NFLBy Steve Rogers
Week four is here and the Minnesota Vikings have another uphill battle ahead as they go on the road to Green Bay and open the fight for the NFC North Division crown against the Packers. The Vikings have sent shockwaves through the NFL nation by jumping to a 3-0 record. Including back-to-back impressive statement wins against the San Fransisco 49ers and last week’s 27-point thrashing of the Houston Texans.
Going into both of those games the Vikings were the underdog, they were also at home. Again, The Vikings are underappreciated and, as no surprise, the underdogs against the Packers. Yes, this is a road game, however, it’s more like the Vikings’ second home as they have played in Lambeau 60-plus times. Can the Vikings continue their hot start and stake their claim as the top team in the NFC or will the Packers be able to take the wind out of their sails?
What To Know
The Minnesota Vikings are not alone at 3-0 as four other teams are undefeated. The Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks, and Steelers are the others. Three of these teams are a surprise including the Vikings. Three of these teams are from the AFC, the Bills, the Chiefs, and the Steelers. Two of these teams are AFC contenders, the Chiefs and the Bills. The remaining two are from the NFC, the Seahawks and the Vikings. If I had to say one of these two teams in the NFC was an actual contender right now I would have to say it’s the Vikings.
The Vikings running back, Aaron Jones spent his first seven seasons in Green Bay. This is Jones’s first return to Green Bay in a non-Packers jersey. Jones has scored 37 of his 65 career touchdowns at Lambeau Field so he’s very familiar with the end zone and plans on another Lambeau leap this Sunday. Jones has looked impressive and fresh since coming to Minnesota in the off-season. He just had his first hundred yards rushing game last week against the Texans. Jones has found the end zone twice this season once on the ground and once catching a pass from Sam Darnold.
Both the Vikings and Packers are hopeful to have a Jordan back on the field this Sunday. For the Packers, it’s starting quarterback Jordan Love. For the Vikings, it’s receiver Jordan Addison. Both have missed the last two weeks with injuries but are starting to practice this week. We will have to wait and see if either suits up or can be a factor in the outcome on Sunday.
Coaches Chess Match
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is well known for being an outstanding offensive mind. He has an incredible ability to create game plans that utilize his quarterback’s strengths rather than trying to force a square peg into a round hole by making a quarterback learn his way in his system. LeFleur adapts his system to that of the playing style of the quarterback he has available. He has spent the last couple of years grooming Jordan Love to be his franchise, starting quarterback. A sprained knee suffered in week one has kept him on the sideline for the past two weeks forcing LaFleur to use backup Malik Willis who the Packers acquired at the end of the preseason. LaFleur has a big decision to make this week regarding which quarterback to use. Does he go with the one who has won the last two weeks or the one he drafted to be the future franchise quarterback? LaFleur has the Packers leading the league in rushing with over 600 yards that’s an astonishing average of more than 200 yards per game.
Enter Brian Flores the defensive coordinator for the Vikings. Flores has this Vikings’defense dialed up to head-spinning confusion to opposing offenses. The Vikings are giving up the second-fewest yards on the ground total with 214 and an average of only 71.3 per game. Getting after the quarterback is what Flores is known for as the Vikings have racked up five sacks in each of their first three games and lead the league with 16 total. Causing havoc in the backfield is phase one. Phase two is taking advantage of the mistakes the quarterback makes. The Vikings have the second-most interceptions with five. Phase three is never give up touchdowns. The Vikings have the second-fewest points allowed with 30 an average of only 10 points per game. This defense is stifling and on the verge of brilliance.
Final Takes
The Vikings’ offense has been humming right along. They have scored the third most points thus far and average over 28 points per game. Sam Darnold has risen from the ashes like a phoenix and is playing the best football of his career. Darnold leads the league in touchdowns with eight. He only has two interceptions. With the second-best quarterback rating of 117.3 Darnold is putting up MVP-worthy numbers.
The Packers’ offense is averaging 25 points per game. This Vikings defense is by far the best unit they have faced and will be challenged all day. The Packers defense is averaging 19 points allowed per game. They will be thoroughly tested against this high-scoring offense of the Vikings. The last time the Packers’ defense faced this much offensive talent was week one against the Philadelphia Eagles. They surrendered 34 points and lost. The last team the Vikings faced that wants to try to dominate the run game and time clock was the San Fransisco 49ers. They ran 25 times for 102 yards a 4.1 average. The Vikings won 23-17.
One last thing to watch is the Packers’s recent bout with quad injuries, most notably to cornerback Jaire Alexander. My prediction is for the third time in a row the Vikings are going to put on another eye-opening performance to the league and media experts. Putting them on notice that the Vikings are very real and can’t be labeled an underdog anymore. The Vikings win in a landslide. The Vikings defense might outscore the Packers offense. The Final score will be 41-13 Vikings improve to 4-0.
