Good afternoon, everyone. On Monday night, the Green Bay Packers will take on the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. For the Packers, this game gives them a chance to clinch the NFC North. I am here to give you my thoughts on what the Packers need to do to get that done on Monday night.
On offense, a fast start is crucial for the Packers in order to quiet down the Vikings fans. They have to execute on their first couple of drives and get a touchdown on each of them. If they can do this, then the noise from the crowd (and that darn horn) will be mitigated a bit. As always, the run game needs to be productive with the duo of Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. The offensive line needs to do their part in creating the running lanes for the backs to go through. Running the ball well is the best way to tire out the pass rushers of the Vikings, who include Anthony Barr and Danielle Hunter. It can also set up the play-action passing game, which should confuse the defense if it is executed right. Whether or not the passing game uses play-action, QB Aaron Rodgers and the pass catchers (including Davante Adams, Jake Kumerow, Allen Lazard, Jimmy Graham, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling) need to be on the same page. Rodgers needs to find the open receiver and not hold onto the ball in the hopes of a big play. The receivers, in turn, need to catch every pass that is thrown by Rodgers. There cannot be any drops, especially in third down situations. I still have hope that a wheel route is caught for a touchdown by any of the three backs (Jones, Williams, or Danny Vitale). In order for everything in the passing game to go right, the offensive line needs to protect Rodgers from any sacks or pressures by the Vikings defense. The O-Line also needs to avoid false start penalties during the game. Third downs are crucial for the Packers in this game, especially with the fact that the noise will be deafening in Minnesota. The offense needs to overcome the noise and convert every third down that they face (hopefully short ones) to sustain drives and quiet down the crowd. What can also help sustain drives is avoiding turnovers (which include fumbles and interceptions). When they get in the red zone, touchdowns need to be scored by the Packers on offense to keep the pressure on the Vikings to answer back. Doing all of these things will help the Packers win on Monday night.
On defense, the key for the Packers is to shut down the running game for the Vikings. This is helped a bit by Dalvin Cook being out with a shoulder injury. Regardless of who gets the call to run the ball, the Packers defense needs to make sure that the backs don’t run all over them. The defensive linemen (including Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry) need to penetrate the Vikings O-linemen and tackle the running back for little to no gain on the play. If they can do that, then the defense can focus solely on making Kirk Cousins uncomfortable throughout the game. I have no doubt that the duo of Za’Darius and Preston Smith will get plenty of pressure on Cousins and sack him a couple of times each. It would be very nice if other players get a sack as well, including Kenny Clark and Adrian Amos. Even if they don’t get the sack, pressuring Kirk Cousins can force him into throwing passes that can easily be picked off. For the defensive backs, they need to make sure that the Vikings pass catchers (including the trio of Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Kyle Rudolph) need to be covered well. They can’t let these receivers get wide open for a big play. If there is a chance for an interception, they need to catch it instead of dropping it. Last week against the Bears, Darnell Savage dropped an interception when they were in the red zone. If he (plus the rest of the defensive backs) can get those picks and hang on to them, then the momentum will be in Green Bay’s favor. Another chance for a turnover would be to strip-sack Kirk Cousins and recover the fumble. When the Vikings face a third down, the defense needs to stop them and force the punting unit to come out onto the field. If the Vikings get into the red zone, the defense needs to force them to settle for field goals instead of letting them score touchdowns. If the defense executes all of these things, then the Packers will have a good chance of winning on Monday night.
On Special Teams, the Packers need to avoid silly mistakes, which include penalties and turnovers. Tyler Ervin needs to make the most out of his opportunities on punt and kickoff returns. Hopefully he can break one out for a touchdown to give the Packers a lot of momentum. What can help him get long returns is good blocking by the return unit. If there is not an opportunity for a return, then he needs to make sure that the fair catch is clean and not muffed. On the other side, the Packers need to make sure that the returns by the Vikings are covered well. Seeing that this game is indoors, it should be easy for most kickoffs by both teams to result in a touchback. Mason Crosby needs to make all of his kicks, as he has mostly done throughout the season. JK Scott needs to flip the field with his punts whenever he is called upon to do so. Hunter Bradley needs to do his part in terms of snapping the ball accurately to make sure that everything goes smoothly. The line needs to make sure that the punts and field goals are not blocked by the Vikings. On the other end, I would not mind seeing the Packers get a blocked punt or field goal at some point in the game. Doing all of these things on Special Teams will help the Packers win against the Vikings.
A win for the Packers on Monday night will give them the NFC North division title. It will also keep them in the hunt for a first-round bye in the playoffs. As long as they execute everything well and overcome the crowd noise, I think that the Packers will get it done on the road. I will be back with my post-game thoughts on Tuesday morning, regardless of the outcome. Have a great day, everyone. Go Pack Go!
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