MIN at GB: An Early NFC North Tilt as Vikings Try to Prove They Belong
MIN at GB: Week 4
The first NFC North match of the 2024 season is bound to be a good one.
The 3-0 Vikings are travelling to Wisconsin to take on the 2-1 Packers. Getting the win would feel like a double victory since it puts a bit more breathing room in their divisional lead with the added bonus of the win occurring on the road. What do the Vikings need to do in order to pickup the victory?
MIN at GB:
A Win Would Firmly Establish Vikings as a Powerhouse
Start with neutralizing the rushing attack.
Josh Jacobs is up to 62 carries for 278 yards, good for a 4.5 YPC average. Meanwhile, RB2 Emanuel Wilson is sitting on 21 carries for 105 yards, good for a 5.0 YPC average. Oh, and Malik Willis has an explosive 12 runs for 114 yards. That’s a 9.5 YPC average for those keeping score at home. Even receiver Jayden Reed joins the fun, turning 5 carries into 89 yards (17.8 YPC average).
Meanwhile, Minnesota is sitting in a tie for 2nd in the NFL by allowing just 214 rushing yards against, limiting runners to just 3.6 yards per carry. So, something’s gotta give. There’s strength against strength on Sunday.
Getting Green Bay away from their rushing attack would be a major win for the Brian Flores defense. Doing so will (obviously) make them more predictable and, in turn, allow for the pass rush to do their work. Currently, the Vikings are the proud owners of 16 team sacks. Getting that number into the low 20s would be a good indication that Sunday turned out well for the purple and gold.
Of course, the other side of the operation could certainly have a major day. Aaron Jones shouldn’t lack for motivation. He was drafted by Green Bay and spent the opening several seasons of his career as a Cheesehead. Now 29, Jones doesn’t appear to have lost a step — if he has, he’s doing a good job of compensating with elite vision — instead proving across three weeks that he’s still an excellent running back.
Thankfully, Sam Darnold is healthy and will be available. He has been playing well but seeing him push his yardage higher could be a sneaky key to pulling off the win. Yes, seeing a great ground attack has a part to play, but so, too, are critical 3rd down completions part of the mix.
After all, Justin Jefferson is going to be going toe-to-toe with Jaire Alexander.
Jefferson is a tremendous competitor, so he won’t forget what happened back in 2022. Getting the ball to #18 early and often should be one of the main goals of the game. True, there have been some minor in-game injuries that have limited the production a bit, but seeing Jefferson down at 14 catches is a problem that needs to get rectified.
I fully anticipate Jefferson going nuclear in this one, piling up yards and catches in a monster afternoon.
During the offseason, I suggested that Minnesota was going to lose. A lot has happened since then. The Vikings have faced some adversity and turmoil; the Vikings have overcome the whole way. Can’t pick against them at this stage.
Official Prediction: Vikings 24 — Packers 21
Prediction Record: 2-1
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
Lewis Cine and The Texans’ Reminder of What Could Have Been
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.