Week 2 Matchup: Packers @ Vikings

Packers (-2) @ Vikings: Week 2 2016 Season. 9/18 8:25pm EST

It’s PACKER WEEK #borderbattle #hateweek. These games are always gut wrenching for me to watch. The last one I really remember enjoying in its entirety, from the build up to the game, through to the end of the contest was in Randy Moss’ rookie year, when the Vikes and Randy stomped the Packers in Lambeau. The fact that it’s the opening game of US Bank Stadium with the Pack poised to spoil the $1.1 billion palace adds to my reservations about jumping on the hype train. It feels like the Vikings aren’t ready yet. Feels about two weeks too soon. It feels like Teddy should be here.

Too damn bad. Aaron Rodgers is about to walk through that door. There is nowhere to hide. It was a great decision by the NFL to open the stadium against the Packers. I love the thought process behind the decision, and I can’t wait to see the place in all its glory on primetime. I’m excited about the purple pass rush, and the crowd noise, and the latter complementing and aiding the former. I’m terrified of the offensive line’s ability to keep Bradford upright, and of A-Rod’s ability to make plays with his legs.

The Packers played well enough to win against Jacksonville, but whether it was the heat, or the fact that it’s early in the year, it was not an impressive win. TJ Yeldon was able to make plays in the game, and move the chains on the ground. The Vikings need to get Adrian Peterson on track this week to keep the ball out of Rodgers’ hands. 1.6 YPC is not going to get it done. Stefon Diggs and Charles Johnson have the ability to get open against the Packers secondary, and only Jordy Nelson puts the fear in me in the Packer WR corps. I think the Packers can be beaten, but I think the Packers are the better team. Below is a position-by-position break down.

Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in football and makes throws that no one else in the game makes. This TD pass show what makes Rodgers unique.

Other guys would try to spin out of that spot, try to find more room. Rodgers just loads it up and lets it go. I have so much respect for A-Rod. On the other side, I have hopes for how well Sam Bradford has acclimated into the fold of the Viking offense, and I think his arm talent adds a dimension to the offense that hasn’t existed since Brett Favre was in purple. Advantage: Packers

Running Back

Eddie Lacy looks slimmed down. He had a couple of “wow” plays in Jacksonville, and seemingly makes a splash in every game against the Vikings. This catch and run can’t happen if the Vikings expect to win on Sunday night.

That said; All Day is still the best pure runner in football. He needs more help from his offensive line, who played an up and down game against a stout Tennessee front. Advantage: Vikings

Wide Receiver

Jordy Nelson found ways to get open against a Jacksonville defense with a lot of names. The Xavier Rhodes injury is troublesome within the context of stopping the Kansas State standout. Randall Cobb is better than Charles Johnson, and while Stefon Diggs is showing great ability, I’m still taking Jordy in a head-to-head situation. Advantage: Packers

Tight End

Richard Rodgers made more plays than Jared Cook in week 1. Cook has had an inconsistent couple of seasons. Per PFF he was 2nd among TE in drop rate in 2014, and last season caught just 52% of his targets, dropping 5%. I think Kyle Rudolph will be able to get open quite a bit in this game, and I think he’s a better player than either Packers TE. Advantage: Vikings

Offensive Line

Arif Hasan at ESPN 1500 panned the performance of the Vikings offensive line against the Titans. Jurrell Casey did work against Alex Boone and company. In addition, Matt Kalil has missed practice the last two days. To say that I am worried about the purple’s offensive line is an understatement. Aaron Rodgers had all day to throw in Jacksonville last week. Advantage: Packers

Defensive Line

Danielle Hunter’s breakout season was talked about all offseason. We heard all about how he put on 7 lbs of muscle, and was improving his technique, pass-rush moves, and counter moves. He appeared to find a lot of success against the Titans and graded in the top 5 on defense, per PFF. This play in particular was incredible.

The Green Bay DLine does not strike fear into the hearts of anyone, but might still be good enough to get pressure against a struggling OL group in MN. Advantage: Vikings

Linebackers

Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers are fine players, but Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks are young studs on the rise. I think this is a pretty even positional matchup. I think Mike Zimmer gets more out of his defensive players than Mike McCarthy does, and for that reason, the Vikes get the slight nod. Advantage: Vikings

Defensive Backs

The Packers’ Sam Shields and the Vikings’ Xavier Rhodes are questionable to play in this game. Quinten Rollins and Trae Waynes have big shoes to fill. Waynes allowed a lot of catches last week against Tajae Sharpe and the Titans. Quinten Rollins played 47 snaps on defense but I didn’t hear his name mentioned as often against the Jags as I heard Wayne’s against the Titans. There is a lot of talent among both of these groups. Harrison Smith is the best player in either defensive backfield. Advantage: Push

Special Teams

The Packers have the superior punter and kicker while the Vikings have superior returners. Advantage: Push

Injuries

Matt Kalil, Sharrif Floyd, and Xavier Rhodes (not to mention Teddy Bridgewater) are key members of this Vikings team that are likely to miss this game, or be limited even if they do play. Sam Shields is the most notable player on the Packers’ injury report. The injury advantage is clearly in favor of the Packers. Advantage: Packers

Overall

The Vikings have the best Head Coach in the division in Mike Zimmer who has shown great ability to get the most out of his players, and make the in game adjustments that lead to wins. If this ends up being a close game, Zimmer may be able to steal one from under Mike McCarthy’s nose. The strengths of each team: Vikings D and Packers O matchup well against one another, and traded blows last season with each team getting the better of the other at home.

I can see the emotions of this game and the environment taking over early, and the Vikings coming out fired up. In games with high emotion, the team that settles in first tends to stem the emotional tide. To settle in, the leadership of each team will have to take over and get guys focused. I believe in the coaching leadership of the Vikings, but the quarterback ultimately has to shoulder that load. I want Sam Bradford to fill that role, but I just think it’s a bit early for guys to buy in 100%. Aaron Rodgers takes control of this game, and the injury to Matt Kalil is too much for the Viking offense to overcome. Advantage: Packers

Packers win 23–17.