The Green Bay Packers are in the thick of the playoff race, but the message is simple: They need to win the rest of their games, or they’ll be lamenting two losses to the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They’ll travel to US Bank stadium, a place they’ve struggled recently, losing the last two games.
The Vikings, like the Packers, are in the thick of the playoff race, despite having lost Kirk Cousins for the rest of the season the last time these two teams met up.
That day led to a 24-10 Vikings win, and the Packers’ season was in a full tailspin. They’ve rebounded nicely, to make this game matter.
If the Packers are going to exorcise the demons of US Bank Stadium, here are the three keys to victory.
Green Bay defense vs. Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson missed the last matchup between these two teams with a hamstring injury that knocked him out for more than a month.
The last time Jefferson faced Green Bay, he was a relative non-factor. His most famous moment of the game was getting angry and Jaire Alexander stealing his signature celebration after breaking up a pass intended for him.
Alexander’s status for this game remains unclear. He’s missed the last seven games with a shoulder injury. Could he return for a marquee matchup against the league’s best receiver? That’s anyone’s guess at this point.
Even if Alexander does play, it takes a total team effort to stop a guy like Jefferson.
Eric Stokes has returned from his hamstring injury and struggled in his return. Carrington Valentine has had some up and down moments as a rookie.
Embattled defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who may be coaching for his job, will need to figure out the best way to attack Jefferson and this diverse Vikings offense.
Packers offense vs. Brian Flores
They don’t give the NFL Coach of the Year award to assistant coaches, but if they did, that award would be a runaway to Brian Flores.
Flores took over a defense that was at the bottom of the league a season ago under Ed Donatell, and has catapulted them to the top half of the league.
That has been true despite not having the marquee talent at many key positions outside of Danielle Hunter.
Flores’ complex scheme involves where he could send as many as eight rushers or as few as three. He’s done a good job confusing some of the league’s best quarterbacks throughout the course of the season.
The last time these two teams met, the Packers scored 10 points. Their only touchdown came after the score was 24-3.
The Vikings’ defense is tough. They’ve battled all season through various quarterback changes and offensive ineptitude to keep things afloat.
Perhaps the biggest feather in Flores’ cap was winning a game 3-0 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Packers are going to need more than the 10 points they scored last time against this team. Jordan Love has been magnificent at taking care of the ball during this six game stretch. He’ll need to continue that trend as the Vikings smell blood when turnovers become available to them.
It’ll be up to Matt LaFleur and Love to try and outfox Flores in this battle between two NFC North opponents.
Packers’ pass rush vs. Nick Mullens
The general NFL fanbase has probably grown an appreciation for Cousins this season. Cousins was playing as well as he ever had when he ruptured his Achilles on Oct. 24, ending his season.
The Vikings have since given way to three different quarterbacks. Jaren Hall initially took over for Cousins before ceding the position to Josh Dobbs.
Dobbs played above his head for a few weeks before hitting a wall and getting benched during the team’s 3-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dobbs has been a healthy inactive ever since, with Hall backing up former San Francisco 49er Nick Mullens.
Mullens played against Green Bay in November 2020 during the COVID-19 affected season. The Packers won that night 34-3.
Mullens has had some highs since taking over as the starting quarterback, but his lows are incredibly low. He has a propensity to turn the ball over and take some horrendous sacks.
The quartet of Devonte Wyatt, Kenny Clark, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary have formed one of the better pass rushing groups in football in terms of pressure rate.
That doesn’t account for the recent ascension of Lukas Van Ness or Karl Brooks.
The Packers will need to get after Mullens against an offensive line that has been better than recent years in terms of pass blocking.
If they can do that, Mullens will put the ball up for grabs.
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