Here's What Should Scare the Vikings About the Packers

While the Vikings have struggled in nearly every offensive category to this point in the season, the Packers have proved to be a very dangerous offensive team even though they do not have a solid ground game.

Josh Jacobs (fractured ring finger) was ineligible to play in the first six games of the season and is now injured. That means the Packers have to use their backup running backs if they are going to be successful on the ground.

That would be pleasant for head coach Matt LaFleur, but it’s not really necessary. The Packers have the best deep passing game in the NFC, as Jordan Love throws with sensational ease when going over the top of the defense and he has two game-breaking targets in Christian Watson and Matthew Golden.

Love is capable of dropping the deep pass right in the bucket as long as his offensive line does its job. So far, that has been the case most of the time. Love has completed 215 of 341 passes for 2,618 yards with 19 TDs and 6 interceptions.

Watson has caught 49 of 74 targets for 879 yards with 7 touchdowns and he has 17 receptions of 20 yards or more.

Golden has emerged in his second year as a result of his game-breaking and explosive speed. He can get by defensive backs in a flash and he has caught 53-783-5 through the first 9 games.

Vikings are better equipped than most to defend the Green Bay deep passing game

The Vikings have the best scoring defense in the league and they are No. 2 in overall defense. However, they got pushed thoroughly by the Packers in Week 1, and the only reason the Vikings won that game is that they rallied dramatically in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota’s defense thrives on the blitz, and if Love can handle it, it will be difficult for the Vikings to stay in touch.

The Minnesota trade for Kirk Cousins should provide an offensive upgrade, but it will likely take him more than a week before he knows the playbook inside and out.

Certainly, he is familiar with head coach Kevin O’Connell’s scheme, but it is somewhat different from what it was in 2023, Cousins’ last season with the team.

The goal is for the Vikings’ offense to stay on the field. Minnesota was destroyed in the time of possession battle the past two weeks against the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills.

That cannot happen if the Vikings are going to travel to Lambeau Field and come away with the victory.