3 Keys To The Vikings’ Game Against The Packers
The Minnesota Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday in primetime, at Lambeau Field. The Packers are looking to hold on to the 1st seed in the NFC playoff race, while the Vikings are just looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. Despite Green Bay’s 12-3 record, Minnesota was victorious in their latest matchup this season. Can the Vikings pull off another upset and escape Lambeau with a win? Here are Minnesota’s 3 keys to the game.
An Offense In Disarray
The last week has not been kind to the Vikings. Adam Thielen was placed on injured reserve after having ankle surgery. That was just the beginning of Minnesota’s woes. Kirk Cousins has tested positive for covid-19 and will miss Sunday’s game against the Packers. Sean Mannion will start the game on Sunday for the Vikings. Mannion hasn’t played in a game since 2019, when the Vikings rested all of their starters for the playoffs. In that game, Mannion finished with 126 yards and 2 interceptions.
This situation doesn’t bode well for the Minnesota Vikings. Adam Thielen has been a reliable target all year for the Vikings. Without Kirk Cousins, Thielen’s elite play would help a quarterback with little starting experience. The Vikings still have reliable receivers in Justin Jefferson and KJ Osborn, but the question is whether Sean Mannion will be able to get the ball in their hands. Mannion’s career stats aren’t promising. Minnesota’s choice to start Mannion is confounding, considering they still have a rookie quarterback on their roaster. Kellen Mond hasn’t seen the field since the preseason. A game like this would be the perfect opportunity to see how Mond has progressed. Instead, the Vikings’ remaining playoff hopes now rest with Sean Mannion.
Can Minnesota’s Defense Stop Anyone?
Minnesota’s defense has had a rough year. Last Sunday, they allowed Sony Michel to run for 131 yards. The Vikings’ run defense has been this team’s biggest liability all season. Now with the news that Michael Pierce will be out due to illness, Minnesota’s run defense will likely be even weaker. The Minnesota Vikings’s secondary will also have a tall task in trying to stop Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers. Does the Minnesota defense have any hope at all at stopping one of the best offenses in the league?
Tomorrow’s game is shaping out to be an ugly game for Viking fans. The run defense won’t be able to compete with Aaron Jones. If Sony Michel can average almost 5 yards per attempt, Aaron Jones stands a chance at having his best game of the season. Minnesota’s secondary is also outmatched by Davante Adams. Last time these teams met, Adams had 115 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nothing has changed since then, so Adams will likely have another big game. To put it simply, the Minnesota Vikings’ defense is to outclassed, outmatched, and undermanned to be a real threat to Green Bay’s elite offense.
Playoff Hopes Hanging By A Thread
Before the game starts, the Vikings still stand a chance at making the playoffs. The Vikings need to win their next 2 games to make it. However, if the Vikings lose and both the 49ers and the Eagles win, the Vikings will be eliminated from playoff contention. The Eagles play the Washington Football Team tomorrow, a game that Philadelphia is favored to win. The 49ers take on the Texans, a game where San Francisco is the heavy favorite. The odds aren’t looking great for the Vikings.
The Vikings’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread at this point. It all comes down to a game where Minnesota’s starting quarterback isn’t playing. Still, some NFL teams have proven resilient in situations like this before due to good coaching. Those NFL teams are never the Vikings. The Vikings have faced situations like this before under their current coaching regiment. In 2018, the Vikings played their final regular season game against the Bears. If the Vikings had won that game, they’d played in the playoffs. The Vikings lost 24-10. Under Mike Zimmer, the Vikings constantly fold under pressure. In a game where Minnesota is missing to many key pieces, the Vikings will likely fold once again.
Final Predictions
The Vikings just have to much stacked against them at this point. Green Bay will win this game, to retain the 1st seed in the NFC. The Eagles and 49ers will both win to eliminate Minnesota from the playoffs.
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