Enemy Fan Forums: Green Bay Packers

1st game of the season with no preseason. Mistakes will be made on both sides. Usually the defense is favored in these matchups.

Packers 20
Vikings 13

I think it’s impossible to know how it will go at this point with no preseason, joint practices, or crowd. I think week one could be sloppy across the board league wide. I do think advantage will go to defenses and experienced QBs, and I think we have that. I am worried about ILB and the right side of our OL, but I’m sure they have areas they are worried about too.

Ill give us the advantage bc optimism, but who knows really.

Packers 24 Vikings 13 Neither team got better this offseason.

Feel like the one way Minnesota can control this game is if they can run on us all day.

Other than that, this D is really just stacked, if Dean Lowry and Chandon Sullivan/ILB2/Redmond are our worst starters, we are doing alright.

Other side of the ball, definite reason for concern with Yannick and Hunter in the pass game. Gunna have to likely leave Bak on an island all day and have Lewis or others on the right side to help whoever is RT. They have plus pass rushers, we have a likely weak spot at RT.

Similarly, they have two big ?'s at CB and we have a top 5 WR, that likely can never be singled all day. Gunna keepa safety back or LB underneath Davane's side all game and we definitely have a plus QB. Easiest path for success for us, also, is just to run all day as well, open up the play actions, target Davante heavy whenever the D pulls off extra help.

I am feeling very very confident for this game, more than I probably should as Minny is not a bad team, but I feel like if they are not able to run on us effectively, we will be fine.

Hunter is on IR. Let the excuses begin.

probably not going to be the most entertaining of games with lack of practice, so I'm just gonna hope we get the basics done right, if we do i think we'll come away with the W in what will probably be a close game, Pack by <6

This game is going to be unwatchable. Almost preseason game 4 2nd 1st half bad. I expect the defense on both sides to dominate. Offenses will round into shape next month. I'll take nothing away from this game if the preceding holds true. The sad part is this one counts for both teams and it goes into the books the same as game 13 will.

At least we don't have to worry about Rodgers getting hurt, because we've got Jordan Love 

The most concerning thing for me due to the lack of preseason sharpening is the technique/gelling of the OL and tackling throughout. Those two items could make it very interesting and even bad maybe.

I expect us to utilize a steady dose of Jones/Williams maybe even Dillon...but I'll say it now my one prediction is Rodgers will hit MVS deep 35 yards or more when MN cheats the box early.

I think MVS has bounce back year after being tossed in the deep end last year...and just being overwhelmed, I think as clearly disappointed as Rodgers is we didn't draft anyone and Funchess stepping down, he really seems to be high on MVS and EQ....the way he speaks on them isn't a QB just saying the right things.

Honestly, listen to how he speaks of them vs Lazard when brought up. I think he clearly sees more in them vs Lazard even.

Well, I'm certainly prepared for something like a 13-10 final score.

I admit with the whole pandemic and all, the usual amped up feeling has been less this year than usual. But some football even if like this at least feels better than no football.

It will be weird though hearing the QB making loud signal calls with no crowd noise though. And on the bright side, won't be any of that dumb fake skol word chants or horn blowing.

Still trying to figure out why the Vikings opened as favorites. The Packers beat them twice last year. The Vikings lost their number one wr from last year and replaced him with a rookie. They lost their top 3 cbs and replaced them with rookies and backups. Their oline lost one of its starters and was really bad before that. They got a good player from the Jags but he is replaces Everson Griffin who graded out higher than him last year. Their interior dline lost Linval Joseph and replaced him with no one. We are worried about our run defense but their interior is much weaker than ours.

They are trusting a ton of rookies to play and they didnt get preseason. On paper they are weak at OL, DT, CB, and WR outside Theilen.

Am I the only one that's not really too concerned about this game? Like seriously I really don't understand why people are so high on The Vikings after all they've lost. They don't have a the better receiving corp, I say we edge them out in overall running backs, quarterback is a given, Oline I think we are better hands down, as well as our secondary. Sure their defensive front is tough, but again I don't see why that should make them the favorites to win the game. And tbh I expect a blowout victory this week. Rodgers begins to remind everyone why he's still the bad man.

These games are going to be pretty unpredictable. Teams change a lot from year to year even with mostly the same players. Some up, some down, some steady. The first month is usually pretty wild anyway with poor quality football being played and some teams looking great and some terrible and there are always a handful that flip positions every year after that first month. I know they're all on the same page this year, but I expect the norm to the start of the season to be amplified even more this year. and then the injuries will start.

Beginning of the year, defenses are always ahead of offenses and that's going to be even more true this season since there were no preseason games. I fully expect the Vikings dline to cause a lot of havoc since the right side of the Packers' oline is going to be, uhm, unique in week 1. I also fully expect the Smiths and Clark to have a field day with the Vikings oline. I'm kind of expecting this game to come down to which team makes the costliest mistake (blown coverage, PI, etc.).

