The Packers look to cash in at US Bank Stadium
It’s that time of year again. Our beloved Green Bay Packers finally take the field in an actual game once again as they visit US Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings at Noon Central Time on Sunday.
Both teams made the playoffs last season, the Packers as division winners and the Vikings as a wild-card team, and both teams saw their season come to an end at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams are looking to take that next step this season.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur said that Vikings’ QB Kirk Cousins is “elite.” Does he really believe that or is he playing mind games? Cousins is capable of putting up some decent numbers, but he has a reputation of coming up short in big games although he did get past the New Orleans Saints on the road in the postseason. WR Stefon Diggs is gone but Adam Thielen is still there as is TE Kyle Rudolph. Cousins also has a great running back in Dalvin Cook so the Vikings aren’t lacking when it comes to playmakers. The Packers have two elite pass rushers in Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith. Both made their presence known last year vs the Vikings. Kevin King had an interception in both games vs the Vikings last season, both coming during a pivotal moment in the game.
Aaron Rodgers returns for his 16th NFL season, his 13th as a starter. There has been a lot of talk during this offseason about Rodgers and what is going through his mind after a lot of the moves the Packers have made in the draft and during free agency. If he is frustrated, he isn’t showing it according to his teammates and his coaches. Davante Adams returns and figures to still be among the best receivers in the league. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown both showed a lot in training camp and we need it to carry over to the regular season and beyond. The Packers figure to rely a lot on the running game this season and having Aaron Jones as the feature back is a pretty good start. Jamaal Williams will be the backup and AJ Dillon might be getting a lot of carries as well. You may have seen pictures of Dillon and his legs. Let’s get this guy into the game and see what he can do. The Vikings figure to have one of the top defenses in the league once again. The Packers beat the Vikings twice last season despite not playing a full game on offense either time. They need to capitalize on every opportunity, especially when they get into the red zone.
The Packers have had their share of headaches when they faced the Vikings these last several seasons. That is why it felt so great when the Packers swept them last season. Who can forget that memorable run down the sidelines by Aaron Jones last December to clinch the division for the Packers? That was the first time the Packers won at US Bank Stadium. Let’s get a winning streak going.
A lot of the “experts” don’t think the Packers are going to make much noise this season. The Packers moved up to pick perhaps Rodgers’ successor in Jordan Love in the first round and they also didn’t draft a single wide receiver in a draft class full of receivers. That alone brings the critics out and they predict that the Packers will regress this season. Rodgers is motivated by this and is determined to prove the critics wrong. I think he still has a lot left in the tank. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected. Why can’t the Packers shock the world? Not much was expected from them last year either.
Like I said, it’s 2020 and things aren’t exactly normal as we all know. The Packers would usually have to worry about the crowd noise but that won’t be the case on Sunday. They probably will have some piped in noise but it is basically a neutral site. The players on the field will decide this game. I honestly will be just as surprised as the rest of you when I watch this game because I don’t know what to expect either without the fans in the stands.
I know there will be a lot of “asterisks” and a lot of second-guessing this season, especially if the home team loses a game. If only we had fans or this or that, etc. Like baseball, basketball or hockey, we have to play the game and live with the results. Unlike the others, perhaps we will have fans at some point. No matter what, let’s get behind our team wherever we are and let’s cheer the Packers to victory this Sunday. Stay safe wherever you are Packer fans!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
