The Green Bay Packers (7-8) will host the Minnesota Vikings (12-3) on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. The two teams have not met since Week One when the Vikings defeated the Packers 23-7. Remember the bliss, Packers fans, when Green Bay went onto win their next three games? How convinced we were that Week One was just another opening week dud and that the Packers would put together another dominant season! Of course, that is not what happened. Following that three-game win streak, the Packers lost five straight games to fall to 4-6. Now they are riding a three-game win streak into their first game of the 2023 calendar year looking for revenge from their Week One loss. Of course, there are other storylines that are just as, if not more so, intriguing in this matchup.
Storyline #1: The Packers Need to Win to Keep Their Playoff Hopes Alive
Of course, the most important of these storylines is that the Packers are in a position where they must win in order to make the Playoffs. The Vikings, on the other hand, have already clinched the NFC North. This is truly a “win or go home early” game for Green Bay. Meanwhile, the Vikings would love nothing more than to spoil the playoff hopes of their division rival. One has to assume that Za’Darius Smith, in particular, would enjoy playing spoiler in this regard. Hopefully, the Packers do not give him the satisfaction.
Storyline #2: Jaire Alexander vs Justin Jefferson
Prior to the Week One matchup, Pro Bowl safety Jaire Alexander stated that he wanted to be matched up with Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. While he was not matched up with Jefferson for the whole game, the Vikings’ phenom torched the Packers for nine receptions, 184 yards, and two touchdowns. Never one to back off or be intimidated, Alexander recently called Jefferson’s performance in Week One “a fluke.”
#Packers star CB Jaire Alexander's thoughts on #Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. Said he's a top-3 receiver in the #NFL, but JJ's 9 receptions for 184 yards and 2 TDs in Week 1 vs. the #Packers was a “fluke.”
pic.twitter.com/YO8TDlhHup— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 29, 2022
Last week, the Packers allowed two Miami Dolphins wide receivers to eclipse 100 yards. Most of that production came in the first half, however, and they intercepted Miami on three consecutive drives in the second half. Can the defense keep the momentum going from their dominant second half? It is notable, too, that in Week One, the Packers defense only allowed six points in the second half. Hopefully Joe Barry can have his unit ready at the start of the game as opposed to needing a plethora of second half adjustments.
Storyline #3: Redemption for Christian Watson
As it stands right now, Christian Watson leads all rookies in total touchdowns. He has seven receiving touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns on the season. At one point this season, he tied former Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss for the most touchdowns scored in a four-game span by a rookie wide receiver (eight). Watson has 35 receptions this season for 496 yards. Of course, it could have been more except for one fateful play in Week One.
Packers fans did not react well to Watson’s drop in Week One that would have been a 75-yard touchdown. Despite the narrative that Watson has a “drop” issue, he has only dropped three passes all season. By comparison, Justin Jefferson has dropped five passes this year. Now, I am not saying that Watson is better than Jefferson (yet), but the drop narrative is a false one. He does not have a “drop” issue.
All of that being said, a nice game from Watson (to help the Packers clinch a victory) would be a great story as the regular season draws to a close. He has already had several big games this season. One against the team he struggled against in Week One would just be poetic.
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