Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings NFL preview: Brett Favre vs Packers one last time?
The biggest soap opera in the NFL may reach its climax on Sunday when Brett Favre and his Minnesota Vikings host the division leading Green Bay Packers. The 6-3 Packers are getting healthier every week and
coming off a bye, they will be well rested. The 3-6 Vikings seem to be getting hurt more and more every week, not just physically, but their playoff hopes as well.
Favre will again start for the Vikings, despite injuries to his shoulder, ankle or wherever else he’s hurt. It will be Favre’s 294th straight start. Things couldn’t be messier for Favre in Minnesota, as he
has already thrown 16 interceptions, more than double the amount he threw last year.
Minnesota fans have been calling for coach Brad Childress to be axed, and another loss may very well make that happen. Dropping another divisional game may just be the loss that puts the Vikings away for
good. After a 27-13 loss to Chicago last week, Minnesota can’t afford to keep dropping behind the red-hot Packers.
The Vikings should have their share of problems with the Packers’s defence. They’ve allowed only seven points in their last two outings. One factor has been Clay Matthews, who has been the most dominant pass-rusher
in the NFL this year and is a candidate for defensive player of the year. Matthews has 10.5 sacks this year and with the Vikings having trouble protecting their 41-year-old quarterback, they may be in for a long day.
The Packers’ defence is first in the league in points allowed per game with 15.9. Their only c***k is that teams have been able to run the ball on them. They’re 20th in the league with 114.2 rushing yards
allowed per game.
That means the Vikings will put the ball in the hands of Adrian Peterson as often as they can. Peterson has become the staple of the Vikings’ offence, as injuries at wide receiver and the erratic play of
Favre have reverted them to being a run team first. Peterson leads the league with 197 carries. He has 908 yards and seven touchdowns on the year.
The Packers’ offence has been the contrary, as Aaron Rodgers has carried the offence with a heavy dose of passing. Ryan Grant’s season-ending injury in September has made the Packers a pass-oriented team
with Rodgers spreading the ball nicely amongst his receivers. Greg Jennings is his main target, but James Jones, Brandon Jackson, Jordy Nelson and Donald Driver all have at least 25 catches.
The Vikings will enjoy home-field advantage, as all three of their wins this season have come at home. The Vikings’ defence will have their hands full with the Packers’ passing attack. Jared Allen will have
to have a big game, as his 5.5 sacks lead the team. That number is low for a player like Allen who hasn’t dominated like in previous years. The Vikings only have 14 sacks as a team.
Green Bay appear to have the advantage in every match-up, as they look like the better team all-around. The Vikings will have to rely on the will of Favre to beat his former team. Rodgers is yet to win in
the Metrodome and barely beat the Vikings at Lambeau Field in a 28-24 win this season. This game will either establish the Packers as a dominant NFC team or it will breathe some life into Minnesota and the soap opera will go on.
Tags: