Green Bay Packers Vs. Minnesota Vikings: Who Has The Edge?

A big reason the Green Bay Packers went 13-3 overall and won the NFC North in 2019 was a perfect 6-0 record inside the division. That included a convincing 23-10 win at Minnesota in Week 16.

The Vikings finished second in the division with a 10-6 mark, but after a busy offseason, are considered slight favorites to win the NFC North in 2020.

The Packers travel to Minnesota Sunday at noon (CST) in the season-opener for both teams. The Vikings are a 2.5-point favorite.

Here’s a look at each positional group and which team has the edge.

QUARTERBACKS

Aaron Rodgers is coming off three straight mediocre seasons, which is why Green Bay drafted Jordan Love in April to be his heir apparent.

Rodgers’ passer rating in 2019 was 95.4, his third-lowest since becoming a starter in 2008. His completion percentage (62.0%) and yards per attempt (7.0) were also the second-lowest in that time.

Rodgers has reached four NFC Championship games in his career and has played poorly in all four. Green Bay was held scoreless in the first half of last year’s conference title game as Rodgers had two huge turnovers and the Packers dug themselves a 27-0 hole.

Rodgers will be in his second year with head coach Matt LaFleur, and should be extremely motivated following the Packers’ selection of Love. Rodgers was also extremely sharp this summer, leading many to predict he’s set for a big year.

“I’ve been watching Aaron for way too many years and, you know, some of the things he does I just have to stop the tape and it kind of takes your breath away,” Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said.

Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins had the best season of his eight-year career in 2019, throwing for 3,603 yards, 26 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also finished with a stellar passer rating of 107.4.

Cousins has often been criticized for an inability to win big games. But he led the Vikings to an impressive win at New Orleans in the wild card round of the playoffs last year.

ADVANTAGE: Packers

RUNNING BACKS

Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook is one of the NFL’s most dynamic running backs and signed a five-year, $63 million contract extension Saturday.

Cook finished last season with 1,135 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns and 1,654 total yards.

“You know, he’s a hard runner. He’s a guy that can break tackles, especially if you tackle high,” Packers inside linebacker Christian Kirksey said of Cook. “He has a high motor, he can take it the distance — especially if he gets to the second level.”

Green Bay’s Aaron Jones is looking for a new contract himself and could get a big deal if he can match his 2019 production. Jones tied for the NFL lead in rushing touchdowns (16) and total touchdowns (19) last year, ran for 1,084 yards and finished second on the team with 49 receptions.

No. 2 Jamaal Williams is the only player in Packer history to register 400-plus rushing yards and 200-plus receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons. Rookie A.J. Dillon, a 247-pounder with 4.53 speed, also figures to get some work.

ADVANTAGE: Even

RECEIVERS

Minnesota’s passing offense begins and ends with Adam Thielen. In 2017-18, Thielen caught 204 passes for 2,649 yards and made a pair of Pro Bowls. He then battled a hamstring injury throughout 2019 and finished with just 30 receptions.

“He makes plays all over the place,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Thielen. “I think he’s extremely competitive. He can get off the line, he can make contested catches, he can separate. I think he’s one of the better receivers in the National Football League.”

The Vikings traded Pro Bowl wideout Steffon Diggs this offseason and are still looking for his replacement.

Rookie first round pick Justin Jefferson was a dynamic slot receiver at LSU and should make an immediate contribution. Tough, physical Bisi Johnson and free agent acquisition Tajae Sharpe will also factor in.

Veteran Kyle Rudolph (39-367-6) and second-year man Irv Smith Jr. (36-311-2) give the Vikings a solid duo at tight end.

Green Bay’s Davante Adams was the NFL’s only player with 70-plus receptions and 10-plus touchdown receptions each season from 2016-18. Then, despite missing four games in 2019, Adams led the Packers with 83 catches for 997 yards (12.0) and five touchdowns.

Allen Lazard, who finished last season with 35 receptions for 477 yards and three touchdowns, grew into Green Bay’s No. 2 wideout a year ago. Holdovers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown will be asked to do more.

ADVANTAGE: Even

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Vikings have some concerns up front.

Second-year center Garrett Bradbury, the 18^th overall pick in the 2019 draft, has Pro Bowl potential. But Bradbury struggled in pass protection last season and Pro Football Focus ranked him last among centers in pass-blocking.

Left tackle Riley Reiff has been so-so since coming over in free agency from Detroit in 2017, while right tackle Brian O’Neill is an athletic zone blocker who’s been a standout in pass blocking.

The biggest problem comes at guard. Minnesota released Josh Kline — its top guard a year ago — this offseason in a cost-cutting move.

Pat Elflein — a bust at both center and guard his first three years — gets the first crack at right guard. Left guard Dakota Dozier — who’s never played more than 351 snaps in a season during his first six years in the league — will start at left guard.

Green Bay has four above average starters in left tackle David Bakhtiari, left guard Elgton Jenkins, center Corey Linsley and right guard Lane Taylor. The Packers’ right tackle spot is up in the air, though, as preferred starter Billy Turner is expected to miss the game with a knee injury.

Green Bay’s choices are moving Jenkins to right tackle and starting Lucas Patrick at left guard, or inserting underwhelming veteran Rick Wagner at right tackle.

“We’ve definitely been using different people in certain areas just to make sure we have our bases covered,” Packers offensive line coach Adam Stenavich said of his offensive line.

ADVANTAGE: Packers

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Vikings’ defensive line has been the strength of Mike Zimmer’s teams in Minnesota. It’s unlikely that will be the case in 2020.

Standout end Danielle Hunter — who became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 50.0 sacks — was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury on Wednesday. He’ll be replaced Ifeadi Odenigbo, who has seven sacks in his first three seasons.

