Packers 2017 schedule release: Game-by-game predictions
By Kenn Korb
Week 6: @ Minnesota Vikings
The two matchups between these teams in 2016 were drastically different.
In the first, Minnesota was able to stand behind a fast and devastating defense to hold down Rodgers’ offense while Sam Bradford and Stefon Diggs had a field day to fully expose the coverage issues Green Bay would go on to suffer from in their secondary throughout the year.
The second time around, Green Bay was the team on a roll and blazed across that same defense to the tune of 38 points on their way to the playoffs, while the Vikings finished out their complete collapse after an impressive 5-0 start to the season.
If I had to guess, this matchup will be much closer the former meeting rather than the latter.
Minnesota has made a seismic personnel shift on offense this time around. They’ve added Latavius Murray in place of Adrian Peterson, giving them a less-heralded name but one who can do more damage now that Peterson would likely be able to at this point in his career.
They’ve also revamped on their offensive line; where Matt Kalil, T.J. Clemmings, and a cavalcade of awfulness used to be is now a much more useful grouping in Mike Remmers and Riley Reiff. Each has limitations of their own, but they would need to put massive effort into coming close to how bad the tackle spot was for this group in 2016.
Their defense should be in a better spot than they were caught in during the late-season meeting between these teams as well. Add in the home-field advantage to the equation, and a close matchup feels all but guaranteed.
Will it be one which Green Bay could pull out? With Rodgers under center that is a distinct possibility, but if those coverage issues which killed the team before are not improved by this game, we could easily see another disappointing loss in Minnesota.
With the CB depth as of now getting worse since the end of the season (essentially swapping in Davon House for the departed Micah Hyde) and no guarantee that (1) Damarious Randall and/or Quinten Rollins will have better, healthier years, and (2) the Packers will not only draft a new corner or two, but those players will have positive impacts quickly, a close loss behind the coverage allowing one final late score feels like a probable outcome to expect here.
The two matchups between these teams in 2016 was drastically different.
In the first, Minnesota was able to stand behind a fast and devastating defense to hold down Rodgers’ offense while Sam Bradford and Stefon Diggs had a field day to fully expose the coverage issues Green Bay would go on to suffer from in their secondary throughout the year.
The second time around, Green Bay was the team on a roll and blazed across that same defense to the tune of 38 points on their way to the playoffs, while the Vikings finished out their complete collapse after an impressive 5-0 start to the season.
If I had to guess, this matchup will be much closer the former meeting rather than the latter.
Minnesota has made a seismic personnel shift on offense this time around. They’ve added Latavius Murray in place of Adrian Peterson, giving them a less-heralded name but one who can do more damage now that Peterson would likely be able to at this point in his career. They’ve also revamped on their offensive line; where Matt Kalil, T.J. Clemmings, and a cavalcade of awfulness used to be is now a much more useful grouping in Mike Remmers and Riley Reiff. Each has limitations of their own, but they would need to put massive effort into coming close to how bad the tackle spot was for this group in 2016.
Their defense should be in a better spot than they were caught in during the late-season meeting between these teams as well. Add in the home-field advantage to the equation, and a close matchup feels all but guaranteed.
Will it be one which Green Bay could pull out? With Rodgers under center that is a distinct possibility, but if those coverage issues which killed the team before are not improved by this game, we could easily see another disappointing loss in Minnesota.
With the CB depth as of now getting worse since the end of the season (essentially swapping in Davon House for the departed Micah Hyde) and no guarantee that (1) Damarious Randall and/or Quinten Rollins will have better, healthier years, and (2) the Packers will not only draft a new corner or two, but those players will have positive impacts quickly, a close loss behind the coverage allowing one final late score feels like a probable outcome to expect here.
Vikings 20, Packers 17 (4-2)