Game 15: Packers @ Vikings - Monday, December 23, 7:15pm

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I think the Packers deserve some respect at this point. Last night was a game they should've been exposed and they weren't. Going on the road in an all-the-marbles game, fumbling inside the 25 on the opening drive and handing over (what should have been) a 7-0 lead, as well as kicking off to start the 2nd half. Turn the ball over 3x and still not only find a way to win, but play the entire game is pretty good standing. At this point the offense is what it is, league average. But if both lines play that well they're going to be really hard to beat, especially at home.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Winning the field position battle was huge yesterday in hiding that. It's big for this offense when they start 25 yards away from FG range and 60 yards from the endzone as opposed to starting deep in our own territory.

 

It's big for any offense to consistently start at or beyond its own 40 - both the defense AND special teams have been better over the past several weeks at improving field position, which is critical for January football in the cold...great to see!

 

As for the offense, getting that consistency particularly with downfield throws 15+ yards past the line of scrimmage depends a ton on #12 playing better. Both his accuracy and decision-making have been questionable at best, and it seems to be further restricting the downfield routes he's even looking to throw to. The run game is chugging along, and their time of possession edge last night largely due to all their turnovers and the defense shutting down a hapless Viking offense without Cook (their line can't pass block when their play action game doesn't fool rushers/LB's) really wore out the Vikings' defense. In large part I think the run game has been really good because opposing defenses don't want to consistently put the 8th guy in the box for fear of Rodgers carving them up. That may change with teams looking at recent film knowing Rodgers is not playing well, but in all honesty defensive coordinators may prefer to stick with a gameplan that doesn't give Rodgers the opportunity to get hot downfield for fear of what monster they let out of the bag in a playoff game.

 

I've been waiting for one of those Rodgers games where he reminds everyone what he can do on the football field - he's past the point of being able to carry a team every week offensively, but the pieces are in place for this offense where he doesn't need to do that. Hoping that happens a few weeks from now in the divisional round!

[OldHeidelberg]

I thought it was the complete game I have been looking for in this team, I don't know how that game can be seen as anything but a huge boost to our SB chances. Yeah the turnovers and FG's were frustrating in the first half but they wore them down and dominated in the 2nd. If the defense has turned it around like it showed last night we are a threat to beat anyone in the NFC. I was listening to the Paul Allen show on KFAN this morning(can't get enough of Viking fan misery) and he was joking about ZSmith being better than Lawrence Taylor. It was pretty stunning, seemed like most of the sacks came on 3 man rushes that we all hate so much. The Vikings O coordinator was on and said that the Packers took them out of their bootleg game by playing wide with a soft zone, again something that I hate yet they could do wrong last night. Sure Cook was out but we were seeing this defense consistently on it's heels against worse offenses just a few weeks ago.

[nodakfan17]

I thought this game was well-officiated ... either that or there just weren’t a whole lot of infractions. Either way, I like it when the refs let the players play.

[yourout]

I thought this game was well-officiated ... either that or there just weren’t a whole lot of infractions. Either way, I like it when the refs let the players play.

There was more than one borderline holding they let go.

That said... It was one of the better officiated games of the season.

[Zad Fnark]

On the Packers app, they said this is one of the best officiating crews. They mostly let the players play.

[CheezWizHed]

And yet, when I got to work on Jan 2nd, the Viking fans will still be complaining about the officials being on the Packer's side.