Green Bay Packers v. Vikings: 5 BIG Questions Heading into Week 8
By Paul Bretl
2. Can the Green Bay Packers slow Dalvin Cook?
Admittedly, the Packers run defense played quite well in Houston, allowing only 3.6 yards per carry. However, the 4.88 rushing yards per carry that they are allowing on the season still ranks 29th in the NFL.
A fully healthy Kenny Clark, along with the return of Kamal Martin, certainly helped this unit last week, and if Green Bay hopes to put Minnesota away fairly early, they’ll have to find a way to contain Dalvin Cook, which hasnt’ been easy. Over his career against the Packers, Cook is averaging 5.2 yards per carry with four total touchdowns.
In the team’s Week 1 matchup, Cook was held to just 50 rushing yards, and a big reason for that was because the Green Bay offense created a two or even three-score lead for much of the game. This took away Minnesota’s ability to run the ball consistently. So whether it’s the defense continuing to build off last week’s performance, the offense putting up points early, or a combination of the two, containing Cook and forcing Kirk Cousins to make plays is a major key to victory.
3. Will other Green Bay Packers WRs step up?
Last week we saw Davante Adams put on a show, but for the last two games, the production from the other Green Bay receivers has looked quite similar to last season. Against Houston, the wide receiver group – minus Adams – had two receptions on seven targets for six yards. Although, to his credit, Malik Taylor did find the end zone.
The week before in Tampa Bay, the Packer receivers not named Adams caught four passes on nine targets for 48 yards with no touchdowns. In Week 8, they’ll be up against a beaten up Minnesota secondary that already wasn’t very good, so hopefully, we see more production from Marquez Valdes-Scantling in particular, but also Equanimeous St. Brown, Darrius Shepherd, and Taylor.