Vikings-Packers games are always highly competitive and filled with animosity, regardless of the circumstances. That’s just the way it is when you play your biggest division rival. For Minnesotans and Wisconsinites alike, these games are always must-watch TV. Now that Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers have clawed their way back into the playoff picture, the stakes are higher than they were a month ago.
While I’m no meteorologist, I can tell you with 100% certainty that the weather at Lambeau Field in Week 17 will be cold. Throwing and catching the pigskin in these conditions will be an arduous task. Muscles tense up, the football feels like a rock and the chances of a player getting injured increase exponentially.
Between the weather forecast and everything at stake for Green Bay and the Minnesota Vikings, this matchup will be gritty. Toughness will decide the game’s outcome, and the toughest players on every team play in the trenches.
For years, the Packers have had a distinct advantage over Minnesota in this area, especially on the offensive line. That early- to mid-2010s unit featuring David Bakhtiari, Lane Taylor, Corey Linsley, T.J. Lang, and Bryan Bulaga was one of, if not the best offensive line in the league at their peak. That’s no longer the case. Bakhtiari is the only player who remains, and he’s been dealing with nagging injuries throughout the season.
With Bakhtiari on the sidelines, the Packers have relied on rookie Zach Tom to start at left tackle. According to Matt LaFleur, Yosh Nijman has been stellar at right tackle, but he left the game with a shoulder injury and is considered day-to-day. Green Bay replaced him with Royce Newman, who is a backup-caliber tackle.
Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter can take advantage of a Packers O-line without their two starting tackles heading into Sunday’s game. Newman will be the weakest link on the Packers’ offensive line if Nijman cannot start. That could be the catalyst for Hunter to have a big day, which would be encouraging to see after he tallied two sacks and five solo tackles last week against the New York Giants.
On the other hand, Green Bay may be licking their chops knowing that Minnesota could be without Garrett Bradbury, who tweaked his back injury in a car accident. Backup center Austin Schlottmann was among PFF’s lowest-graded performers on offense for the Vikings last week against the Giants. Schlottmann also doesn’t possess the same level of athleticism and aggression as Bradbury, which shows up in the run game.
Ed Ingram’s struggles in pass protection have also been well-documented throughout the season. Although he has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, Ingram had one of his worst pass-blocking performances this season against Green Bay back in Week 1. He’ll need to continue his upward trajectory against a Packers interior defensive line headlined by Kenny Clark and Jarran Reed, two physical players.
Given that this week’s matchup will be in cold weather, running the ball is the easiest way to establish a rhythm on offense. Kevin O’Connell stressed the importance of being more balanced on offense, which means getting Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison more involved early. If the Vikings want to establish the run properly, they need the offensive line to be tone-setters.
The last time the Vikings played the Packers, Green Bay was a completely different team. They struggled offensively. Aaron Rodgers had no chemistry with his receivers, and Minnesota sacked him four times because of Green Bay’s lack of understanding of the offense. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry refused to put Jaire Alexander in one-on-one man coverage against Justin Jefferson. It got to the point where Alexander publicly called out Barry.
This time around, Minnesota will be playing Green Bay amidst a resurgence. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are starting to find their groove in the offense and have gained Rodgers’ trust. The Packers’ defense picked off Tua Tagovailoa, the NFL’s most accurate passer, three times in the fourth quarter in their win over the Miami Dolphins. Keisean Nixon has been explosive on special teams as a kick returner, and special teams coach Rich Bisaccia has his guys rolling.
Going to Lambeau Field in January and beating this Packers team won’t be a cakewalk. The Packers are not only trying to keep their playoff hopes alive, they’re also seeking revenge. In what looks to be a gritty game against the Green and Gold, the Vikings need to display the level of toughness and resolve they’ve been playing with all season long. If they do that, they can sink the Packers’ playoff hopes while getting one step closer to the first or second seed in the NFC.
