Green Bay Packers v. Vikings: 5 Burning Questions

The answers to these five burning questions will greatly affect the outcome of Monday Night’s game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings.

Despite how it may look to some, the Green Bay Packers are continuing to pile up wins and now sit at 11-3 on the season while also having clinched a playoff spot. However, during Monday’s game in Minnesota there will once again be a lot on the line for both teams with the NFC North Title still needing to be claimed.

With a win, the Packers will clinch the NFC North and they will remain the NFC’s No. 2 seed in a very tight playoff race. On the flip side, although at 10-4, the Vikings still have yet to clinch a playoff berth while also needing a win to keep their hopes of winning the division alive.

As a rivalry game, it is always a hard-fought matchup when these two get together but add in everything that is one the line for both teams and the intensity will be kicked up a few notches.

But before we get to the game on Monday Night, as always, I have my burning questions about the matchup and the answers will very likely determine the winner between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings.

Can the Packer offense keep up with the Vikings?

Despite some of the flack that Kirk Cousins takes as the Vikings’ quarterback, he has played pretty well this season and overall the Minnesota offense has been quite effective. The Vikings average 372.6 yards per game this season which is 10th best in the NFL and their 27.0 points per game ranks sixth.

With weapons such as Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook, Minnesota can score as quickly as anyone in this league. However, it appears that Green Bay will catch a bit of a break with Cook likely out of Monday’s game.

Meanwhile, the Packer offense has struggled to find any sort of consistency this season and expecting them to find it against a very good Vikings’ defense in tough road environment is a big ask. It will be key for the Green Bay defense to continue playing as well as they have because if this game turns into a shootout, it could be difficult for the Packers’ offense to keep up.

Can the Packers limit the big play?

While the Green Bay Packers’ defense has been one of the best this season at preventing red zone touchdowns, prior to that point they have given up a number of big plays. The Packers have given up 53 plays of 20 or more yards this season which ranks as the seventh most and they’ve also allowed 14 plays of at least 40 yards, unfortunately, the second most in the NFL.

And this week they will be facing one of the most explosive receivers in the league in Stefon Diggs, as well as Adam Thielen who can take one to the house at any moment himself. This season the Vikings’ offense ranks top 10 in both plays over 20 yards and plays over 40 in the passing game. When these two teams met back in week two, the Packers saw this on full display as Minnesota would rip off receptions of 30 yards, 61 yards and 45 yards. Green Bay cannot let that happen again.

Will Aaron Jones have another big game?

Back in week two, Aaron Jones had a huge game for the Green Bay Packers on the ground totaling 116 yards on five yards per carry with a touchdown. However, since that game the Vikings run defense has been much better as they’ve allowed an average of just 97.4 total rushing yards per game since then. And on the season, their average of 99.0 per game is the eighth fewest in the NFL.

So after a slow week against Chicago, Jones and the offensive line will have another tough task against Minnesota, but if he can find some success, it’ll make life much easier for this Packers’ offense.

How will Minnesota look without Dalvin Cook?

It was recently reported that Dalvin Cook who left last week’s game with an injury won’t be playing on Monday Night. This is a huge blow to the Minnesota offense as they are losing one of the best running backs in the league who has already compiled 1,135 rushing yards and an additional 519 through the air. Even Cook’s backup, Alexander Mattison who has put together a nice season could miss some time as well.

Cook played an important role in week two, carrying the ball 20 times and totaling 154 rushing yards, but without him or Mattison, we may see the Vikings rely even more on Diggs and Thielen. With the passing game for Minnesota possibly playing a larger role, it will be important that the Green Bay defensive front is able to put pressure on Cousins, forcing him to get rid of the ball sooner than he’d like which could very well lead to a mistake or two.

Can the Packers win at U.S. Bank Stadium?

The Minnesota Vikings opened U.S. Bank Stadium back in 2016 and since then, it has not been a nice place for the Green Bay Packers to visit. In three games there the Packers are yet to win and have been outscored 68-41 during that span. This year will certainly be another challenge but if they are able to come away with the victory, celebrating an NFC North Title there will feel pretty sweet and help wash away the previous three years of losses.