We've reached Week 17 Green Bay Packers fans. Back in my day, this was the end of the regular season. Yes, I'm fully aware that anyone who could read this article was alive in 2021, but it was fun to say a "back in my day" quote for once. Today the Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings from US Bank Stadium in Minnesota with a scheduled 3:25 CST kickoff. Who was in charge of making the schedule this year? They made the Packers' last two games identical to the previous year. Last year the Packers visited Minnesota in Week 17 and then had the Bears at home in Week 18. It's the same exact situation this year as the 11-4 Packers coming off their 34-0 thorough dismantling of a limping New Orleans Saints team will be taking on a 13-2 Minnesota Vikings team that just barely defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in the very stadium the Packers shut down the Seahawks 30-13 the week before. 

The last time these two teams met was September 29th, in Week 4 of this season. The Vikings won this one, 31-29. The Vikings dominated most of the game going to halftime with a score of 28-7 in their favor. The Packers then put together a 22-point fourth quarter after being held scoreless in the third but it was too little too late as all the Vikings needed in the second half was a field goal to ensure the Packers couldn't overcome the early deficit. This was Jordan Love's first game back after getting hurt in week 1. Unfortunately for the Packers, he didn't at all seem like himself throwing two first-half interceptions along with another in the second. He did turn it on in the second half though en route to a 389-yard, four-touchdown game. But as I said earlier, it was just too little too late and the Packers dropped to 2-2 on the season. Two field goal attempt misses by Brayden Narveson didn't help either and I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out though, that this is not the same Packers team the Vikings faced in Week 4. 

Last week was an absolute demolishing of a weak Saints team. You occasionally see that one of the marks of a good team is that they destroy the teams that they should destroy. Well, the Packers certainly did that and handed out the first shutout of the 2024 NFL season in the process. All three running backs on the active roster had touchdowns, and Jordan Love also had one passing. The defense picked up a shutout but also got three sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery. It was a good day at the office all around, one that they will hopefully build off of with a big game today. 

This afternoon is kind of a pre-playoff test for the Packers. Both of these teams have earned playoff births already. Seeding though is to be determined. Today could be a measuring stick of how they stack up against another playoff team. The last two games were against some weaker teams that they should have beaten. Now how does this Packers team handle another team worthy of playoff contention? 

What to see on Offense

In my typical fashion, I'm going to start this out with the injuries. Christian Watson is listed as Questionable, and if I were to guess, he will be OUT today. Watson escaped serious injury after having his ankle landed on awkwardly and I'd consider it lucky that he's only listed as week to week. Of course, we want to win these next two games, in the regular season, but I'd rather have a healthy Christian Watson for the playoffs and not risk further injury when it doesn't quite matter. 

Of course, in Watson's absence, the rest of the receiving corp will have to step it up a bit. As I mentioned earlier, the last time these two teams met it was a bit of a tale of two halves. In the first half, Love was 12 of 24 for 118 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. In the second, Love went 20 for 30 for 271 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. For the Packers to be successful in today's game, I'd easily take the second-half stats from the last game without the INT. To get there though, Doubs, Reed, Wicks, Kraft, and even Musgrave are going to have to work on getting open down-field quickly. 

They face a decent Minnesota secondary led by safety Harrison Smith who's logged two interceptions so far this season and nine passes defended. Harrison always seems to find a way to play well against the Packers so getting around him today will be paramount. Next to Harrison is Camryn Bynum who is second on the team in passes defended and then moving to the perimeter we find CB Byron Murphy who leads the team with six interceptions as well as passes defended with 13. But the strength of Minnesota's pass defense has been the pass rush. 

Linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard are tied for the team lead with 11 sacks each, while fellow LB Pat Jones II isn't far behind with seven. I've been a broken record in these previews expressing my confidence in the offensive line to protect Jordan Love and you know that today is no different. Back in week 4, though Love's mobility was a bit limited and he just wasn't himself, the Vikings' pass rush was still only able to sack him once. I expect today to be about as successful. If that holds, this could be a good day for Jordan Love and company to pass the football. 

On to the rushing attack. This is going to be an interesting battle. The Packers have become a bully on the ground running all over anyone who stands in their way. The Vikings though boast one of the top defenses in the NFL against the run allowing only 87.1 rushing yards per game. Back in week 4, the Vikings were able to hold the Packers to only 86 yards on the ground. A good part of this is due in part to the Packers going down by a wide margin early in the game. Today may be a different story if the passing game can come out firing successfully. 

