The Green Bay Packers return home to Lambeau Field for the first time in over a month tomorrow. They will host their rival the Minnesota Vikings. Kick-off is scheduled for noon on FOX. The Packers are coming off an embarrassing 19-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. On the other hand, the Vikings got a 22-17 upset win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. Minnesota enters this game as one and half point favorites. Here is a preview of tomorrow’s game.
Kirk Cousins Does It All
Despite the Minnesota Vikings being 3-4 on the season, quarterback Kirk Cousins has had a really nice start through the first half. Cousins is second on the NFL in passing and first in touchdown passes. He certainly hasn’t been the issue with the Vikings 3-4 start.
The Vikings have a better offensive line than in years past. The 49ers have the best defensive line in the league and they only sacked Cousins once Monday night. Even without star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who is on IR with a hamstring injury, Cousins continues to do a good job getting him and the ball out of harms ways.
The Green Bay Packers defense has to get to Cousins and force some turnovers. If he has all day to throw, he will carve the secondary up like he did with the 49ers. This is good test for defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
Where Do The Green Bay Packers Go From Here
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
The Green Bay Packers start games and first halves worse than any team in the NFL. We keep hearing from Matt LaFleur throughout the week they need to start faster and we don’t see it. This has been the case through each of the first six games. I am not sure how that all of a sudden changes. Right now, this offense is a mess.
The defense is keeping the Packers in games, but it’s not generating any momentum. There hasn’t been that one big play or one big turnover. They are bending but not breaking. That’s okay, but when your offense is doing nothing, you have to create some momentum.
Division games always matter more. This is a game I believe the Packers need more than the Vikings. Minnesota can hang on a good offense and a defense that is improved from a season ago. On the other hand, the Packers can’t rely on any of their three phases right now.
Prediction
You can likely tell I’m not that confident gong into this game tomorrow. I think the Vikings are better than their 3-4 record shows. Last season when they won 11 one possessions games, they are now losing those one possession games. Their defense isn’t where they want it yet, but it’s already improved under first year defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
The Vikings bring a ton of pressure. They blitz more than any team in the NFL and it’s not close. Jordan Love has to get the ball out quick. With blitzing comes the opportunity for open spaces and potential big plays. How Love reacts to it will be key.
If the Packers had any sort of momentum, I would lean towards Green Bay. However, this seems to be two teams going opposite directions. The Vikings can build off Monday’s win. I am not sure where the Green Bay Packers go after losing to one of the worst teams in football. I am not sure what they do well to this point either. Despite being home, I’m taking the Vikings.
Vikings 28 Packers 17
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