Green Bay Packers v. Vikings: 5 Big Questions Ahead of Matchup
By Paul Bretl
Will the Green Bay Packers lean on AJ Dillon and the run game?
That previous section is a good segue into this one. The Packers’ passing game hasn’t quite been clicking, Zimmer is very good at making things difficult for Rodgers, and the Minnesota secondary is also getting back Harrison Smith and possibly Patrick Peterson. The recipe for success for this Green Bay offense is going to be running the ball.
The Packers will be without Aaron Jones, but AJ Dillon has shown that he is more than capable of handling RB1 responsibilities–both on the ground and through the air. Dillon is averaging 4.3 yards per rush this season on 97 attempts, and the Green Bay offensive line ranks eighth by ESPN’s run-block win rate metric. Meanwhile, the Minnesota defense is allowing 4.7 yards per carry–the third-most in football.
"“You hate to say the sky’s the limit and put that type of pressure on a guy, but I definitely think he’s got the ability to be one of the better backs in this league,” RB Coach Ben Sirmans said of Dillon via Forbes. “If that arrow just keeps pointing in the right direction. “For a guy his size that can make the cuts he can make, he’s a lot faster than what people think, and then when he drops his pads he can move people. He’s got good hands. When you combine all those different traits, usually that leads to a guy that’s going to be very productive down the road.”"
For whatever reason, the Green Bay Packers have strayed away from the run game at times this season and become very pass-heavy–even when finding success on the ground. If there is a week to really rely on the run game, one would think this is it. Opposing teams have found success doing so against the Vikings, and trying to move the ball through the air could prove to be quite the challenge.