Packers/Queens Leadup

[MickeyDavis]

Assuming they get by Chicago tonight a win against us puts them right in the thick of things in the NFC North. No doubt we are the better team but NFC North road games are never easy (which is why Minnesota winning tonight vs. Chicago is no sure thing).

I expect Delicate Sam to be playing.

Their defense is good but we can score on anyone.

[Ron Swanson]

Don't let Stefan Diggs go off for 200+ yards again and we should be good. Unfortunately, that's still a very real possibility with this secondary, especially if King and/or Burnett aren't ready to play.

[MickeyDavis]

Randall finally made a couple of plays (and had misplays too of course). . Maybe this is a turning point. Or maybe it makes him more cocky and doesn't change a thing.

[dools644]

I think Randall stinks and had a pick-6 fall into his lap. What we can hope for is that it boosted his confidence and leads to some miraculous turnaround that makes him mediocre for a couple months.

[MickeyDavis]

I would take a couple of months of mediocre Randall. I'm not optimistic though. I would take a pulse from Rollins. It would be a step up for him.

[Turk Nowitzki]

If Bradford is healthy they are a tough matchup. Need Bak back at LT for this one.

[dools644]

Will be good test for Jones if he gets enough PT but who knows. Dallas has been getting shredded by everyone but Minn is very tough up front.

[crkone]

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[Ron Swanson]

With Micah Hyde balling out in Buffalo, I wonder how much the secondary misses a guy like him in that slot/hybrid LB role. I know they've tried to move Burnett and to an extent, Josh Jones, into that position in the Psycho package, but neither guy (outside of the one game from Jones against the Bengals) has really proven to be the kind of ball-hawk that Hyde was.

[WeekapaugGroove]

It's never easy to go into Mini and get a win but I do like this matchup for the D. People talk about this D struggling against elite QB's and it's true to the point that well most D's struggle against really good QB's but to me the way more telling factor to how the D will play is the opposing Oline. Take Seattle as an example; Wilson is a really good QB but they struggle against the pack's D because they just can't block the front 7 which masks the issues the packers have in the secondary. Now compare that to the good Olines in Atlanta and Dallas and it's a recipe for the D to struggle. So with that said the vikes oline is improved but it's still one that I think the front 7 of the packers can win against so I expect them to play a decent game on that side of the ball. I know the Vikes beat them last year but to me that was a hat tip game to Bradford; he was throwing the ball as good as he had ever tossed it in that one and how the NFL is set up these days if a QB is absolutely on fire there isn't a whole lot a D can do.

[dools644]

It's never easy to go into Mini and get a win but I do like this matchup for the D. People talk about this D struggling against elite QB's and it's true to the point that well most D's struggle against really good QB's but to me the way more telling factor to how the D will play is the opposing Oline. Take Seattle as an example; Wilson is a really good QB but they struggle against the pack's D because they just can't block the front 7 which masks the issues the packers have in the secondary. Now compare that to the good Olines in Atlanta and Dallas and it's a recipe for the D to struggle. So with that said the vikes oline is improved but it's still one that I think the front 7 of the packers can win against so I expect them to play a decent game on that side of the ball. I know the Vikes beat them last year but to me that was a hat tip game to Bradford; he was throwing the ball as good as he had ever tossed it in that one and how the NFL is set up these days if a QB is absolutely on fire there isn't a whole lot a D can do.

I don't think the D will be the reason GB loses this one. Zimmer is usually tough as hell on Rodgers. Seems like there have been a few 17-14 type games. I think a key is Aaron Jones this time, if he gets enough reps to be a difference. They typically cannot run on Minny at all lately. So Rodgers usually has to get to 20 points and it's tough.

If they can get 4 ypc consistently to keep them honest it makes life on Rodgers much easier, obviously prevents him from getting clobbered too. I expect the defense to be good enough, thing to watch for me is can they run the ball at all?

[Lippo]

Yeah... Cook >> Murray really made the Vikings easier to scheme for. They will pass/run based on who is in their backfield now.
We just need to get Griffen in check.

[FAH1223]

Don't let Stefan Diggs go off for 200+ yards again and we should be good. Unfortunately, that's still a very real possibility with this secondary, especially if King and/or Burnett aren't ready to play.

Use Hawkins more. Guarantee he doesn't let Diggs burn him.

[Xanadu]

Despite this weeks bad showing I still like this d and its ceiling when healthy. Interceptions are a fickle thing and seem to come in bunches. You can say that pick six fell into Randalls lap but having the awareness to bring it in is something. I have seen CB drop a lot of those over the year and he also made a nice play on that under thrown ball on the next deep pass. But I think KK ceiling is very high and think as long as healthy he will continue to improve. The defensive line is a strength and although they had a down game they started out not giving a inch to zeke and the running game. It was only when Dallas started making easy completions that the running game got going for them. Also it took them forever to drive down that field against us all game. We got to multiple 3rd and longs but gave them up. That zone D is a worry and I hope Capers doesn't run it to often and our talent up front can start to get home with 4. But I do worry over the slot corner spot and the fact we need a play maker there. Burnett is solid there but not a ball hawk. Jones perhaps but I like him as the nitro LB. I really thought Rollins was going to be good there this year but he has look like our worst corner by far. He is to slow and can't tackle for sh*t. Need to find someone who can be a difference maker there. I don't think Micah was all that good though despite his hot start for the Bills and his ability to be in the right spot to create turnovers. He is just over matched against most slot recivers due to speed and I think the strength of the Bills overall defense covers up a lot.

[dools644]

The Packers are at the point where injuries aren't a variable, they're a constant. It's more important who is hurt.

King has reached Daniels/Perry status where I don't think they can afford to lose him. You can make a case that Clay Matthews is the fifth or sixth most important player on that defense. Three I mentioned plus Burnett and Clark might be more important.

Ha-Ha seems like a great person, but I find him really overrated by fans.

[BUCKnation]

Packers defense will be pretty decent if they can get off the field on third down. They seem to do well on 1st and 2nd but the plays on third down yesterday were pretty comical at times.

[dools644]

Packers defense will be pretty decent if they can get off the field on third down. They seem to do well on 1st and 2nd but the plays on third down yesterday were pretty comical at times.

At least three of those were Dak being Dak.

[Mags FTW]

If they didn't lose Cook, I would say the Vikings are the best team in the division. Their defense is just too good, and their offense was finally legit. They have that early 2000's Buccaneers vibe to them.