Rastak
11-10-2007, 07:38 AM
Why To Watch
While both teams are coming off of victories, the Packers are in position to take a big lead in the NFC North and the Vikings are just trying to put back-to-back wins together for the first time this season. Minnesota had an impressive win versus a solid San Diego club by running the ball and stopping the run effectively. While the Packers came from behind in hostile territory to get a fourth quarter victory. Look for this NFC North contest to be a hard fought battle between two teams that have a long history in the league.
When the Vikings have the ball
Rushing: The Minnesota ground attack is one of the most explosive in the league led by rookie RB Adrian Peterson. The Vikings' offensive line is impressive opening holes for their backs as they ran rough shot over a solid Chargers defense. Chester Taylor and Peterson averaged 9.1 yards per carry in Week 9 with inside isolation plays and off-tackle power schemes. Look for Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and head coach Brad Childress to force feed the running game with a variety of zone-blocking schemes to set up the play-action passing game.
The Packers' defense is one of the best in the league and it holds opponent's ground attacks to 94 yards per game. Defensive coordinator BobSanders uses a base 4-3 scheme up front on early downs and running situations. Sanders likes to pressure offenses by using eight men in the box, interior stunts and zone-run blitzes. It's likely that the Packers will over play Peterson and the Vikings' impressive ground attack, while trying to force the game into the hand of Brooks Bollinger, Kelly Holcomb or Tavaris Jackson. Green Bay will play press-man coverage on the perimeter and crowd the line of scrimmage with its safeties.
Passing: Minnesota's air attack has been less than impressive while only marking up 152 yards per contest with three different signal callers. As good as the Vikings are at running the ball they are equally as bad at moving the chains through the air. However, the Vikings are not with out at least serviceable targets in wide receivers Bobby Wade, Sidney Rice and Troy Williamson along with Peterson showing his skills as a receiver out of the backfield. Childress likes to use a variety of sets using multiple tight ends or wide receivers to attack all levels of the field. Williamson and Rice have excellent speed to stretch deep zones with fade and post patterns and the Vikings may take more shots downfield, if the Packers' safeties vacate the middle of the field. It's vital that Minnesota is able to move the chains somewhat through the air to keep the Packers' defense honest.
Most defenses challenge the Vikings' offense to beat them through the air as their signal callers have not thrown at a high completion percentage. Sanders will drop eight or blitz seven when in passing situations and is likely to use more pressure packages versus this marginal passing attack of the Vikings.
When the Packers have the ball
Rushing: Green Bay's ground game has been by committee for the most part in 2007. The Packers are one of the few teams that can win without a balanced offensive attack. Marking up an average of 72 yards per contest is something that head coach McCarthy is concerned about and wants to improve on, but may not force it versus a stout Vikings defense.
Minnesota is outstanding defending the run and is poor defending the pass, so running backs Ryan Grant, Vernand Morency and Brandon Jackson may have their fewest carries of the year in Week 10. All three backs run hard, but are not special at eluding defenders on the second level, but Grant appears to have impressed the coaches the most with his consistent running style.
Minnesota's defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has two of the better interior defenders in the league in Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. With their strength and athleticism the other front seven defenders are free to run inside-out to the ball. The Vikings' 4-3 scheme rarely puts an extra man in the box to stymie opponent's ground game, but will use stunts and twists to keep offensive lines off balance. Don't look for big numbers from a marginal rushing attack versus a top run defense.
Passing: Green Bay's air attack is led by one of the most-decorated signal callers in NFL history. Brett Favre has bounced back from a couple of sub-par seasons to carry the Packers' offense on his back. The Packers use a mixture of the West Coast passing game with vertical routes to stretch opponent's coverage. Favre has averaged 290 yards per contest and he has been excellent at spreading the ball to several targets. Nine-year veteran Donald Driver, rookie James Jones and speedster Greg Jennings have been the top perimeter receivers for Favre, while TE Donald Lee has shown his effectiveness with crossing and seam patterns.
The Vikings are a poor defensive unit versus the pass, but they are decent at pressuring the quarterback. The Vikings have eight interceptions thus far, but their coverage defenders tend to give up too many big plays through he air. Favre is the best at reading coverages and going to his second and third options. He has been more patient this season and hasn't forced the ball as much marking up only eight interceptions along with 13 touchdowns. This appears to be a lopsided challenge for the Minnesota defense, so it's likely and that Frazier will use a few wrinkles in coverage coupled with a pressure package to get Favre out of his comfort zone.
