of mistakes (route combos, pre-snap penalties, tackling issues) when they play on the tundra for only the third time this season. Until they find the end zone in the first half or not have the last pass of the day thrown to the other guys, I can’t trust ’em.
I’ll take the Vikings 23-16.
