The Green Bay Packers will host the Minnesota Vikings at noon Sunday in the first of three consecutive NFC North contests.
More on that in our weekly six pack.
1. Division Dominance
The Packers used to be automatic at home in the division. That was especially true when Aaron Rodgers was the quarterback.
Since Jordan Love took over, however, that has not been the case.
Coming into the year, the Packers are 1-5 at home against divisional opponents.
This year, they scored a big win over the Detroit Lions on opening weekend.
The Packers have never won at home against Minnesota since Love took over.
The Packers were not particularly close in either contest. The final score was 31-29 in last year’s loss at home, but the team trailed 28-0 before they started doing anything of substance on offense.
Love’s first start against Minnesota was an ugly 24-10 loss.
They’ll need to reverse that trend on Sunday.
2. Kevin O’Connell
Much like the Packers reversal of fortune in division play, that has been the case against opposing coaches as well.
Kevin O’Connell is 4-2 against Matt LaFleur in the three years since he took over as Minnesota’s head coach in 2022.
Of his four wins against LaFleur, three have been by multiple scores.
LaFleur needs to flip that script starting this Sunday.
3. New QB
O’Connell has only been in Minnesota for three full seasons, with this year being his fourth.
J.J. McCarthy will be the fourth starting quarterback O’Connell has had against the Packers.
McCarthy has struggled this season and is coming off an ugly performance against Chicago. He did throw a go-ahead touchdown with 50 seconds left in the game, but apart from that, he has really struggled.
Minnesota could be evaluating its quarterback position further at season’s end.
4. Identity Shift?
Josh Jacobs left last week’s win over the New York Giants with a knee injury that could keep him out of Sunday’s game against Minnesota.
If that is the case, the Packers may have to shift some of their priorities on offense. Their identity has surrounded Jacobs and being physical in the run game.
Now, with Jacobs potentially sidelined, the next man up is Emanuel Wilson.
Wilson has been admirable in spot duty this year, but he has never been asked to be the primary ball carrier.
Could that lead to LaFleur leaning further into his passing game led by his franchise quarterback?
5. He’s Back
Christian Watson has been a big-play machine whenever he has been healthy.
The further removed he gets from last season’s ACL injury, the better he seems to look.
Watson had one drop on a potential big play in Sunday’s win over the Giants but otherwise was excellent.
He displayed strong hands on a touchdown pass from Malik Willis for Green Bay’s first score of the game.
That was his first catch.
His last one was a game-winning 17-yard touchdown where he skied over a Giants defensive back. Watson is the team’s biggest big-play threat, and they need to continue to keep him involved.
6. Big Plays Coming?
The Packers finally caught an interception to end last week’s game against the Giants with Evan Williams taking the ball away and saving Green Bay’s bacon at the end of the game.
That was the fifth ball that touched a Green Bay defensive back’s hands on the day.
Jameis Winston is known for putting the ball in harm’s way, and after spending the day begging for a Packers’ defensive back to intercept a pass, Williams finally obliged.
McCarthy is similar in putting the ball in dangerous spots. He has six interceptions in four starts this season. He’s turned the ball over in every game he has started.
The Packers’ defense needs to start taking the ball away more. Perhaps a follow-up from Winston against McCarthy will be just what the doctor ordered.