Special Teams
The Vikings and the Packers have similar attributes with their special teams. Both cover well for the most part and the kicking and punting duties have very capable players at their respective positions. Minnesota punter Chris Kluwe has a solid leg and is one of the best at pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. Place kicker Ryan Longwell hits 79 percent of his attempts, but is noticeably better in the dome. Bobby Wade is sure-handed as the Vikings' punt returner but hasn't been explosive enough to change field position. Williamson and Peterson can both make a play returning kickoffs, but it's unlikely that Peterson will continue to do much returning due to his load from the line of scrimmage.
Packers punter Jon Ryan has been solid and shows excellent leg strength. Rookie place kicker Mason Crosby has hit several big kicks for Green Bay and is comfortable under pressure. Plus, veteran defensive back Charles Woodson is sure-handed fielding punts, but is not explosive with the ball in his hands. Tramon Williams runs kickoffs back with courage and vision to hit a crease.
Can the Vikings win on the road without an effective passing game?
Minnesota is coming off an impressive win over San Diego, but did not pass the ball well. That game was at home in the Metrodome and things will be much tougher this week against a salty Green Bay defense that is yielding only 94 yards per contest on the ground. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders will crowd the line of scrimmage to stop rookie phenom Adrian Peterson and put the pressure on the Vikings' marginal passing attack. The Packers are solid defending the pass but have given up some chunks of yards through the air. Green Bay can pressure the quarterback well (23 sacks), so it's likely that Brad Childress will use the quick passing game (three step drop) to move the chains through the air. I don't believe Minnesota can win on the road with just a ground attack as it did in Week 9. If it passes for just 158 yards like it did against San Diego, Minnesota won't beat the Packers. It's unlikely the quarterback carrousel that Minnesota has gone to in 2007 will mount an effective passing game. If Childress can mix in enough high percentage passes and stretch the field a few times early in the contest, it may get the Green Bay defense out of overplaying Peterson and give them a chance for balance and an unlikely victory.
Can the Packers continue to win games without an effective ground attack?
The Packers are one of the worst rushing teams in the league, but have marked up an impressive 7-1 record. The weather is about to turn bad in the second half of the season and Green Bay will have to establish the ability to move the chains on the ground to go far into the postseason. Green Bay has great concerns about becoming more balanced on offense but it's unlikely that offensive coordinator Joe Philbin or head coach Mike McCarthy will force feed the running game Sunday. It would be a poor decision to force the worst part of your team against the strong suit of your opponent. The Vikings are outstanding at defending the run, yielding only 70 yards per contest. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is likely to use more nickel and dime packages on early downs to slow down the explosive Packers air attack. Minnesota is poor at defending the pass and this should play right into future Hall of Famer Brett Favre's hands. No, the Packers can't continue to win games without an effective ground attack, but it can get a victory at home against a struggling unit defending the pass.
Can the Minnesota secondary slow down the explosive air attack of the Green Bay Packers?
Minnesota does have eight interceptions, but that number is a bit misleading as most opponents put the ball in the air more often against the Vikings due to their outstanding run defense and poor pass defense. Minnesota has been solid at pressuring the quarterback with a respectable 19 sacks but coverage defenders have given up too many big plays. This defense is designed to stop the run and tends to overplay their opponent's ground attack. The front seven for the Minnesota defense is impressive led by Pat and Kevin Williams in the middle. Most of the secondary is experienced and solid run supporters, but haven't made enough plays verse the pass. The Vikings count on an effective ground attack to keep the ball away form their opponents, but if Favre gets many opportunities, it could get ugly. The base Vikings coverage schemes (mostly two deep man and zone approach with a mixture of blitz man wrinkles) in unlikely to stop Favre and his stable of perimeter playmakers. With tight end Donald Lee having his best season as a short and intermediate receiver and perimeter targets Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones becoming one of the top trios in the league, the Vikings defense will have to use more coverage defenders (nickel and dime packages) to have a chance to slow down this offense.
Scouts' Edge
The Scouts Inc. Position Advantage
QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST Coach
Both teams are coming off impressive victories and Green Bay is positioning itself for a big second-half run while Minnesota is just trying to get back to back wins for the first time this season. The Vikings have struggled to mount a consistent passing game but have an outstanding ground attack. The Packers are less than impressive running the ball but have an explosive passing game. Though the Packers are very young, they appear to have more leadership and experience at key positions. The bottom line is that Green Bay is a better football team with a balanced defense and a Hall of Fame quarterback that is playing at a new high level of efficiency. If the Vikings can move the chains some in the air, it would balance them up and make it a good contest in the forth quarter, but it's unlikely that Minnesota will get a victory on the road.
