Packers: Five keys to defeating the Vikings in Week 2

Five keys for the Green Bay Packers to defeat the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2.

The Green Bay Packers‘ Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears was one for the ages. The unstoppable force that was Khalil Mack, the heart-stopping injury, the mammoth momentum shift, and an all-time-great comeback victory. It was a true tale of two halves, to say the least.

To stay in the win column this week, it will take more than what the Packers showed in their first 60 minutes of the year. There’s no coming back from 20 down against the Minnesota Vikings.

Green Bay needs to step up on both sides of the ball, or the defending NFC North champions will be 2-0 and one step closer to the Super Bowl many expect them to reach.

Here are five keys to defending home field and beating the Vikings.

1. Win the line of scrimmage on defense

This game starts with the guys up front. The defensive line and whatever mashup of players Mike Pettine stacks the box with must win their one-on-one battles. If they don’t, Dalvin Cook could run for 200 yards.

If that happens, Kirk Cousins can spend an eternity in the pocket and find Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Kyle Rudolph, and many more.

This is an offense that won’t stop and will get better as the game goes on.

Win the battles in the trenches and you’ll see third-and-long, and an opportunity for the much-improved secondary to make some plays.

2. Stay patient on offense

The Vikings’ offense is good, but their other 11 guys are better. They feature four 2017 Pro Bowlers, including one at each level in Everson Griffen up front, Anthony Barr at linebacker (who all but ended Green Bay’s season last year when he broke Aaron Rodgers‘ collarbone), and Harrison Smith and Xavier Rhodes in the secondary.

This is not a unit to force things against. They’ll make you pay. And they’ll kill you if you get one-dimensional.

The Packers need to stay balanced, commit to the run game, and take what the Vikings give them.

3. Pick on the weak links, again and again

The Vikings do have a weakness. They can get torched in the passing game. While they’re solid on the perimeter and deep with the help of Smith at safety, they don’t match up well in the middle of the field.

They lack depth at cornerback, meaning Randall Cobb and Jimmy Graham should have mismatches all day. Finding them in the heart of the Vikings defense will put them on their heels.

Long, sustained drives will go a long way in neutralizing the Vikings offense. It’s tough to score when you aren’t on the field.

4. Take the ball away

Aaron Rodgers boasts a career touchdown to interception ratio of 4:1. Kirk Cousins is worse than 2:1. The guy throws picks. When he does, the secondary will need to take advantage and catch them, unlike Kyle Fuller did for the Bears last week, allowing Green Bay to complete the comeback.

Both Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson showed they have the hands in the preseason. So did veteran Tramon Williams, who played every snap in his return to Lambeau Field. It’s time for one or more of them to step up and give the Packers the boost they need to take down a historically great Vikings team.

5. No mistakes

Great teams take advantage of mistakes. Miss your mark on a pass? They take it back for six. Fail to pick up a blitz? Your quarterback is going to hit the turf hard.

The Packers shot themselves in the foot on multiple occasions in the opener. Provided DeShone Kizer was the culprit on a few and hopefully won’t set foot on the field, it cannot happen this week.

In field goal range on third down, the worst case scenario has to be three points, not a fumble. On a broken play, take a sack or make sure that football ends up in the fourth row.

Give these Vikings free points like they gave the Bears and this game is over regardless of who’s under center in green and gold.