Early Bird Breakdown Week 6 – Packers @ Vikings
Hello and welcome back to Early Bird Breakdown. It’s week six of the regular season. Before diving into the breakdown let’s recap last week’s game:
The Recap:
Last week Green Bay traveled to Dallas and what a game it was. With five lead changes in the fourth quarter, this was an excellent shootout. The breakout star of the game was rookie running back Aaron Jones who ran all over and through Dallas’ defense for 125 yards and 6.6 yards per carry. Rodgers was magnificent, after Dallas took nine minutes on their final drive leaving Rodgers just over a minute to respond, he drove down the field and delivered a perfect throw for the game winning score to Davante Adams.
The Breakdown:
Packers’ Offense vs Vikings’ Defense:
The Packers early on will have some issues cracking through Minnesota’s tough defense. The Vikings have been strong versus both the pass and the run this season, however with the offensive struggles they will undoubtedly have this week, Rodgers will have plenty of possessions to find the end zone. By the end of the game I expect both Jordy Nelson and Adams to find the endzone at least once each.
Ty Montgomery is likely going to sit again this week, so rookie Aaron Jones will get a chance to start again after playing terrific last week. However, Minnesota is sixth overall in run defense (compared to Dallas who is tied for 20th) so it is unlikely he will be as potent this week.
Packers’ Defense vs Vikings’ Offense:
While the Packers have more injuries overall than the Vikings, the Vikings are more devastating. Starting running back Dalvin Cook is out for the season. Starting quarterback Sam Bradford is out. Teddy Bridgewater, the previous starter, is still recovering from his season ending injury last year. Also out this week is the Vikings’ number one wide receiver Steffon Diggs, who was sixth in receiving yards this season.
There is no one on this offense that is a mismatch. Quarterback Case Keenum will likely turn the ball over multiple times. As long as the defense plays okay the Packers should easily hold the Vikings to 20 or less points.
The Weather:
Minnesota plays in a dome so weather is not a factor.
The Prediction:
This breakdown is shorter than most simply because this likely will not be close for long. Green Bay may have more players hampered with injury, it would be surprising if the Vikings could overcome the loss of both their quarterback and best wide receiver after previously losing their starting running back for the season. The Vikings simply have no one who can score and this game likely will get out of hand quick with Minnesota likely only scoring in garbage time. Packers win 45-20.
As always, go Pack go! Stu Weis -Journalism graduate 2012, Carroll University
2 responses to “Early Bird Breakdown Week 6 – Packers @ Vikings”
Well Stewie, I think you’ve been smoking way too much of the funny stuff. The Vikings and Case Keenum deserve a lot more respect than you seem to have for them. You will see. Have a nice day.
Interesting Stu…45 points against the Vikings defense without our starting LT, even if he does play he’s not 100%. I agree it won’t be that close but I think the Packers start to wear the Vikings down somewhere near the end of the 3rd quarter. No Cook. No Diggs. A 3rd string QB. That’s a lot to overcome even against a Capers lead Packers defense. I’m thinking more along the lines of 27 to 16 Packers.