Not sure if this has been posted but Danielle Hunter went to ir. Huge loss. Their defensive line now is missing Hunter, Griffen and Joseph from last year.

I got the Packers winning this and feel real good about it. Line opened at +156 and has moved to +110 so $ coming in on Packers.

There are several new parts on this queens team and with no pre-season games it’s probably gonna take them some time to gel even more so then most teams. They are brand new at the corners so opportunities will be there.

Key Advantages- Aaron Rodgers > Kirk Cousins. No hostile environment at U.S Bank Stadium. More continuity among Packers starters.

Potential problems- Packers run defense and RT holding off Viking edge rushers.

Final Break Down- Unless the Packers blow the turnover battle in this one significantly I like the road team 24-13

Wagner gonna need some help

The rest of the OL should hold up fine

Adams, Lazard and MVS have nice matchups vs a young corner group

Jones gonna have some run lanes up the middle of their soft interior DL

Vikings soft up middle on offense. Clark gonna have monster day.

Time to put Z, P and Gary to the test on setting an edge

Cousins in trouble cuz Z, Gary and Clark gonna be coming up gut all day

Our secondary should be able to stop thielen and company. Bisi Johnson a high upside second year guy, but still second year.

Vikings are a good team, but I think the Packers have fewer weak spots. Interior OL, corner and interior DL weaknesses for Vikings. Packers, really it’s just TE and ILB depth.

Vikings gonna test Sullivan and Greene. They’ll like up 3 wide and see if they can pick on the slot, Sullivan. Or they’ll go big and see if they can pick on Greene. Also gonna test P and Z in the run game. See if they learned anything from the SF game.

I think the Packers rise to the occasion. Vikings are good, but the Packers are better!

Things I would like to see:

Z and Preston setting edge and stopping Dalvin cold

Z, and company still being able to pressure Cousins when they play action

Tonyan and Sternberger being incorporated into the passing game. Rodgers history isn't strong in utilizing TEs other than on the edges.

MVS/Lazard having an impact.

RT holding up with minimal help.

These are the things we need to have happen for a big season, and for a win Sunday.

A Big Win. Rodgers will be excellent as always, but the MVP this game anyway will be Aaron Jones busting some big runs up the middle. Dillon plays late in the game and looks like the Colorado Buffalos mascot running through people. An outstanding pass rush makes the DBs look like all-pros. At least 5 sacks of Cousins including one by Gary and one the last series by Garvin. An early Packer lead makes run D not a problem. Kirksey looks good, Burks better than last year.

Vikings will find out quickly if Pettine really did make efforts to fix the run defense. This will likely be an ugly low scoring game with poor tackling and passes thrown to nobody. I expect a good amount of rust on both sides, and plenty of running plays called. Vikings O is heavy play action and Kyle Rudolph is ancient but always a problem for GB.

If the Packers OL plays well, they should do ok. Not sure about RG's assertion they are soft up the middle, but I do think they can be beat. Young CBs will get beat -- even by GB's WR -- if Rodgers has enough time. Hunter and Ngakoe(?) are a concern, they have good safeties, and their LBs aren't bad.

Division games early are always a mystery, and they are playing on the road. Hard to predict this one, but I could see it being a 16-13 game going either way.

You never know what you have with the young corners. Guys develop and become stars. It’s no sure thing that they’re bad players. But still..... Rodgers and Lafleur almost have to test that corner group early and often to see if they’re ready.

I’m pretty sure we’re gonna see a lot of 3 WR looks early just to test the Vikings boundary youth out of the gate.

With that, Jones is obviously your running back. And you almost need a TE/H-back type in there to really threaten those defensive ends with a run option. Tonyan, Jamaal Williams and Mercedes are our three more polished blocking/Swiss army types.

Adams
MVS
Lizard
Tonyan/Jamaal/Mercedes/swerv
Jones

Tonyan has a traditional TE skillset

Mercedes has a blocking TE skill set with a little pass catching ability

Jamaal is unique, being he best pass blocking back in football, really opening up the passing game and allowing Jones to get some deep opportunities against linebackers. I also think he could run block like a FB if he ever had the chance, and might now with the deep stable of backs

Swerv is a different kind of Swiss Army knife. More like a Deebo Samuel type. That would put additional threat on the Vikings shallow cornerback group

I expect to see all four of our most experienced versatility players matched with the 3 WR sets. If the Vikings go small, I expect our tackles to lean on their pass rushers and wear them down with the run game. If they go a little bigger, I’d expect to see some matchup problems with really good pass catching backs on linebackers.

I have an idea what the packers have and some ideas of what the Vikings have. They’ll play around and see which matchups work best, but I think a heavy dose of 3WR sets is very likely in week 1

Danielle Hunter out!!! Might be able to line up and poke at those corners a little easier than we first thought!

