Last Sunday the Packers got what they desperately needed. A win in a game that everybody said they should win. Seems like a small thing. But for a team coming off two tough losses and questions about everything, it was needed.
Was it pretty? Not by traditional standards. If you sat and actually watched the game, there were real positives to be taken, and real reasons to think this team has another win streak in them.
As anyone knows though, this is a week to week league. If the Packers turn around and drop one against a reeling Vikings team, then all the talk starts again. So what does Green Bay need to do to come away with a win?
Play to Your Strengths.
The Packers under Matt LaFleur want to be a team that runs the ball. We get it. But Josh Jacobs likely doesn’t play this week, and you have a quarterback coming off a deceptively strong game. The stats don’t show it but Jordan Love was fantastic last week. Drops derailed multiple drives and despite that the team still put up 27 points despite having the ball for only 8 possessions (league average is around 10-12).
This Viking team is vulnerable in the secondary, and when you have a quarterback playing as well as Love is right now, you have to be willing to embrace it. It’s not just an eye test thing either, the stats back it up
Teams win Super Bowls because of their quarterback. Jordan Love can absolutely be that guy, Matt LaFleur just needs to let him go do it. There were encouraging signs against the Giants. Fewer passes behind the line of scrimmage and more early attempts on 1st and 2nd downs. Hopefully that continues against the Vikings.
The Packers Defense Has Been Good, It Needs To Be Better
Looking at just the scoreboards of the last several games, you’d have trouble finding reason to criticize the Packers defense. Over the last six games they given up an average of just under 18 points a game. In a league where the offense is favored in a myriad of ways, this is an extremely good number. But the issue is how much time the defense is letting opponents take in getting to that number.
I mentioned it above, but the Packers offense just isn’t getting the ball enough. Over their last six games they’ve had 10 possessions or more only twice. The league on average is between 10-12. It’s great that points are hard to come by, but the defense needs to start getting off the field quicker. Last week was no exception. One drive in particular comes to mind, where on a 3rd and 12, what should’ve been another tackle for loss by Edgerrin Cooper, turned in to a first down after a series of missed tackles. Too often the defense isn’t tightening up until the opponent has drained five or six minutes off the clock.
What is the clearest path for that improvement? Right now it comes down to three players.
The first?
While both players need to be better on an individual level, the third player may be able to help with both. Lukas Van Ness should be close to returning, and if he can pick up where he left off that may aid both Wyatt and Gary to have another disruptive player on the front seven.
Packers Special Teams Can You Just Be Normal For Once
Packers fans got their wish last week, with a new injury forcing Brandon McManus to the bench and letting former substitute teacher Lucas Havrisik take the field. This of course immediately blew up in those fans faces, as he proceeded to miss not one, but two extra points. To be fair, the wind was definitely a factor as the Giants kicker also fell victim to a PAT miss, but even still, it was another black spot on a unit that struggles just to be average at times.
With another outdoor game on the docket, its fair to ask if LaFleur decides to be more aggressive on fourth downs given how little trust they can have at the kicker spot right now.
Final Prediction
Its getting harder and harder to get a read on what this team will do week to week, but with most of the roster finally getting healthy it’s hard not to expect a win at home against a divisional opponent that is struggling at just about everything. Don’t take my word for it alone either:
This is a game like last week, that the Packers should, and frankly need to win to keep pace with a good Lions squad and an upstart Bears team that apparently signed a deal with the devil.
Packers 27- Vikings 17