Prediction: Packers 23, Vikings 17
While both teams are coming off of victories, the Packers are in position to take a big lead in the NFC North and the Vikings are just trying to put back-to-back wins together for the first time this season. Minnesota had an impressive win versus a solid San Diego club by running the ball and stopping the run effectively. While the Packers came from behind in hostile territory to get a fourth quarter victory. Look for this NFC North contest to be a hard fought battle between two teams that have a long history in the league.
When the Vikings have the ball
Rushing: The Minnesota ground attack is one of the most explosive in the league led by rookie RB Adrian Peterson. The Vikings' offensive line is impressive opening holes for their backs as they ran rough shot over a solid Chargers defense. Chester Taylor and Peterson averaged 9.1 yards per carry in Week 9 with inside isolation plays and off-tackle power schemes. Look for Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and head coach Brad Childress to force feed the running game with a variety of zone-blocking schemes to set up the play-action passing game.
The Packers' defense is one of the best in the league and it holds opponent's ground attacks to 94 yards per game. Defensive coordinator BobSanders uses a base 4-3 scheme up front on early downs and running situations. Sanders likes to pressure offenses by using eight men in the box, interior stunts and zone-run blitzes. It's likely that the Packers will over play Peterson and the Vikings' impressive ground attack, while trying to force the game into the hand of Brooks Bollinger, Kelly Holcomb or Tavaris Jackson. Green Bay will play press-man coverage on the perimeter and crowd the line of scrimmage with its safeties.
Passing: Minnesota's air attack has been less than impressive while only marking up 152 yards per contest with three different signal callers. As good as the Vikings are at running the ball they are equally as bad at moving the chains through the air. However, the Vikings are not with out at least serviceable targets in wide receivers Bobby Wade, Sidney Rice and Troy Williamson along with Peterson showing his skills as a receiver out of the backfield. Childress likes to use a variety of sets using multiple tight ends or wide receivers to attack all levels of the field. Williamson and Rice have excellent speed to stretch deep zones with fade and post patterns and the Vikings may take more shots downfield, if the Packers' safeties vacate the middle of the field. It's vital that Minnesota is able to move the chains somewhat through the air to keep the Packers' defense honest.
Most defenses challenge the Vikings' offense to beat them through the air as their signal callers have not thrown at a high completion percentage. Sanders will drop eight or blitz seven when in passing situations and is likely to use more pressure packages versus this marginal passing attack of the Vikings.
When the Packers have the ball
Rushing: Green Bay's ground game has been by committee for the most part in 2007. The Packers are one of the few teams that can win without a balanced offensive attack. Marking up an average of 72 yards per contest is something that head coach McCarthy is concerned about and wants to improve on, but may not force it versus a stout Vikings defense.
Minnesota is outstanding defending the run and is poor defending the pass, so running backs Ryan Grant, Vernand Morency and Brandon Jackson may have their fewest carries of the year in Week 10. All three backs run hard, but are not special at eluding defenders on the second level, but Grant appears to have impressed the coaches the most with his consistent running style.
Minnesota's defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has two of the better interior defenders in the league in Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. With their strength and athleticism the other front seven defenders are free to run inside-out to the ball. The Vikings' 4-3 scheme rarely puts an extra man in the box to stymie opponent's ground game, but will use stunts and twists to keep offensive lines off balance. Don't look for big numbers from a marginal rushing attack versus a top run defense.
Passing: Green Bay's air attack is led by one of the most-decorated signal callers in NFL history. Brett Favre has bounced back from a couple of sub-par seasons to carry the Packers' offense on his back. The Packers use a mixture of the West Coast passing game with vertical routes to stretch opponent's coverage. Favre has averaged 290 yards per contest and he has been excellent at spreading the ball to several targets. Nine-year veteran Donald Driver, rookie James Jones and speedster Greg Jennings have been the top perimeter receivers for Favre, while TE Donald Lee has shown his effectiveness with crossing and seam patterns.
The Vikings are a poor defensive unit versus the pass, but they are decent at pressuring the quarterback. The Vikings have eight interceptions thus far, but their coverage defenders tend to give up too many big plays through he air. Favre is the best at reading coverages and going to his second and third options. He has been more patient this season and hasn't forced the ball as much marking up only eight interceptions along with 13 touchdowns. This appears to be a lopsided challenge for the Minnesota defense, so it's likely and that Frazier will use a few wrinkles in coverage coupled with a pressure package to get Favre out of his comfort zone.