Yannick Ngakoue, who was acquired in a trade with Jacksonville on Aug. 31, is one of the top, young defensive ends in football. Ngakoue has 37.5 sacks in his first four years, including 12.0 in 2017 when he made the Pro Bowl.

“He came in with a sense of swagger to him and the way he practiced every day was unbelievable,” said Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who held that same position in Jacksonville from 2016-18 when Ngakoue was also there. “He was full speed, all go, nonstop.

“I mean he was a dynamic guy real early and everybody had their head on a swivel when he was out there. He did a great job fighting for his job and earned it and earned it the right way and then obviously took advantage of his opportunity and look where he is now. He’s a very good player and he was good right out of the gate.”

Minnesota’s tackle tandem of Shamar Stephen and Jaleel Johnson is mediocre, at best.

The Packers have a terrific nose tackle in Kenny Clark and a solid defensive end in Dean Lowry, but not much else.

Clark equaled his career-high with 6.0 sacks last year. And according to Pro Football Focus, Clark’s 62 pressures trailed only Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams (80) among nose tackles. Lowry was respectable against the run, but didn’t have a sack in 2019.

ADVANTAGE: Even

LINEBACKERS

Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks has led the Vikings in tackles for five straight years. Kendricks, a rock in the middle of Minnesota’s defense, had his best year in 2019 when he was named first-team all-Pro.

“I think Eric has had a fantastic career,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said of Kendricks. “He’s around the ball. He’s good in coverage. He’s a really smart, sure tackler.”

Anthony Barr signed a five-year, $67.5 million deal to stay with Minnesota in 2019, but wasn’t as productive as past seasons. Weakside linebacker Eric Wilson was solid as a first-time starter in 2019.

The Packers return one of the NFL’s better outside linebacking duos in Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith.

Za’Darius Smith finished sixth in the league with 13.5 sacks last year, led the NFL with 93 pressures and tied for the league lead with 37 quarterback hits. Preston Smith finished eighth in the league with 12.0 sacks and had four games with at least 1.5 sacks.

The Smiths became just the second duo in Packer history to notch double digit sacks in the same season.

“We feel like if you’re going to mention duos, you should mention the Smith Bros,” Preston Smith said. “Because we cause havoc out there every week. We’re going to come out and keep on improving, keep on doing our thing, and take it to another level this year.”

Second-year outside linebacker Rashan Gary also appears poised to have a breakout year, while veteran Christian Kirksey will anchor the inside linebacker group.

ADVANTAGE: Packers

SECONDARY

Green Bay’s secondary held opposing quarterbacks to a paltry passer rating of 81.1 last year, which was the sixth-best mark in football. Opposing quarterbacks also completed just 59.7% of their throws, which ranked third in the league.

Cornerback Jaire Alexander, a first-round draft pick in 2018, tied for fourth in the league with 17 passes defensed and had two interceptions last year. Cornerback Kevin King, a second-round draft pick in 2017, tied for fourth in the league with five interceptions.

Free safety Darnell Savage has Pro Bowl ability, while veteran strong safety Adrian Amos, brings leadership and stability to the group.

“I feel like on the edges, you know, we’ve got two very, very good corners in this league, two of the better corners in this league,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And I feel the same way about our safeties.”

Minnesota’s safety tandem of Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris is among the best in football. Smith has made five straight Pro Bowls, while Pro Football Focus ranked Harris the NFL’s best safety in 2019.

“Yeah, that helps a lot,” Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said of having veteran safeties. “We’ve got two really smart safeties.”

The Vikings are starting over at cornerback, though, as their top three corners from 2019 — Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes and Mackensie Alexander — are gone.

Mike Hughes, a first-round pick in 2018, will be asked to anchor the group. Talented Holton Hill, who was suspended eight games in 2019 for performing-enhancing substances and substances of abuse, will also take on a greater role. But considering Hill has encountered trouble at every step of his football life, that’s risky business.

Jeff Gladney, a first-round draft pick from TCU, will also factor in immediately.

ADVANTAGE: Packers

SPECIAL TEAMS

Green Bay ranked 26^th in the NFL special teams rankings compiled by Rick Gosselin after the 2019 season. It was a jump from 32^nd the previous year, but still a disappointing performance.

Kicker Mason Crosby made a career-best 91.7% of his field goals (22-of-24) and drilled game-winning field goals against Detroit on two occasions. Second-year punter JK Scott had a disappointing year, ranking 27^th in gross average (44.0) and 24^th in net (39.9). Tyler Ervin gave the return units a boost after being signed late in the season.

“We know we’ve got a threat back there that can take it the distance at any time,” Packers special teams coach Shawn Mennenga said of Ervin. “So, we’re excited about him.”

Vikings kicker Dan Bailey (27-of-29 last year) and punter Britton Colquitt (eighth in net at 42.6) rank among the best in football at their position. Veteran Ameer Abdullah was solid on kick returns last year (25.0), while rookie fifth-round draft pick K.J. Osborn takes over the punt return duties.

ADVANTAGE: Vikings

COACHING

Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer began his coaching career in 1979 as a defensive assistant at Missouri. Later that same year, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was born.

Zimmer, the longest-tenured coach in the NFC North, is 57-38-1 with the Vikings and has gone 2-3 in the postseason. Zimmer, a longtime defensive coordinator before coming to Minnesota, is viewed as a wizard on that side of the ball.

LaFleur went 13-3 as a rookie head coach in 2019. That was the highest winning percentage (.813) ever by a first-year coach in Green Bay.

ADVANTAGE: Even

Prediction: Packers 27, Vikings 20

Last year’s record: 14-4