Packers ‘D’ will have to bring its A+ game against Vikings
By GERY WOELFEL
The Green Bay Packers defense probably had its finest hour of the season last Monday night.
That’s when the Packers’ defense, which has been erratic for the bulk of the season, played almost flawless football in its team’s convincing 34-0 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field.
The Packers’ sterling defensive performance against the Saints needs to be put into perspective, though. The Saints were without their starting quarterback, their starting running back and their top receiver.
Sunday, the Packers’ defense won’t be catching those huge breaks. They play the Minnesota Vikings and their highly explosive offense.
Unlike the Saints, the Vikings are expected to have their full complement of starters on offense. The Vikings offense boasts one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks this season (Sam Darnold), one of the NFL’s best all-around running backs (ex-Packer Aaron Jones), two top-flight receivers (Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison) and a quality tight end (T.J. Hockenson).
You can make a compelling case Jefferson is the best receiver in football. He has 1,387 receiving yards, the second most in the NFL, and 10 touchdown receptions, the fourth most in the league.
There are few, if any, teams in the NFL with more firepower than the Vikings. They are virtually the polar opposite of the inept Saints offense the Packers shut out on Monday night.
Darnold is the straw that stirs the Vikings’ drink. After having been virtually a pedestrian quarterback in his six previous pro seasons before joining the Vikings, he has performed at a Pro Bowl level for the Vikings.
Darnold has thrown 32 touchdown passes this season, the fifth-most in the entire NFL, and has thrown for 3,776 yards, the seventh-most in the league.
Darnold’s stunningly impressive play is the primary reason the Vikings are 13-2 and are tied with the Lions for the best record in the NFC.
With Darnold leading the way, the Vikings offense ranks ninth in the league in points per game at 26.4. And they’ve averaged even more points in their last three games. In that span, the Vikings have scored:
- 42 points against the Falcons.
- 30 against the Bears.
- 27 against the Seahawks.
If the Packers are going to upend the Vikings, their defense will have acquit itself not as well, but even better, than it did against the Saints.
Prediction: Vikings 30, Packers 27.
