IF Green Bay can stop the run and make the Vikes pass.....it will be good to see. If they start running, it will open the passing lanes and make for a long afternoon.

Hopefully MM will use Lewis as an extra blocker and hit jimmy graham in the middle. Vikings had trouble with the 49er TE all game.

Definitely excited to see the play of our secondary in this game... this will be a pretty good test for them to see how well they can hang with the more seasoned QBs of the league. Also, an increased pass rush should help our guys on the back end - let’s hope that interior can collapse the pocket a bit and get Kirk off his rhythm

I'm actually most concerned about Kyle Murphy. Hoping Pettine sticks Josh Jackson on him. Diggs is a tough, but good match-up for Alexander. Tramon on Thielen.

Chris, I would say that all of the Defense is going to need to be on it's game on Sunday.

if the front 7 doesn't at least create pressure against on o-line that is spotty, then the rookie corner's (as much potential as they have) will make a couple of rookie mistakes and be exposed.

You mean Kyle Rudolph Point Packer?

Good coverage by the secondary will lead to some sacks. A good pass rush will lead to a few sacks or some quick passes and throw off Cousins rhythm. Cousins isn't a mobile QB. Any combination of a good pass rush or pass coverage should result in more opportunities for the Packers offense. I don't see Cousins picking up first downs with his legs. I think the DB's match up well against the Viking receivers. It's the short passes to the TE's and RB's by the Packer LB's that will be a challenge for the Packers.

Trusuckski was leaving the field taunting the crowd in the 2nd quarter. He left at the end of the game staring at his shoes......................priceless! We didn't make a so so QB look good for once, big improvement on the back end. Jackson is the real deal and a steal in rd 2.

Cook is a very good RB. IMO, you have to stop/slow down the run. If the Vikes get a lead, then a good running game eats up the clock. I didn’t think our run D was very good in game 1. Want to see our team come out fired up. Against the Bears I thought we came out flat on both sides of the ball. Looking forward to hearing from Gutekunst. Has he made any comments since the Bears game? So far I’ve been impressed as to his availability for press conferences. Go Packers!

Heard on Mad Dog Radio this morning that Cousins is like Jay Cutler- at least a couple times a game, he's going to throw at the defense. IF the defenders can catch those errant throws, that could make a big difference in the game. Cousins doesn't really impress me. He has good stats, but doesn't have that "IT" factor.

I don't think it's a big secret that the weakness of the Packers defense is the linebackers. I would expect the Vikings to come out with plays to exploit that until the Packers show they can stop them. Hopefully Burks is healthy enough to play this game, covering the running back out of the backfield will be important early.

Lare, you may be right. Yet, Pettine often plays his DBs as if they were LBs. In fact, even the linebackers are smaller. I don’t expect much of a pass rush from the OLBs. Instead I expect it to come from the secondary. My only concern is that we may be a bit light in the pants against a heavy run game. But it’s better to give up a few yards to the run than to give up big plays against the Vikings passing game.

The Vikings averaged 3.6 yrds/rush (Cook 2.5 yrds).
49ers lost 4 turnovers.
Vikings only put up 24 pts.

This is not an offensive juggernaut.

Give AR12 4 extra series, the Packers would've had 40 pts.
The Vikings D deserves respect. Their O, especially their line, not so much.

Daniels and Clark will be in their backfield all day.

Predictions:
(Last week I said we'd lose 24-19. We won 24-23, though if Allison's pushoff had been called, we would have lost 23-17)

DEFENSE:

1. Secondary will struggle. Minnesota's passing game will be elite this season.

2. Burks will play and wage exciting battle with Cook.

3. Daniels will play more and factor heavily. Adams (surprise!) will also get some action. Problem is, the ball will be coming out too quickly to make much difference.

4. Matthews will play much better.

OFFENSE:

1. Kizer will start, and given he's playing a Top 3 defense, will play pretty well. As game gets out of hand, he'll press and turn ball over.

2. Montgomery will be called upon to inject life in running game. It won't work--nothing will against Minnesota's front 7.

3. Graham will either adjust to being hit off the line, or fade to insignificance. I believe he'll adjust. He has to. Lewis will also play more.

4. WR's will struggle with too little time for running routes. If Adams can't play, expect more from MVS--at least to stretch defense a little. Minnesota has no one who can run with him. Perhaps this opens space underneath for remaining TE's and WR's.

FINAL SCORE: Minnesota wins, 27-13.

This will definitely be a strong test for the young CB's.

The group will be tested for sure. Both WR's are hard to cover and they run a scheme that helps get those guys open more.

I do feel we finally have a group that can matchup with most teams WRs. This is the first time I have felt this way in a long, long time. Basically since we had Woodson, Williams and Shields as our CB's.

Don't be surprised if Alexander and/or Jackson make a game changing type of play. Alexander likely would have had an interception against the Bears had Martinez not deflected the pass.

I don't know how anyone could have any real idea how Pettine's defense might approach this game.

I feel like it's going to be at least week 6 before this defense even knows for itself who and what they are, much less before some schlubb like me has any idea.

If it's true that Pettine is a guy who runs a defense that molds to the talent (instead of vice-versa), we certainly can't rely on what he's done elsewhere.