My thoughts heading into this one are that the Packers need to get the ball downfield through the air early. If that happens it will open up play action a bit where they'll be able to generate some success on the ground. If they can get that, this offense could have a great day. It feels strange given that the Packers have been so successful on the ground that it's the passing game they need to get going early but with the Vikings being as successful as they have been against the run, if that continues, they'll need Jordan Love's arm to level out the playing field. 

What to See on Defense

Again, I'm starting with the injuries. Jaire Alexander will once again be sidelined, and Quay Walker and Evan Williams also will not be playing. Javon Bullard and Ty'Ron Hopper are questionable. Let's touch on the elephant in the room first and that's Jaire Alexander. I get it, it's frustrating that he hasn't played in how long with an injury that was considered week to week. But last week I said I was okay with shelving him and this week is kind of the same. We aren't desperate to win these final games of the season. As much as I'd like Jaire to go one-on-one with Justin Jefferson to perhaps shut up some of the Vikings fans running their mouths that he's too scared to play, I'd rather see that happen in the playoffs when it matters than risk losing him for the season on a game that technically doesn't matter. Safety Omar Brown was activated from the practice squad so I think that tells us Javon Bullard may not be returning either. That doesn't bode well for the Packers' secondary as they won't be facing a lackluster passing game this week like the last. 

Everyone knows Sam Darnold has experienced a career renaissance this season. After surviving the dumpster fires of the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers, he's found success in Minnesota which may translate into a big paycheck for another team next year. Normally I'd be happy for him, I kind of am still, but did he really have to do it with the Vikings? I mean come on, I was perfectly okay with him being average at best and the Vikings staying firmly at third place in the division. But no, he had to go off and look like a totally different QB stat-wise. I suppose it helps when you have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson to throw to. This pass-catching trio will give Green Bay all the difficulty it can handle today especially with them missing key players. 

The best opportunity to stop this Vikings passing game will come from the pass rush. Though Darnold has been good this season, he is still prone to mistakes when hurried. The Packers pass rush has ramped up over the last few weeks, but it's been against rather weak offensive lines. So, if there were ever a time to come out and say "We back" this is it for the pass rushers. We need everyone getting after Darnold from the Ends to the Middle. Kenny Clark has been Mr. December in the past, well with only a few days left in the month, it's time to earn that title back. Pressure on Darnold could either equal sacks or desperation interceptions. 

Onto the rushing game. Aaron Jones has had a good season in purple. So how about we ruin it? The Packers this year as we know have had a drastically improved run defense. However, a lot of that true success didn't hit until a few weeks into the season. Jones enjoyed a 22 carry, 93-yard game the last time these teams met and I think this run defense can do better. They've held some of the best rushing attacks in football this season to minimal games and I think they can do the same today and stop Aaron Jones from running all over his former team. 

My keys for the defense are to pressure Sam Darnold, force him into mistakes, or force him to get the ball out quickly and eliminate the big play potential of these receivers. On top of that, hold Aaron Jones to minimal rushing success. Taking away one of those could help limit the other just by default, so we need to work at them both to come out of this game victorious. 

Extra Notes

The last time these two teams met, as I mentioned before, Brayden Narveson missed two field goals in a game the Packers lost by two points. Of course, Narveson is no longer a Green Bay Packer and instead,d we have Brandon McManus who has only missed one kick in 17 FG attempts and 27 XP attempts. I hate to fully blame those two kicks as a reason for a loss, as more points on the board, even if it's just three, can change the entire trajectory of a game. Hopefully, the kicker position doesn't play a crucial factor in his one. 

For the last few weeks, I've talked about hoping for a Keisean Nixon kickoff return for a TD. I fear that may be a long shot today as Vikings kicker Will Reichard has a 16% return rate. 55/65 kicks have resulted in a touchback. So, it may be hard for the Packers to get anything going in the return game if the ball is entering the end zone each kick. 

In the End

It's easy to struggle with the thoughts of whether or not this game really is that big of a deal to this team. On one hand, you've got the divisional rivalry and the chance to prove they can beat the best in the conference just two weeks before playoffs start. And on the other hand, you have the fact that their playoff fate is almost all but sealed and you kind of want to get out of this game healthy more than you want to win it. 

If you ask me, you play to win, and you play to win big. That may be difficult with some of the injuries on the defensive side of the football, but a win shows you can beat the best in the conference and you're a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully, the Packers get out of this game healthy with a W and ready to take on the Bears in the season finale next week. Go Pack Go.