The Green Bay Packers travel to Minneapolis to take on their division rival Minnesota Vikings at 4:25 (EST) on Sunday. The Packers are a 1.5-point favorite and are given a 65.3% chance to win according to ESPN’s FPI. Last year the two split their divisional series. The Vikings won the first meeting 34-31 in Week 11, but Green Bay won the second 37-10 in Week 17. Let’s take a look at what to expect from their first matchup this season.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers are coming off a disappointing 2021. After getting the one seed in the NFC, they were upset by the San Francisco 49ers 13-10. Green Bay’s offense will look different this year after trading away Devante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. They signed Sammy Watkins and drafted two rookie receivers in an attempt to rebuild their receiving core. Their defense is expected to be very good, adding Jarran Reed and Devonte Wyatt to an already veteran roster. They also have a great secondary in Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Rasul Douglas.
Who To Watch
The young rookie wide receivers will have a chance to shine with Allen Lazard unlikely to play Sunday. Rookies Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and second year man Amari Rodgers are both listed as number two receivers behind Lazard, Watkins, and Cobb on the Packers depth chart. Christian Watson is expected to his make NFL debut during the game Sunday, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see either Doubs or Rodgers make an appearance as well. The opportunity has presented itself to the rookies who will need to step up and show what they can do with Lazard out.
Biggest Question
The biggest question for me is the Packers receiving core. With the loss of Devante Adams, Rodgers has lost his favorite target. He is also looking to have to start the season without Allen Lazard who is unlikely to play with an ankle injury. The Packers have a couple veteran wide receivers in Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb, but neither are anywhere close to what Adams was. Green Bay also has some young receivers in Watson, Doubs, and Rodgers, who will look to step up this season for the Packers. It will be interesting to see how Rodgers handles playing without arguably the best wide receiver in the league.
Injuries
Along with Lazard likely being out, offensive tackle David Bakhtiari and guard Elgton Jenkins are both listed as questionable. Bakhtiari has said he believes he will play and is listed as questionable.
The Minnesota Vikings look to have a bounce back season under new head coach Kevin O’Connell
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings 2021 season did not go as many fans would have hoped. It all ended with Minnesota firing Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman. The team hired new head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The two have been busy reshaping the roster and building a new culture. The Vikings added a few new players to the team in Harrison Phillips (Bills), Za’Daris Smith (Packers), and Jalen Reagor (Eagles) to name a few. The offense will look to have an explosive year, with Minnesota bringing back Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Irv Smith Jr.
Who To Watch
Kirk Cousins in the new offense is a must watch for me. Cousins was never able to open it up in the passing game under Zimmer. Now with offensive minded Kevin O’Connell as the new head coach I can’t wait to see what Kirk will do this season with him at the reins. The weapons the Vikings have in Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Reagor, and Irv Smith Jr. should give Cousins great opportunities to light it up this season. This will also be a prove it year for Kirk. With a new coach who comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, he will have no excuses if things don’t go well this year.
Biggest Question
The biggest question looming for me with the Vikings is how is this all going to look. Everything coming out of training camp and practice has said everything is looking great, but we haven’t seen it in a game yet. The starters didn’t play in preseason (O’Connell following in the footsteps of McVay) and those who did, didn’t allow for a good look at what the offense and defense could be. Sunday against the Packers will be everyone’s first look at what Kevin O’Connell and co. can do.
Injuries
The Vikings only have two players on the injured list for Sunday’s game. Safety Lewis Cine and defensive end Jonathan Bullard are both listed as questionable for the game against the Packers. Tight end Irv Smith Jr. is not on the injury list. A good sign for the Vikings after he underwent thumb surgery back during training camp. Both Smith and O’Connell have said that he will play Sunday.
Bold Prediction
Kirk Cousins will throw for 350 yards and four touchdowns. This isn’t to say that Green Bay’s defense will be bad, I just think this is how good Kirk and their receivers are. The gap you would expect with a new team isn’t as big as you think. O’Connell was Cousins’ quarterback coach during his last season with Washington. The weapons that the team has, and that O’Connell is from the McVay coaching tree just has me buying into how good the offense will be this season.
Where To Watch
The Packers-Vikings game will be on Fox and is America’s game of the week. Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play) and Greg Olsen (analyst) will call the game. You can watch the game on the Fox Sports app or on FoxSports.com. The game will also be on NFL Sunday Ticket (Directv). Streaming services that have Fox are fubo TV, Hulu (with live TV), Sling TV, and Youtube TV.
Prediction
If this was in Lambeau I would pick the Packers, but I can’t pick against the Vikings at home. Minnesota has been good against Green Bay and are tough to play when at home. They won at U.S Bank last year and they will do it again this year. Its week one and both teams will be seeing growing pains to the changes they have made, but the Vikings have less changes in key positions (quarterback, running back, and wide receiver) and Sunday that will be the difference. The Packers’ receiving core is also going to be new with rookies and players new to the team (Sammy Watkins). With Lazard out Rodgers loses one of the two receivers he played with before. In the end the Vikings chemistry offensively will be the deciding factor. Vikings win 31-27.