It is an early season NFC North showdown tomorrow at Lambeau Field. The Green Bay Packers will host the undefeated Minnesota Vikings. While it may only be week 4 of the NFL season, division games are very important regardless how early in the season. There are tie-breaker scenarios and having control of the division. Can the Packers defend their home turf and hand the Vikings their first loss? Kickoff is at noon on FOX. Here is a preview of tomorrow’s game.
Jordan Love Feels Like the Difference
We are not sure on the status of Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, but he has practiced all week. Matt LaFleur called him limited again on Friday. However, he did speak to the media this week and has essentially practiced in some capacity for two weeks. I think he will give it a go.
This takes nothing away from what Malik Willis has done over the last two weeks. He has been absolutely fantastic and then some. This is a scary Vikings defense right now that leads the league with 16 sacks already. This just feels like a game I would want Love in with it being a division game and the importance of it.
Can the Green Bay Packers Defense Stop Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones?
If you look at the stats for the Vikings, Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones have been really good to start the year. This should come as no surprise be cause they have been one of the best at their positions for the last five years.
The further you look, you’ll see that this offense and quarterback Sam Darnold are very dependent on Jefferson and Jones. Jefferson has twice as many targets as the next receiver (21) and Jones is actually second with 14. Jones also has accounted for 54% of the carries in the backfield. A huge reason the Vikings have been so good on offense is because of these two. The Green Bay Packers defense needs to make sure they know where number 18 and 33 are at all time.
Prediction
No one could have seen this from Minnesota after rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a season ending knee injury in training camp. I like the idea of them adding Jones to provide some veteran help to a young quarterback. It makes a big difference in the league today.
Now with Sam Darnold in his seventh year after being drafted 3rd overall in 2018 by the Jets, He still has glimpses of the talent we saw when he was at USC. For the first time in his career he has legitimate weapons and is taking advantage of it.
I think this game comes down to Matt LaFleur and Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Ii love where LaFleur has this Green Bay Packers offense currently and Flores has turned the Vikings into one of the best defenses in the league. It should be an interesting back and forth battle.
Will Jones have a field day against his former team? The Packers cut Jones this past offseason after they were not willing to pay him what was left on his deal. It was a ton for a 29 year olf back. He tested free agency and the other teams agreed with Green Bay. He then settled to go to the Vikings on a 1 year $7 million deal.
The potential for no Jaire Alexander tomorrow concerns me as he defends Justin Jefferson really well, but I think the Packers defense steps up and forces a key turnover late in this game. Don’t be surprised if ti si a shootout, but I like Green Bay with a late field goal to win this game.
Green Bay 30 Minnesota 27
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