Packers look to win at Minnesota before ringing in the new year
The Packers visit US Bank Stadium to play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night in a battle of 7-8 teams looking to sneak into the playoff picture.
The Packers improved to 7-8 after defeating the Carolina Panthers 33-30 on the road. The Vikings fell to 7-8 after losing at home 30-24 to the Detroit Lions, handing over the division title to Detroit.
Rookie Jaren Hall gets the start for the Vikings. The Packers saw him late in the game in the first meeting between the teams this season. Unlike the last game, this time the Vikings have Justin Jefferson in the lineup. The defense has to show up. Their play in the last 3 games has been embarrassing, even in the Carolina game that they ended up winning, albeit just barely. Sooner or later, pride has to take over. They have to get in the QB’s face and disrupt his timing. They haven’t forced too many turnovers lately either. This is a great time to do just that.
I have confidence that Jordan Love can do what he needs to do. With Aaron Jones in the lineup, they need to run the ball effectively, especially to set up the pass. I am hoping it’s a luxury and not a necessity for the Packers to score 30+ points in this game. Let’s play some clean football and finish drives with touchdowns.
The big news this week is the suspension of Jaire Alexander. The last straw for the team is when he made himself a captain and made the call for the coin toss, and almost costing the Packers a possession in the process. Luckily the referee asked for clarification and the Packers avoided an embarrassing snafu before the game even kicked off.
On the surface, a suspension might seem a bit excessive, but I think there is more to the story that we don’t know about. I think there were a lot of things building up to this moment, and the coin toss episode was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Even Matt LaFleur said that it wasn’t just this one thing. None of us can change it. They just have to go out there and get it done on defense sans Jaire Alexander this Sunday night.
Both teams are limping into this game, trying to keep alive their slim playoff hopes. Even though the Packers won at Carolina, they didn’t do much at all to address their problems. They were a second or two away from a successful spike by the Panthers and a game-tying attempt at a field goal. Even the worst offenses in the league have success moving the ball against this defense. Until the Packers show that they can stop a team on a consistent basis, there will be doubts that they can get it done.
The Packers are more than capable of exploiting a team’s weaknesses. They did so in wins over Detroit and Kansas City. They can do it this Sunday. They not only have a chance to keep their own playoff hopes alive, but they can also virtually end Minnesota’s playoff hopes, and that would be sweet. Let’s go out there and be the best team on the field this Sunday night!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackersFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
