Green Bay Packers at Vikings: Instant Takeaways

Here are some instant takeaways from the Green Bay Packers Week 1 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

We are back! The Green Bay Packers were clearly the better team as they cruised to a relatively easy win over the Minnesota Vikings. As always, here are my instant takeaways from what we saw along with some highlights. Let’s dive in!

• So, 43 points in Week 1 with no preseason. Not bad.
• We knew Aaron Rodgers would use the hard count to his advantage, especially without fans, and it certainly didn’t take long. He would get the Vikings to jump on the third play of the game.
• UDFA Krys Barnes got the start at ILB2 over Oren Burks. While it was certainly a bit of a shock initially, given how much Minnesota relies on the run, this move makes some sense. Run-defense is not Burks’ strong suit.
• Speaking of run-defense, the Packers don’t look very improved in that area. And Kenny Clark’s injury is quite worrisome. Let’s all hope he’s okay.
• With the Vikings backed up against their own endzone, Mike Pettine dials up a fantastic blitz that Minnesota was not ready for.

• BIG day for Jaire Alexander, who in addition to making the sack for the safety, also came away with an interception.
• I LOVE Tyler Ervin in LaFleur’s offense.
• There were some drives for this Green Bay Packers’ offense that ended in disappointment, but overall we have to be very encouraged with what we saw.
• With question marks around the right tackle position, Elgton Jenkins started the game there over Rick Wagner while Lucas Patrick was at left guard. However, an injury to Patrick resulted in Jenkins moving back to left guard and Wagner taking over at tackle.
• That speed from Marquez Valdes-Scantling will get ya. Great contested-catch as well.

• We saw aggressive Matt LaFleur again. With fourth-and-goal from the one, the Packers would go for it. Green Bay would also send Aaron Rodgers on a fourth-down sneak around midfield.
• We also saw the Packers struggle to punch it in from the one-yard line. This is something we saw a few times last year as well.
• I am surprised at the fact that we didn’t see A.J. Dillon at all when the Packers were inside the five-yard line. At nearly 250 pounds, you’d think that would be right in his wheelhouse. However, where we did see Dillon was in the fourth quarter with a lead against a tired Viking defense. Good luck with that.
• Jon Runyan looked very comfortable at guard when called upon.
• This pass from Rodgers was vintage. What. A. Dime.

• Just as LaFleur wants to do, we saw a variety of personnel on the field today.
• All four Green Bay Packers’ tight ends saw plenty of action as well, including rookie Josiah Deguara who recorded his first NFL catch and had some excellent blocks.
• From start to finish, Davante Adams did whatever he wanted against these young Viking cornerbacks as he posted156 yards with two touchdowns.
• What a tough break for Lane Taylor. After battling back from an injury and having a fantastic camp, he leaves today’s game. The Packers are all of a sudden quite thin along the OL.
• It’s not officially a Packer game until we get a sack from Za’Darius Smith.

• Rashan Gary didn’t fill the stat sheet by any means, but after having an excellent camp by all accounts, there were a few plays today where he made his way into the backfield.
• As has been the case over MVS’ short career, he made a big play but then in the third quarter he had a drop on third down that would have extended the drive and another drop on a deep post route. But in typical MVS fashion, he then came back with a big catch on a free play.
• On quite a few of Green Bay’s drives, they were able to move the ball methodically down the field, and overall they dominated the time of possession.
• Wasn’t the best day for the defense overall, but as they did last year, for the most part, they made the plays when they needed to.
• What a throw. My goodness.

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1305232558985224193

• Aaron Rodgers was really, really good today. That is all.