Special Teams
The Vikings and the Packers have similar attributes with their special teams. Both cover well for the most part and the kicking and punting duties have very capable players at their respective positions. Minnesota punter Chris Kluwe has a solid leg and is one of the best at pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. Place kicker Ryan Longwell hits 79 percent of his attempts, but is noticeably better in the dome. Bobby Wade is sure-handed as the Vikings' punt returner but hasn't been explosive enough to change field position. Williamson and Peterson can both make a play returning kickoffs, but it's unlikely that Peterson will continue to do much returning due to his load from the line of scrimmage.
Packers punter Jon Ryan has been solid and shows excellent leg strength. Rookie place kicker Mason Crosby has hit several big kicks for Green Bay and is comfortable under pressure. Plus, veteran defensive back Charles Woodson is sure-handed fielding punts, but is not explosive with the ball in his hands. Tramon Williams runs kickoffs back with courage and vision to hit a crease.
Can the Vikings win on the road without an effective passing game?
Minnesota is coming off an impressive win over San Diego, but did not pass the ball well. That game was at home in the Metrodome and things will be much tougher this week against a salty Green Bay defense that is yielding only 94 yards per contest on the ground. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders will crowd the line of scrimmage to stop rookie phenom Adrian Peterson and put the pressure on the Vikings' marginal passing attack. The Packers are solid defending the pass but have given up some chunks of yards through the air. Green Bay can pressure the quarterback well (23 sacks), so it's likely that Brad Childress will use the quick passing game (three step drop) to move the chains through the air. I don't believe Minnesota can win on the road with just a ground attack as it did in Week 9. If it passes for just 158 yards like it did against San Diego, Minnesota won't beat the Packers. It's unlikely the quarterback carrousel that Minnesota has gone to in 2007 will mount an effective passing game. If Childress can mix in enough high percentage passes and stretch the field a few times early in the contest, it may get the Green Bay defense out of overplaying Peterson and give them a chance for balance and an unlikely victory.
Can the Packers continue to win games without an effective ground attack?
The Packers are one of the worst rushing teams in the league, but have marked up an impressive 7-1 record. The weather is about to turn bad in the second half of the season and Green Bay will have to establish the ability to move the chains on the ground to go far into the postseason. Green Bay has great concerns about becoming more balanced on offense but it's unlikely that offensive coordinator Joe Philbin or head coach Mike McCarthy will force feed the running game Sunday. It would be a poor decision to force the worst part of your team against the strong suit of your opponent. The Vikings are outstanding at defending the run, yielding only 70 yards per contest. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is likely to use more nickel and dime packages on early downs to slow down the explosive Packers air attack. Minnesota is poor at defending the pass and this should play right into future Hall of Famer Brett Favre's hands. No, the Packers can't continue to win games without an effective ground attack, but it can get a victory at home against a struggling unit defending the pass.
Can the Minnesota secondary slow down the explosive air attack of the Green Bay Packers?
Minnesota does have eight interceptions, but that number is a bit misleading as most opponents put the ball in the air more often against the Vikings due to their outstanding run defense and poor pass defense. Minnesota has been solid at pressuring the quarterback with a respectable 19 sacks but coverage defenders have given up too many big plays. This defense is designed to stop the run and tends to overplay their opponent's ground attack. The front seven for the Minnesota defense is impressive led by Pat and Kevin Williams in the middle. Most of the secondary is experienced and solid run supporters, but haven't made enough plays verse the pass. The Vikings count on an effective ground attack to keep the ball away form their opponents, but if Favre gets many opportunities, it could get ugly. The base Vikings coverage schemes (mostly two deep man and zone approach with a mixture of blitz man wrinkles) in unlikely to stop Favre and his stable of perimeter playmakers. With tight end Donald Lee having his best season as a short and intermediate receiver and perimeter targets Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones becoming one of the top trios in the league, the Vikings defense will have to use more coverage defenders (nickel and dime packages) to have a chance to slow down this offense.
Scouts' Edge
The Scouts Inc. Position Advantage
QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST Coach
Both teams are coming off impressive victories and Green Bay is positioning itself for a big second-half run while Minnesota is just trying to get back to back wins for the first time this season. The Vikings have struggled to mount a consistent passing game but have an outstanding ground attack. The Packers are less than impressive running the ball but have an explosive passing game. Though the Packers are very young, they appear to have more leadership and experience at key positions. The bottom line is that Green Bay is a better football team with a balanced defense and a Hall of Fame quarterback that is playing at a new high level of efficiency. If the Vikings can move the chains some in the air, it would balance them up and make it a good contest in the forth quarter, but it's unlikely that Minnesota will get a victory on the road.
Prediction: Packers 23, Vikings 17