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Football is officially back. Fresh off a 13-win season and an unexpected trip to the NFC title game, the Green Bay Packers will attempt to overcome a unique offseason and build off last season’s triumphs, with the final goal of playing one more game than last year.
The journey begins Sunday against the rival Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, the site of last season’s division-clinching win.
Here are five things to watch and a prediction for the Packers’ season-opener in Minnesota:
1. Contain Cook, and then attack?
The plan for the Packers defense looks fairly straightforward: Keep Dalvin Cook contained in the run game, and then go on the attack against Kirk Cousins. Without a doubt, the Vikings will test the Packers’ ability to handle the run game, especially after January’s disaster in San Francisco. But if the Packers can do enough on early downs and set up difficult passing situations, Mike Pettine’s hoard of rushers could feast, just like they did last December in Minneapolis. It’s all about earning pass-rushing opportunities. On obvious passing downs, the Packers – with Za’Darius Smith, Kenny Clark, Preston Smith and potentially even Rashan Gary – should have a huge advantage against the Vikings offensive line.
2. Explosive plays at WR
Packers coach Matt LaFleur talked at length this offseason about the offense creating more explosive plays in 2020. It starts Sunday against a Vikings defense that is loaded with stars, especially at linebacker and safety, but Mike Zimmer’s Death Star has a fairly obvious exhaust port. The Vikings rebuilt their cornerback position, swapping out Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes for Mike Hughes and Holton Hill and drafting Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler. Now it’s a really young group. In fact, the Vikings don’t have a cornerback over the age of 23. Enter Davante Adams, a three-time Pro Bowler who will test the young corners after ending the 2019 season on fire. The Packers also think Marquez Valdes-Scantling is improved and set up to have a big year as a secondary threat, and Allen Lazard had big games against both Gladney and Hill back in his Big 12 days. The running backs – especially Aaron Jones – are explosive play creators, but the Packers receivers will have opportunities for big plays if they can expose the inexperience of the Vikings corners.
3. Newly constructed offensive line
The Packers returned four of their five starters along the offensive line, but the group will likely look different to start 2020. Billy Turner, the starter at right guard last season, is dealing with a knee injury that could keep him out of Week 1. Lane Taylor has a real chance to start at right guard after playing in only two games last year, and former Raven and Lion Rick Wagner would likely be the top option at right tackle if Turner can’t go. Left tackle David Bakhtiari, left guard Elgton Jenkins and center Corey Linsley are back and could form a dominant trio, but the right side is a question mark. Regardless of the combination Matt LaFleur picks, the Vikings are talented upfront and will provide a big challenge for whoever is playing right guard and right tackle to open the season.
4. Shining secondary
Jerry Gray, the former Vikings assistant coach, returns to Minnesota as the position coach of a really talented young secondary. His group will be one to watch on Sunday. The Vikings traded away Stefon Diggs, eliminating a receiver who caught a touchdown pass in seven straight games against the Packers and easing the stress on Gray’s secondary. Adam Thielen remains and any individual matchup between Thielen and Jaire Alexander will be worth watching. They are both talented and hyper-competitive. Will the Packers shade coverage towards Thielen and force another receiver – such as Bisi Johnson or rookie Justin Johnson – to consistently beat single coverage? It’s just one way the Packers could approach the matchup. The Packers secondary has a chance to be elite in 2020, and they’ll get an opportunity to start with a bang in a favorable matchup on Sunday.
5. The underrated run game
Much of the attention going into this game will be centered around how the Packers handle Dalvin Cook and the Vikings run game, and rightfully so after the 49ers ran the ball down their throats at Levi’s Stadium in the NFC title game. Just don’t forget about the Packers’ run game. Aaron Jones rushed for over 100 yards in each meeting last season, including 154 in the division-clinching win in December, and the Vikings lost both Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph along the defensive line this offseason. The Packers have to feel good about getting Jones going again on Sunday. There’s certainly a chance the most impactful running back wearing No. 33 at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday will be the one wearing a gold helmet.
Prediction: Packers 23, Vikings 16 (0-0)
The Vikings might be favorites, but too many factors point the Packers’ way. Aaron Jones and Davante Adams could both have a big day considering their individual matchups, and the Packers’ unrelenting pass-rush may once again control the proceedings. Matt LaFleur’s team will escape a much quieter U.S. Bank Stadium with a huge division road win.
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