It's time to find out whether last season was a fluke, or the beginning of a team that had become stale under McCarthy. MLF seems to be gaining favor with the players, who, as one beat writer said, see him more as a big brother than a mean parent, where they're always looking over their shoulders, afraid to make a mistake. Another year in the new system, Rodgers getting chippy because of the drafting of Love, and some improvement by the WR's could do wonders for this team. And if the defense can make some plays, and keep the games close, this could be another special season. This is the time for optimism- after they start playing, and especially if they don't look good, we'll have plenty of posters to chime in and be full of doom and gloom. I think they can start the season with a W, and build from there. I'm curious as to how the game will sound with no fans. Will the pumped in noise have to be constant, so neither team gets an advantage? Or can the home team lower the volume when they're on offense? Will the refs still be in "off season" mode? Will the play be sloppier with no exhibition season? Lots of questions, and we'll have some answers soon.

Vikes just put Danielle Hunter on IR. That's huge news for us-particularly the right side of the OL/Rodgers and the passing game. Maybe our opener won't be as tough now...

I agree but still worry about the quick Yannick Ngakoue. He has been an exceptional edge rusher for Jacksonville the last four years. It will be very interesting to see how our right tackle holds up. Zimmer always fields a good defense.

Now that Gary Kubiak is running the Minny offense I suspect it will look more like ours. Kubiak is a highly regarded coach who shares that Mike Shanahan lineage with Matt LaFleur

Rodgers talks to Pat McAfee on the opening day of his new home at Mad Dog Sports. I listened for a while, but the constant swearing turned me off, so I switched channels. Two major takeaways for me from the interview: first, Rodgers looks tired and thin. Maybe it's bad lighting or a bad angle, but the guy looks frail. Second thing is that AR brags on Jamaal Williams big time. Excellent! My favorite player- the guy who just does all the little things, and also is a very solid player.

I know the Vikes are the darlings of Peter King but we spank them and spank them hard. TDs for Adams, Lazard and Jones, and MVS has some nice plays. Cook and Cousins struggle to establish much against the Smith brothers.

30-17 final.

I expect a sloppy, low scoring game. Offense will look disjointed, defense should look fairly good. Playing at US Bank stadium would usually be a big advantage to the Queens, not so much with an empty stadium.

I think how Rodgers and that offense looked last season opening at Shitcago. Bulaga was on ice skates and the offense, who hadn't played at all in preseason, looked like a deer in headlights.

Granted, it's year 2 now but we're still talking about a team who hasn't played real football in 8 months.

Packers 13-Vikes 6

Who is playing CB for the Vikes? Doesn’t matter, Adams will burn them.

Rodgers is an efficient 17/24 for 250 yards, 2 TD

A. Jones solid ~20 carries, ~100 yards and 5 catches for 50 yards and a TD

Dillon dips his toe in the water on the goal line and trucks Harrison Smith for a TD

Adams has a field day going 12 catches for 160 yards and a TD

OLBs combine for 4 sacks

CBs combine for 2 INT

GB 24
MIN 13

Impossible to predict. There's no real indication of how this team has evolved in camp and what the offense really looks like. Minnesota has no secondary anymore, but that's made irrelevant since we only have one real WR, with 1 of the other 4 occasionally making big plays in-between drops. I suspect our running game is going to carry the day.

The last point of reference we have is the NFCC. We'll know mid-second quarter what this team is capable of. I think it's Kirk's game to lose, which is helpful, since our edge rushers should make him throw the ball backwards a few times again.

Rodgers is unspectacular as O-line is porous.

The Wrs can't get open and have a couple of drops.

MLF can't figure out which RB to use and how often.

Defense struggles to stop the Vikes rushing attack.

MLB continues to be a problem.

Opie gets carded trying to get to locker room before the game

Packers still win because....well, they're playing the Vikings.

Since I predicted there would be no games this year I must forfeit my right to predict.

Then again, there haven't been any games yet.

Pack in a sloppy squeaker.

You can't make many conclusions based on the first 2-3 weeks of the season. After that, if there are any scheme changes there is enough tape for other teams to react to. It will be even more true this year with nobody seeing practices and the fact there were no preseason games.

I think the Packers lose a close one. Dalvin Cook is healthy and makes a big difference. If the Packers win, it will be because they unleash a new power running game behind Dillon.

35-10, GB. For no other reason than I want GB to hit them and hit them hard. I don't know who's going to protect Rodgers on the right side, but I anticipate keeping a TE in and possibly a RB as well. But the Vikes have a very young secondary, their WRs are young, and in both cases, those are areas GB is strong in. Also, while MN has Cook, I think we use our new ThunderThighs to keep the sticks moving, and then Jones takes over. Rodgers does his Rodgers thing, the Smiths harass Cousins all day, and we win. The D is going to be ahead for every team as the O takes time to get timing and assignments sorted out.

Just a reminder the last time we played them there, they got SEVEN first downs, the lowest total for a Viking team in a home game since 1971. Sure, Cook wasn't playing but they had a third string running back who didn't run for 200 yards.

I think it's going to be a low scoring game that comes down to turnovers. Since we have Rodgers and they don't, 16-13 Packers.

I will expect to see our ILB's abused like a Walmart greeter.