The Vikings will be without starting defensive tackle Shariff Floyd (knee) and may be without starting right cornerback Xavier Rhodes (knee) and starting left tackle Matt Kalil (hip). Last week's hero inside linebacker Eric Kendricks has an ankle injury, but he was a full participant as was running back Adrian Peterson (ankle). Former Packer wide receiver Charles Johnson has a quad injury, but he was also a full participant.
With that out of the way now down to tacks. Even though Shaun Hill did a decent job at quarterback in the win over the Titans No. 1 draft pick Sam Bradford will start this week. The key to him or anyone is getting a rush on him, so if the pass rush is there the Packers should keep the game a low scoring affair.
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| Lane Taylor Won, Josh Sitton Didn't |
Lane Taylor, by all accounts, did a decent job as the new starter at left guard. The entire line did a good job against the Jaguars and they will have to this week against a much better Vikings defense with a world-class front seven even without Floyd.
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| Aaron Rodgers Has To Be The Playmaker |
Last week Aaron Rodgers and his wide receivers were not on the same page. I consider that problem a lack of work during the month of preseason games. Let me repeat I think not playing your starters during the preseason games results in what happened last week.
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| Eddie Lacy Needs To Be The Man Again |
The same paginess should be better this week. Eddie Lacy ran well, but not dominatingly. The offense has to have a plan to negate their pass run and that means Lacy and James Starks have to run well, especially up the middle, and the screen pass and quick slants either in the flat or across the middle have to be added to the game plan.
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| Jordy Needs To Be Jordy |
Finally, Jordy Nelson has to go downfield and be Jordy again. If he does then Randall Cobb, Jared Abbrederis, Jared Cook and Richie Rodgers will be open. Rodgers to Nelson is the key.
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| Julius Peppers Needs To Show Up |
Defensively Nick Perry and Datone Jones played well and Julius Peppers was a non-factor. The experiment of using Peppers as a situational pass rusher is NOT working and either Peppers returns to full duty or leave him on the bench. Both Perry and Jones are injuries waiting to happen, so I guess it's time to play Peppers and spell him with Perry and Jones.
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| Quinten Rollins Breaks Up A Pass |
The secondary will be an issue. With Shields out Quinten Rollins will play on the outside and LaDarius Gunter takes over in the slot or that is how the story goes. However, last year when Shields was out with a concussion Gunter played outside and Rollins stayed in the slot. I think that's what's going to happen. Gunter can handle it.
Also with Banjo possibly out one of Ted Thompson's famous undrafted free agents Kentrell Brice might get some playing time. He seemed like a ball hawk during the preseason and let's hope he really is.
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| Claymaker Needs To Be Disruptive |
The key to the game is pass rush and the running game. If Lacy and Starks show up and Rodgers can avoid being rushed or sacked the Packers win. If Peterson controls the Vikings offense and Bradford doesn't pass much and the Vikings get to Rodgers the Vikings win.
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| Joe Thomas Picks Off A Pass To Set Up Packers 1st Touchdown |
What They're Saying:
Fox Sports: NFL Week Two Cheat Sheet
Sunday night: Packers at Vikings
Fun one, here. The Vikings are opening a new home stadium, are being viewed around the league as de-facto division champions from a year ago because Jordy Nelson was injured, and there will be a Sunday night audience. I love Aaron Rodgers. Really, I do. But let’s not disrespect the Vikings fans and that defense by making them field goal underdogs in their home opener. I don’t know who is starting at quarterback, but I do know that place will be absolutely nuts. I’ll roll with the elements. Give me Adrian Peterson and Minnesota.
The pick: Vikings 24, Packers 20
Sportsnaut: Top 10 Matchups for Week Two
Danielle Hunter was an absolute monster for the Minnesota Vikings last week. The 21-year-old defensive lineman recorded an fumble recovery for a touchdown, a sack and multiple quarterback pressures.
On the other hand, Green Bay’s offensive line was tremendous against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers was sacked just once and hit a total of three times in the win.
Hunter is going to have to put pressure on Rodgers in order for Minnesota to slow down Green Bay’s passing attack. Should that happen, the Vikings could get off to a surprising 2-0 start.
CBS Sports: The Thursday Night Live Crew
Predicts Vikings over the Packers whoever plays quarterback even Donovan McNabb.
Sports Illustrated
Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer refuses to reveal his Week 2 starting quarterback because ... well, I’m not really sure. Green Bay’s preparation should not be all that much different whether Shaun Hill gets another go or Sam Bradford replaces him. It has to be Bradford eventually, since the Vikings traded a first-round pick for him. Either way, Adrian Peterson will be the focal point—Green Bay limited him to 112 yards (but two TDs) in two games last season. How Aaron Rodgers fares against Minnesota’s defense is the real selling point here. Rodgers was up to his old tricks last week, on numerous occasions ripping out the Jaguars’ hearts with his bare hands. The Vikings’ defense could be the best he faces in 2016.
Watchability Score: 8. Again, Minnesota’s lack of talent at QB knocks the tally down. The Vikings are going to have to win this game, and likely any others, the way they did in Week 1: keeping the score low, forcing turnovers and hoping the offense can produce at least a few points. Green Bay 26-17.
NFL.com NFL Media Analyst Elliot Harrison
Dude, this is a matchup. It instantly reminds of some great '90s tilts between the Vikings' defense (coached by DC Tony Dungy) and three-time MVP Brett Favre. Favre broke Dan Marino's career touchdown record of 420 in 2007 while leading the Packers to a win in Minnesota. Of course, Favre eventually ended up playing for the Vikes, and he and Aaron Rodgers squared off in Minneapolis in a fun game in 2009 (although Packers fans wouldn't mind forgetting that whole episode). Now the Vikings are opening up their new digs, which are beautiful. So with all this quarterback talk, and the 2016 Minnesota defense being every bit as good those John Randle squads of yore, this matchup comes down to ... Big Ed. Lacy ran right through the Vikings' defense in Minnesota last year, and the Packers' back looked good last week despite average numbers. If he gets going, Green Bay's pass rushers get more rest time. Which means no fun for the Vikes' quarterback. What a game Green 27-23.
ESPN NFL Experts
Matt Bowen, Adam Caplan, Mike Golic, Dan Graziano, Merril Hoge, Seth Wickersham, Randy Seifert and Pick 'em picked the Packers. Ron Jaworski and KC Joyner picked the Vikings.
My Prediction:
Packers 17-14.
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