Vikings-Packers: What the Vikings must do

by MuskieVikesfan on Nov 9, 2011 12:59 PM CST

Five days from now, I, along with many other of my fellow Vikings fans, will be pumped for what is to come on Monday Night Football that night. The Minnesota Vikings (2-6) are traveling to Lambeau Field to try to contain the high-powered and undefeated Green Bay Packers (8-0). The Vikings-Packers rivalry will be renewed after just a three week break. The Packers prevailed in the last meeting 33-27 in Christian Ponder's first NFL start. On Monday, Ponder will be making his third NFL start and he will need to be mistake-free for the Vikes to have a chance at stealing one from Green Bay. This is just one of my keys to the game.

Slow Down Aaron Rodgers: There really hasn't been a team to successfully stop Aaron Rodgers this year, and I don't really know of a team that has even slowed him down. Rodgers is just too good. The guy has a mammoth passer rating and has 24 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions this year. The Vikings need to find some way to at least halt him from completing passes everywhere on the field and to whoever he wants. If Jared Allen and Brain Robison can bring pressure from the outside, that will at least make Rodgers think a little bit more. He torched us for 335 yards last game, and if he throws for under 300 on Monday night, I would consider that a success.

Ball Control: The time of possession battle will be huge for the Vikings on Monday. Anything to keep Rodgers on the sidelines would be nice. This means we need to be able to run the ball effectively. We have this running back named Adrian Peterson who isn't that bad I guess. He ran for 175 yards on 24 carries against the Packers in the October 23rd game, and another performance like that would really help. Converting third downs will also play a big factor in deciding the game. Ponder has been pretty good so far on third downs. Against Carolina he made some big plays and big throws on third down and we ultimately got the win. Ponder will need to be calm and have poise on third downs and make some big throws to keep our defense and the Packers' offense on the sideline.

Score a Bunch of Points: This is pretty obvious. After what I saw Sunday from Green Bay, the Vikings might need to score 50 points to beat the Packers. The Vikings were within one touchdown drive from Ponder away from stealing one from the Packers last time, which tells me that we can beat the Packers. Ponder will need to sustain quite a bit of long, methodical drives that result in touchdowns and not field goals. The offense will have to be clicking to keep up with the Packers.

Win the Turnover Battle: This is one of the toughest things to do against the Packers. At the dome, Ponder threw two interceptions to Charles Woodson that resulted in points for them. Ponder will need to limit his turnovers and Peterson will need to protect the ball so we don't make any costly turnovers. On defense, we need Jared Allen and Brian Robison to apply pressure on Rodgers and possibly force a bad throw or knock the ball loose.

Prediction: I know this is a Vikings blog, but I need to predict that the Packers will win this game. I am as much of a Viking fan as anyone who writes on DN, but the Packers are just too freaking good. The Vikings will keep it close, however, and it will come down to a big play late in the 4th quarter. The Packers will prevail at home in the end, 31-24.

That is all from me. On Monday Night, I will be sitting on my couch in front of the TV in anticipation for a great football game. I will be pulling for my Vikings to steal a game from the hated but undefeated Green Bay Packers, as will many of you reading this (if not all of you). Until then, I have two more words: Skol Vikings!

Poll

Who will win on Monday and by how much?

Vikings by 14+

9 votes

Vikings by 7-13

5 votes

Vikings by 1-6

54 votes

Packers by 14+

29 votes

Packers by 7-13

23 votes

Packers by 1-6

7 votes

Tie

3 votes

130 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Comments

Win in the trenches!!!

Pretty sure you’re not really onto anything with these “Keys to Victory”

I would prioritize ball control and turnover battle. TOP is probably the only thing the Vikings can do to limit Rodgers. Not turning the ball over is more important than forcing TO’s.

Special teams is going to be big in this game as well. Cobb is dangerous and the Vikes have several impact players on the various units.

by LoveHate on Nov 9, 2011 1:29 PM CST reply actions

Winning in the trenches

includes allen and robison getting pressure. Also, for Ponder to have success he will need to be protected

SKOL

by MuskieVikesfan on Nov 9, 2011 1:36 PM CST reply actions

ball control, run the ball, run the clock down, don't turn it over, keep rodgers off the field.

the packers will try to force ponder to throw outside the numbers or downfield. this will force his mistakes. so we need to call a lot of short quick stuff and designed roll outs for the medium range passes. i think the key is to complete a high percentage of 1st and second down passes this time and divesifiy the running attack by using adrian, percy, toby and booker all getting carries with 2 back sets that feature screens and swing passes.

