NFL Week 1 Preview: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings!

The Minnesota Vikings rage against the Green Bay Packers in an NFC North Monday night showdown

Vikings vs. Packers Overview:

The Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers have had a rivalry for decades. With bad blood colder than the weather of the NFC North, the match ups between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers always bring out the best in both teams. With stars of the past like Randy Moss and Brett Favre on different teams the legacy will be carried on by a new collection of stars such as Adrian Peterson and Aaron Rodgers. Even with question marks at quarterback for both teams the NFC North battle is sure to be filled with great defensive play and a ton of running football.

Minnesota Vikings Offense:

Running back Adrian Peterson may be the biggest name on the Minnesota Vikings, but he certainly cannot take credit for his accomplishments alone with one of the best offensive lines in the NFL plowing holes for him. While expert G Steven Hutchinson will be in the lineup all-star LT Bryant McKinnie will be riding a suspension. The loss of Bryant McKinnie will be both a blow to Adrian Peterson and QB Tarvaris Jackson. A rash of injuries has struck the Minnesota Vikings skill positions and QB Tarvaris Jackson and WR Bernard Berrian both may miss action. It will be up to Adrian Peterson and RB partner Chester Taylor to carry the load.

Minnesota Vikings Defense:

The Minnesota Vikings defense has all the potential to be the best defense in the NFL and will have to show up in week 1 of the NFL season. With the best defensive line in football leading the charge the pressure should be on Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers all day long. DE Jared Allen led the NFL in sacks in 2007 and will join the elite DT tandem in the NFL in Pat and Kevin Williams. LBs Chad Greenway and E.J. Henderson are also stars in the making. With the powerful front seven running the line of scrimmage the banged-up secondary of the Minnesota Vikings should be able to hold out against the Green Bay passing attack.

Green Bay Packers Offense:

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers inherits the efficient West Coast offense from Brett Favre and has a lot to work with. If given time to throw, Aaron Rodgers will be able to surgically cut the average Minnesota Vikings secondary apart. The fate of Aaron Rodgers’ first start will be decided by the offensive line in front of him. If the talented young group can establish running lanes for RB Ryan Grant, then Aaron Rodgers should get a break from being chased by Jared Allen. If the Green Bay Packers O-line can at least slow down the elite Minnesota Vikings unit, then TE Derek Lee and WRs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver could have a field day against the injured and aging secondary.

Green Bay Packers Defense:

The Green Bay Packers boast a pair of great defensive linemen of their own in DEs Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins. The interior of the Green Bay Packers D-line is riddled with injuries, and it could hinder a great linebacking corps led by AJ Hawk. The Green Bay Packers will hope to make up for the injuries in the front seven with the most physical secondary in the NFL. CBs Charles Woodson and Al Harris will easily be able to hold the Minnesota passing game in check while S Atari Bigby intimidates all players on the field.

Minnesota Vikings Keys to Victory

The Minnesota Vikings invested so much into Jared Allen because he was one of the best pass rushers in the league. Jared Allen will be key to the Minnesota Vikings victory in week 1. With three defensive linemen worthy of double teams on every play the Minnesota Vikings will have the ability to destroy the pocket and stop the run. An unending stream of pressure will come from the Minnesota Vikings front seven and turnovers will be forced.

The Minnesota Vikings will continue to dance with who brought them as they dish out heavy doses of Adrian Peterson. With injuries taking their toll on the DTs of the Green Bay Packers the Minnesota Vikings should be able to muscle their way through the center of the Green Bay Packers front seven. Adrian Peterson should be able to take power over any member of the Green Bay Packers secondary except Atari Bigby.

Green Bay Packers Keys to Victory

Stopping the run will be the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 priority of the Green Bay Packers defense. This will be no easy task thanks to both the great O-line of the Minnesota Vikings and the lack of depth at the DT position. With a ton of linemen in his face, OLB AJ Hawk will have to fight more than ever to make plays. Atari Bigby will have to step up in the running game and can deliver a knockout blow to even the great Adrian Peterson. If the run can be stopped, then the mediocre WRs of the Minnesota Vikings can be easily neutralized by the vicious jams of the Green Bay Packers corners.

Establishing the run with Ryan Grant will be a key for the Green Bay Packers success. The running game will negate the massive pass rush of the Minnesota Vikings and will open up the mediocre secondary to the West Coast attack. The running game will also give a young Aaron Rodgers time to find his targets. The Green Bay Packers must stop the pass rush and win the line of scrimmage at all costs.

Packers vs. Vikings Outlook

The Green Bay Packers are doing their best to move past Bret Favre and Aaron Rodgers has all the tools to become a great quarterback. He does however make his debut against the best defensive line in football. There will be just as much pressure on Aaron Rodgers from the Lambeau Field crowd and the Monday night audience as there is from Jared Allen. Debuting at home on Monday night against an arch rival will be a hard but perhaps career-making moment for Aaron Rodgers.

The main storyline will be the injury-riddled defensive line of the Green Bay Packers. Short on talent and depth at the defensive tackle position, Steve Hutchinson and the rest of the Minnesota Vikings O-line will have little trouble opening holes for Adrian Peterson. With the pass rush and the running game on their side, the Minnesota Vikings will have an edge against the young Green Bay Packers on Monday night.