For the second straight week, the Green Bay Packers will be on the road to open up the 2016 NFL Season. In Week one, it was in the blistering heat as they took on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, in Week two, the Packers will take a short trip to face the Minnesota Vikings, a division rival. But this game is more than just a division rivalry. It’s Sunday Night Football and it’s the first game in Minnesota’s new billion-dollar arena, U.S Bank Stadium. And who better to christen the new stadium than the Packers?. Green Bay wants to have that win more than anyone else. Minnesota will be sick if they lose their home opener to the Cheeseheads. Below are Packers Week two keys to victory.
Green Bay Packers Week Two Keys to Victory
Stop Adrian Peterson
When it comes to playing Minnesota, there really has only been one game plan to consider: Stop Adrian Peterson. In the nine years since the former Oklahoma Sooner entered the NFL, countless teams have set out to achieve that goal. Few have had success and many have failed. The Packers have done both. At times, Green Bay has been torched by Peterson. Other times, and very few they are, Green Bay has not stopped but contained Peterson.
In his nine-year career with Minnesota Peterson has played in a total of 16 regular season games against the Packers, the equivalent of a full season. In those 16 games, Peterson has rushed for 1,760 yards on 334 carries (5.3 average) and tallied up 13 touchdowns. That means Peterson has averaged 110 yards per game against the Packers. Green Bay will have its hands full again this week as emotions will be high in U.S Bank stadium.
The Return of Eddie Lacy
The key to Green Bay’s success does not lie in Aaron Rodgers arm. It does however rely strictly on the running of Eddie Lacy. In the six games that Eddie Lacy has squared off against Minnesota, five of them were victories. In those victories Lacy rushed for at least 100 yards. The only time that Lacy did not crack the 100-yard mark, the Packers lost. It doesn’t take a mathematician or rocket scientist to see the winning formula here. Hand the ball off to Eddie Lacy and let him do what he does best.
By getting Lacy the ball early, Mike McCarthy‘s team will allow for the rest of the offense to open up and fall into place. Packer fans learned quickly last year the negative effect it has when your running back is non-existent. After a very publicized off-season workout, Lacy is looking to rebound from his worst year as a Green Bay Packer. Out rushing Adrian Peterson in the Vikings home opener sure would be a great start.
Packers Defensive Backfield Must Step Up With no Sam Shields
Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Shields was entered into the NFL’s concussion protocol immediately and the Packers organization has not released whether or not he will play on Sunday night against the Vikings. It is safe to say that he will most likely not. This will be Shields fourth concussion since entering the NFL, including a severe one that sidelined him for four games last December. This has become more than a week-to-week concern and is now becoming a question of his availability in the NFL. With more and more knowledge of the effects of concussions you have to wonder if this is it for the young corner out of the University of Miami.
With Shields out indefinitely, the Packers have to look to some really young talent to fill in for their most experienced corner. Behind Shields is second year player Damarious Randall, who is the only one with any true valuable experience as a starter. After Randall is Quinten Rollins, who played well in limited opportunities, but has still showed flashes of immaturity on coverage. Expect Randall and Rollins to assume the one and two positions.
After that it is a toss-up of who can assume the third and fourth position. Second-year player Ladarius Gunter looks like the man for the third spot due to the fact that he is next in line with experience. The fourth spot would go to undrafted rookie, Josh Hawkins, out of East Carolina. Hawkins is a raw talent filled with athleticism, much like Shields. But can Ted Thompson strike gold twice with another undrafted corner? Or will defensive backs coach Joe Whitt Jr. have to bring Micah Hyde into the equation? The questions will be answered on the field.
Conclusion
Luckily for the Packers, they won’t have to face off against quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Instead they will face former number one overall pick, Sam Bradford, who was recently joined the Vikings via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Bradford has two career starts against Green Bay. In those starts the former Sooner has thrown for 583 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Expect for the Packers defense to bring the pressure.
Minnesota’s offense isn’t the worry of the NFL. Instead, it is their defense who has been turning heads over the past 10 games. And they kicked off 2016 right where they left off with two defensive touchdowns against the Tennessee Titans last Sunday. If Green Bay gets down early it could end up being a long night for the Cheeseheads in Minnesota. If Minnesota gets down early, expect for some Minnesota fans to actually turn purple.
Prediction
Packers: 33, Vikings: 24
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