Vikings

3 Things To Know About the Minnesota Vikings

Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn (USA TODAY Sports)

The Green Bay Packers’ season once seemed dead in the water, with no postseason hopes at all. However, it is somehow miraculously still hanging by a thread. With two games left, the Packers need to win out and get some help across the league to qualify for the playoffs. But a victory against the Minnesota Vikings this weekend at Lambeau would make a shot at the postseason exponentially more likely.

The Packers have managed to go on a three-game win streak and now have the hot hand going into the most important part of the season. Still, playing the 12-win Vikings won’t be easy. Most people consider them a fluke team because their total point differential on the season is only plus-five. However, they will be more than eager to put the Packers on the couch as revenge for the Green and Gold ending their season last year.

The Vikings need a win to maintain control of the No. 2 seed, and Green Bay needs a win to keep their season alive, so this figures to be one of the best games of the week. For the Packers to keep their playoff chances alive, they will need to nullify Minnesota’s strengths.

Here are three things that the Vikings do well.

Play Close Games

Although it’s not an orthodox strength that you would associate with a team, it is hard to overlook Minnesota’s 11-0 record in one-score games. There have been times when the Vikings have looked dead in the water, like when they were down 17 points in Buffalo or down 33 at the half against the Indianapolis Colts. However, this team has somehow managed to climb back into games and play their best football when they need it the most.

The only multiple-score win the Vikings have was over the Packers in Week 1, but their entire team believes they can fight their way back. If Green Bay manages to build an early lead against the Vikings, instead of resting and taking their foot off the gas, they should look to accelerate and push further to put them out of the game for good.

Get The Ball in Jefferson’s Hands

Justin Jefferson is on the verge of history in his third season. In the final two games, he needs just 209 yards to break Calvin Johnson‘s single-season receiving yard record and only 244 yards to be the first wide receiver in NFL history to get to 2,000 yards.

The Packers saw just how special Jefferson was in this new Kevin O’Connell offense when he finished with 184 yards in Week 1. Packers star cornerback Jaire Alexander has gone on record this week, calling that performance a “fluke” and implying it won’t happen this week.

The new coaching regime in Minnesota has masterfully schemed Jefferson open like the Los Angeles Rams did with Cooper Kupp last year. Jefferson leads the NFL in receptions (123), targets (173), yards after the catch (596), and 20-plus yard plays (27) this season. If the Packers want to win this game, they have to commit multiple men to stopping No. 18 and force the Vikings to beat them with someone else.

Scripting Opening Drives

It goes overlooked, but the Vikings script opening drives with aplomb and put their opponents on their back foot early. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips come into each week with a plan of attack, which quarterback Kirk Cousins follows to a T.

Their offense’s ability to move the ball and get ahead early, making them chase the game, allows them to get away with their lulls in the second and third quarters. Getting the Vikings to chase the game and keep it out of reach is the best way to beat them.

Although O’Connell has impressed in his rookie campaign, he is still a fairly new play-caller who has the potential to make mistakes on the big stage. The Packers will rely on LaFleur’s experience to guide them to a win and pressure this Vikings team early.

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