The Green Bay Packers are 6-3-1 after narrowly escaping the upset-minded New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
This week, they’ll return home for the first of three straight division games and four out of the next five.
The Minnesota Vikings come to town this week, and they are reeling after a 19-17 loss at home to the Chicago Bears on a last-second field goal.
The Packers need to keep winning to keep pace with Detroit and Chicago in the division, as well as seeding for the NFC playoffs.
They need to find a win against Minnesota, too. The Packers have not won at Lambeau Field against Minnesota in the two years since Jordan Love took over as the starting quarterback.
If they’re going to do that, here are keys to Green Bay knocking off the Vikings.
1. Catch the Ball
This goes for both sides of the football. Last week, the Packers had seven drops on offense. Romeo Doubs led the way with three. Both tight ends, John Fitzpatrick and Luke Musgrave each had one. Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks both had one as well.
On defense, the Packers had plenty of opportunities to get their hands on errant Jameis Winston passes.
Keisean Nixon missed an opportunity at an interception. Carrington Valentine dropped two picks. Javon Bullard had an interception knocked away from him by Isaiah McDuffie.
All of those drops hurt in one way or another. Green Bay’s defensive backs need to start making more plays on the ball, and they’ll have an opportunity this week.
J.J. McCarthy has struggled this season and is willing to put the ball in harm’s way.
If he does, Green Bay needs to make the most of those opportunities.
2. Where’s the rest?
Micah Parsons is a one-man wrecking ball, but it’s pretty clear he needs some help from the rest of his friends up front.
Rashan Gary, Devonte Wyatt and the rest of the non-Parsons pass rushers have been mostly silent the last three weeks.
Parsons had 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Sunday’s win over the Giants. The other 0.5 sack came from McDuffie, who shared it with Parsons.
Minnesota’s offensive line has struggled this season. Their quarterbacks have been sacked 34 times in nine games.
This needs to be a get-right game for Green Bay’s pass rush ahead of a Thanksgiving Day showdown against Detroit.
3. LaFleur vs. Flores
Brian Flores is in his third season as Vikings defensive coordinator.
The first year he faced off against Matt LaFleur in that role, the two coaches split match-ups. Flores got the better of LaFleur at Lambeau Field, with LaFleur returning the favor against Flores at US Bank Stadium.
Last year, both match-ups went in favor of Flores. The Vikings shut Green Bay’s defense down until they led 28-0 in what turned into a 31-29 victory at Lambeau Field.
The second time the two teams met, Love and the passing offense did not find its way over the century mark until late in the third quarter.
Minnesota’s defense is not as prolific as it was a season ago, but they are still a good group that is coordinated by one of the league’s best.
With Green Bay’s offense struggling as it is, they’ll need their head coach to be at his best.