all this to keep the chains moving slowly and chew up the clock as much as possible. and also, with their front seven, i think we can wear them down and start to make them pay in the fourth quarter.

also, i think we need to mix up the pressure on rodgers, with a combination of heavy pressure sometimes, with fake blitzes and dropping back into coverage on other times, just to try and be unpredictable. but, he is going to shred us, it’s a question of how much and how early.

one more thing, i think we need to take a few flags for roughing the passer and act like we just don’t care. screw the fines, make him hurt. that’s just my take on it.

warcraft, you are my guitar hero !!!

by danny lloyd on Nov 9, 2011 2:37 PM CST reply actions

Dude I agree espcially with last statment

Who said life was fair?
When I find that person I'll beat the hell out of him

by Vikant on Nov 9, 2011 4:19 PM CST up reply actions

No, no, no

That’s way to specific and detailed. I prefer broad, generalizing statements that do not have clear action items associated with them, like “end strong” or “manage the game well.” This way, I know if my advice is being used and I can guarantee we will win if it is.

In all seriousness, I think you’re right on all of those points. Rodgers has become quite good at identifying stunts and odd blitzes, as well as performing under pressure, but confusing the schema can only be a good thing, if our players are up to it (and no reason to think they wouldn’t be). Jared Allen is, incidentally, surprisingly good in coverage.

And that last sentence is just true. Sometimes, you just need to win.

by Arif Hasan on Nov 9, 2011 7:04 PM CST up reply actions

Vikes 31-17 SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

by cali viking on Nov 9, 2011 6:44 PM CST reply actions

What the Vikings must do?

Easy question. Score more points.

☠★☪Creator of http://skolnation.co.cc and dedicated DN reader.

by UnBannedVikingholic on Nov 9, 2011 7:29 PM CST reply actions

ball control

100% agree.

we also have to figure out how to fill the gaps in our zone coverage — they’ll pick at us all day if we don’t (though that seems to be the status quo against any team).

"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."

Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.

by rj-b on Nov 10, 2011 7:51 AM CST reply actions

My take...

The crowd is going to be off the chain…more so than usual. Inspired D on the Vike spart like they played the first halves of the first 3 games (geesh at that a summation) And Ponder and the offense come with it fast. We get 7 first and hold them till we get 14.
the crowd starts to wonder a bit if that magic 16-0 is bye bye. the momentium is waining.
The Vikes D continues to apply while Ponder burns Woodson with a pay back. Vikes 24 Pack 21 comes down to not enoough time left on the clock and a raggy ass pass defense intercepts Rodgers last pass attempt. Ponder is voted offensive player of the week and we get a week of crazy future perdictions about Ponder and the Vikings promising future. By mid week Dayton is using the win to support further opptimsium for a stadium proposal support. Kool aid drinkers that post here start saying playoffs yet this year. GO Vikes SKOLLLLL!

@}-----You've been Touched-----{@

by Velvetouch on Nov 10, 2011 12:16 PM CST reply actions

REVENGE4KOOLAID

warcraft, you are my guitar hero !!!

by danny lloyd on Nov 10, 2011 12:27 PM CST up reply actions

FLEE FLICKER

I’ve been saying it for 3 years. Give it to AP have him pitch it back and go long (Maybe even to Web) Does PONDER have the arm??? If he does if they call the play four times it is 3 TD’s bank on it.

by ZygiZag on Nov 10, 2011 8:35 PM CST reply actions

Keys to victory

Sleep, I think all the Vikes need there sleep before the big game. Maybe McNabb’s Mom can tuck them all in the night before the game.

Carbs, you got to carb up to make sure you have the energy for the game! McNabb’s Mom can help with the chunky soup on this one..

Clean underwear, honestly this just makes sense..

Not playing players who suck. We’ve gotten rid of a lot of weak links out there, there are a couple more (maybe a certain safety?)

The Gipper. Hey it worked for that team on the movie, if we can’t get the Gip then I’m for co-oping Rudy to come play for us for a down…

Score more points than they do by the end of the game..

Putting Ponder in isn't the question, it's the answer.

by Grime on Nov 11, 2011 1:20 PM CST reply actions

It's easy

we just need to borrow ..oh maybe the Bills secondary for the night
flatten "them’s"Oline
chase aaron out of bounds after a .5 yd gain
our Oline needs to dominate
and AP well he just needs to be AP
see nothin’ to it
Skol

A successful coach needs a patient wife, loyal dog, and great quarterback - and not necessarily in that order.
-- Bud Grant

by PurpleValhalla on Nov 13, 2011 11:52 AM CST reply actions