On defense the Packers must stop the big play. They need to keep everything infront of them. They might have to play a bend do not break defense. A field goal attempt is a win.

Who will be babysitting Mr.Jefferson? ---

Short passes and screens, some misdirection in the running game, and some runs to keep the defense wary of being too aggressive. Then, play action and go for bigger chunks. But set everything up first, and be ready to throw it into the ground near a receiver, or wing it high and out of the reach of everyone if the pressure is too great.
On second thought, all gas, no brakes. Run up the score, embarrass them at home, silence that horn and the crowd.

If the Packers begin the game with energy and take it to the Vikings they have a puncher's chance, The crowd is going to be outrageous and the Vikings are on a hot streak.

1) Come out with energy.
2) Throw early and often. The first play of the game should be a bomb to Watson. That takes Minnesota out of it's run game reads at least for awhile.
3) Try to keep the game under 17 points. If they try to go score-for-score the Vikings they will lose.
4) Rely on the kicker as often as possible. Forget going for it on 4th and 2. You need the points.
5) Blitz Darnold silly.
6) An extra DB is needed to shut down both Addison and Jefferson.
7) E. Cooper needs to shadow Aaron Jones.

Tough do do all that. I don't think Jacobs will have a great game. Minnesota's front seven is no joke.

Go Pack go!

This game is a very important measuring stick.

I agree. Play action as the Vike's D will be looking to stop JJ, and quick passes to beat their blitzes. All of our receivers should be looking for the blitz and adjust their routes. Quick slants, quick outs, and find the open holes in their defense.

The Packers on defense need to do the same. Pressure Darnold with blitzes and stunts. Seattle put some real pressure on him last week, and although he made some great plays, I think our defense is so much better. Cooper can be a real asset watching Darnold and Jones and attack, attack, attack.

What if the Packers bring a plan for quick developing concepts to Minnesota and leave the plan at the hotel? What if, defensively, the Packers play press coverage to limit Jefferson, Addison, and that other fleet little goober, but let 87 roam free down the middle for chunk plays? What if we pressure Darnold with some of Capers old craaaaaaaaaaaazy blitzes? Like the Double Psycho Package where the ILBs shoot the A gap, and the DLs drop into coverage? Oooh, I felt my d*ck move on that one!

What if we were 11-4 and this game was viewed as the second to the last game of a season in which we're headed for the playoffs? What if MLF has to adjust his game plan? What if Hafley has to adjust his game plan? What if Jefferson goes down in the first quarter, and Darnold in the second with season ending injuries and the Packers win 24.-13, but Love throws 2 Ints and we only get one sack? Will it be a quality win over an elite team? Will the Packers be as good and well-coached as the dynasty in Detroit?

What if our CB room is expected to cover arguably the greatest receiving corp ever assembled in all of Viking's history and they do an adequate job? What if we run the ball, but get away from the run to go three and out, but then go back to the run and have success? What if both teams play well and the Packers lose in a nailbiter? Will that be an indication that there needs to be a shake-up at 1265? And, what if Ja does not play AGAIN while still drawing a paycheck we could only dream of cashing once? What if LVN and Gary *don't* get to the QB early and often? What if neither player employs a double move, but does get to the QB?

What if I posted here without a clue of what unit cohesion or team culture meant? What if I just asked questions, stated the obvious, and rolled out the same inane complaints day after day? Huh? What if?

I think this game is not understood. Unlike many season ending situations. It is the Packers who have nothing to gain with a win. All they can do is move up in the seeding, not win the division or get a home game.Set and Min are playing for the division much more pressure

Re: Jordan Love vs. the blitz::

I believe it was during a Gruden breakdown of this matchup I watched earlier today, but it may have been elsewhere.. the comment was made that since the Packers bye week, Love has actually lead the league in efficiency vs. the blitz.

It's late and I'm lazy; I did not verify the following numbers for myself, but a quick google returned a result from a reddit where a user posted 4 days ago that in Love is completing "72 percent of his passes against the blitz in his last six games. He's 38-of-53 for 523 yards, five touchdowns and 0 interceptions with a 134.4 passer rating."

Take that for what you will.. add in that I would not be shocked if someone told me Love has spent an hour each week studying the vikings defensive looks since their first match up earlier this season. He knows he struggled identifying their disguises and Love strikes me as the type that takes any under-performance very personally and is driven to correct it.

I think the crux of this game comes down to how the Packers ground game finds ways to be productive against an insanely stingy Vikings run defense. If the Packers offense can find a way to stay in the 4 ypc range and force the Vikings to honor the run, and the Packers defense can clamp down on the Vikings explosive plays in the passing game and make them work to travel the length of the field, I think there is a path for the Packers to not only beat the Vikings but win big. Tall order, but I think it could be done.

This game will be about who can out-bluff who. If the Packers can find a way to move the chains on the ground, it will go a long way to forcing MIN to play the run honest (something the Vikes typically haven't had to do much of because they force teams to abandon the run) and open up the play action game. When the Packers do throw the ball, It's not going to be so much about beating the Vikings blitz; it's about identifying when the Vikings -aren't- blitzing, Love identifying the false pressure looks, and making sure he's not mis-reading a front as a blitz and sending deep shots down field expecting a vacancy in coverage only to realize all that pressure at the line bailed out into zone coverage.

So who wins the misinformation game between Packers play action vs. Vikings false blitz looks? It's going to be an exciting game.

I think that is a fair piece of advice, and you convinced me the need for quick developing plays to be kind of a staple. I'll see what connections I can pull.

I think this and most games come down to who plays disciplined, minimizes penalties, and missed assignments. The pack loses more games by lack of discipline, gap assignments, blown coverages, INTs, fumbles, holding penalties, neutral zone infractions, missed field goals, and poor special teams play....than from a bad plan. A lot of those seem to be in the past, thankfully. I'm not knocking the need for a good plan, and especially a strategy when the 5 alarm fire trucks come out of the station....but just be zoned in on execution and discipline. If nothing else, they will have had a very fine practice session against Minnepo. Go have a good practice Pack!