Packers defense, run game both come up huge, help claim NFC North from Vikings
On Monday night football, the 11-3 and NFC North-leading Packers traveled to Minneapolis to take on the 10-4 Minnesota Vikings at U.S Bank stadium. This game had so many momentum shifts throughout it. The first half couldn’t have gone worse for Green Bay, as they coughed it up a total of three times. Aaron Rodgers fumbled once and was intercepted once. RB Aaron Jones also had a fumble lost as well. The second half was a much better story.
The defense, more specifically Za’Darius Smith, was absolutely on FIRE in the game. He tallied 3 sacks along with five tackles for loss. It was his 6th game with at least 7+ QB disruptions (sack, pressure, or hit), which is the most in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. His five tackles for loss were also the most by any player this season, per NFL Research. He definitely deserves to be at the top of the list of candidates for defensive player of the year, if he isn’t already. He had come into the game with 10 sacks on the year. He now has 13.5 through 15 games.
Both the Smith brothers have lived up to the hype, GM Brian Gutekunst absolutely struck gold in free agency by picking them up. They as a duo have combined for 58 QB hits, 28 TFLs, 25.5 sacks, and 80 QB pressures. Aaron Rodgers spoke about Za’Darius after the game: “It’s the same stuff that we’ve been talking about. It’s an energy, it’s a force. He just has a great presence about him. When he talks, guys listen. He reminds me a lot of Julius [Peppers], who was so special to our success over the years. I think Z is a more willing talker, Julius was a man of not too many words but when he spoke, he carried a lot of weight. Z’s that type of player and getting him while he’s still really young in his career is pretty special. When you pair that with Preston [Smith], and Kenny [Clark], [with] those guys, it’s a formidable pass rush. I’m glad he’s on our team but he’s meant a lot more to our success in more ways than just his play on the field.” Rodgers realizes how important it is to have an impactful defensive player, and he now has two with both Preston and Za’Darius Smith on the edge.
Speaking of Aaron Rodgers, he played relatively well from a game management standpoint. In total, he went 26/40 (65%), for 216 yards, and an interception. He ended the night with a passer rating of 68.3, his third-lowest this season, and was sacked just three times. Yes, there were some throws that were simply just off for him, but generally speaking, he did what he had to do to get the job done and win the game in the end for Green Bay.
One more player on offense I want to highlight would be RB Aaron Jones, who extended his touchdown streak to 19 total after tallying 145 yards on 23 carries (good for a 6.7 YPC average), and two touchdowns, which breaks a tie with fellow RB Christian McCaffrey for the most in the NFL. The proverbial nail in the coffin for Minnesota came with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter, as Jones would find the endzone for the second time on the night with a 56 yard scamper down the sideline. If Jones isn’t up for offensive player of the year consideration, he definitely should be. He was absolutely electric offensively.
With this win, Green Bay not only clinches the NFC North, but they also will have an opportunity for the #1 overall seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win in week 17 as well as a Seahawk win over San Francisco on Sunday night. Marshawn Lynch returning for the Seahawks should give the team the boost they’ve been looking for in the run game. It will be an exciting game to watch, especially if Green Bay can take care of business next Sunday against Detroit. Green Bay controls its own destiny heading into the final week of the season, if they focus on what they can control and hope for some help from Seattle, the NFC would then go through Lambeau Field in January — and no team wants that to happen. Let’s hope it does.
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