5 Big Questions Facing Green Bay Packers v. Minnesota Vikings
By Paul Bretl
Can Green Bay Packers capitalize on turnover and pressure opportunities?
Even as the defense has struggled in recent weeks, there are still two areas that they’ve been very good in–generating pressure and forcing turnovers. According to PFF, the Green Bay Packers rank top-5 in total pressures generated this season, and their 26 takeaways are the sixth-most in football.
However, the last time these two teams met, these were areas that Green Bay struggled with. Although the Packers would finish with 22 pressures that game — not bad at all — it took Joe Barry dialing up some blitzes in the second half to do so–something that this defense does not often do, ranking 25th in blitz rate this season.
And even with that added pressure, there were a few instances where Green Bay was oh so close to getting to Kirk Cousins, but he was able to get the ball off just in time, resulting in a big play on a few occasions.
The Packers would also miss out on several gifted interception opportunities from Cousins, along with a fumble that was on the ground as well. If Green Bay comes away with one additional turnover or turns one or two of those pressures into sacks, that game very well could have ended up differently.
This time around, the Green Bay defense will have Rashan Gary, who missed the last meeting with an elbow injury, and it’s hard to fathom this defense whiffing on that many turnover opportunities once again. Pressures and turnovers are two areas that the Packers have excelled in all season long, so I’m going to chalk up that Week 11 performance to being flukey, and I’ll expect a better showing at Lambeau Field.