Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers: Complete Week 5 Preview for Green Bay
For one, the game ended in a tie, the only tie of 2013 and just the fourth tie of the 21st century. It was a game that started with Scott Tolzien at quarterback and finished with Matt Flynn, who led a 16-point come-from-behind charge that saved Green Bay's season.
This year's Lambeau matchup, which takes place on Thursday night at 8:25 p.m. ET, will feature a different cast of signal-callers for Green Bay (2-2) and Minnesota (2-2). Replacing Tolzien and Flynn is Aaron Rodgers, fresh off one of the finest performances of his career. And rookie Teddy Bridgewater, who thoroughly impressed Minnesota's 41-28 Week 4 upset over the Atlanta Falcons, would replace Ponder.
That is, of course, if Bridgewater is able to play. He sustained a sprained left ankle during the victory and was unable to finish the game. With Matt Cassel on injured reserve, it would be Ponder who gets the call. However, ESPN.com's Ben Goessling said an MRI on the ankle showed no significant injury.
"#Packers HC Mike McCarthy: Very impressed with Teddy Bridgewater's performance vs. the Falcons and he played fast. My gut is Teddy plays.
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) September 30, 2014"
Packers Week 4 Recap
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Aaron Rodgers told everyone to relax. We'd be smart to have listened.
The Packers passing game stood in rarified air in the team's 38-17 win over the Bears after conducting a clinic of the no-huddle, hurry-up offense that ripped through the Chicago secondary with ease.
Rodgers tallied the second-highest passer rating of his career, and his two primary weapons—Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb—each caught two touchdowns and topped 100 receiving yards.
It was more of the same for Eddie Lacy, struggling to get anything going for the fourth straight week. He did score his first touchdown of the year but was held to just 48 yards on 17 carries, a 2.8 yards-per-attempt average.
The defense started off pitifully, giving up three straight long scoring drives and nearly a fourth before time ran out on Chicago at the end of the first half. But interceptions by Clay Matthews and Sam Shields, along with key fourth-down stops, held the Bears' vaunted offense scoreless in the game's final two quarters.
News and Notes
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Zimmer Down
Rodgers has struggled historically against Mike Zimmer's defenses, according to Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel. The turnover-aversive quarterback threw two interceptions and was unable to complete a potential game-winning drive in a loss to the Bengals last season, led by a Zimmer-coordinated defense.
Hot Rodgers
On the road, against a division rival, in a must-win game, it'd be hard to play any better than Rodgers did last week.
"Rodgers' 151.2 QB rating Sunday was second-highest single-game rating of his career. Was 15/20 for 246 yards, 3 TDs (155.4) vs. CLE in 2009.
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) September 28, 2014"
A Stark Absence
James Starks did not have a single touch in the win over Chicago, a mistake Mike McCarthy owned afterward.
"McCarthy took blame for not getting Starks the ball: "James Starks should touch the football every single game. That will not happen again."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) September 30, 2014"
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Sam Barrington | LB | Doubtful |
| Josh Boyd | DT | Doubtful |
| Jarrett Boykin | WR | Out |
| Brad Jones | LB | Probable |
| T.J. Lang | G | Probable |
| Clay Matthews | LB | Probable |
| Mike Neal | LB | Probable |
*All injury statuses from Packers.com and ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.
Clay Matthews as a full participant in Tuesday's practice was a great sign. He played just 49 of 80 defensive snaps vs. the Bears (per profootballfocus.com), and he has a good history of harassing opposing Minnesota quarterbacks.
Boykin and Jones both are likely inactives again this week, and that might not have anything to do with their health, as Davante Adams and Jamari Lattimore look to have usurped their roles, respectively.
Even though Boyd is not a world-beater at defensive tackle, the Packers need all the bodies they can get there, and we'd potentially be seeing some Mike Pennel action at nose tackle if Boyd cannot go Thursday.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Aaron Rodgers vs. Vikings pass defense
No quarterback has thoroughly dominated one opponent the way Rodgers has dominated the Vikings throughout his career. In 12 starts against Minnesota, Rodgers has 27 touchdowns and four interceptions for a 117.9 passer rating, far above his 105.1 career average. His last game vs. the team, a 44-31 win at Minnesota, he was a model of efficiency, completing 24 of 29 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Like last week's win over the Bears, the Packers didn't punt in that game, either.
Vikings running game vs. Packers run defense
Look way down on the list of teams allowing the most rushing yards and you'll find Green Bay sitting at No. 32—AKA worst in the league. The Bears ran at will in their Week 4 loss, just as the Vikings did in their Week 4 win over the Falcons, with Matt Asiata scoring three touchdowns and rookie change-of-pace back Jerick McKinnon breaking out for 135 yards.
Clay Matthews vs. Matt Kalil
Both players have underwhelmed so far thus season. Kalil has allowed three sacks and 11 hurries while Matthews has just one sack. The former USC Trojans figure to see each other a lot on Thursday, and whoever wins this battle will give his respective team a leg up on a potential victory.
Prediction
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The Minnesota Vikings are no slouches, and they've handled early season adversity (see: Adrian Peterson's situation, Matt Cassel's injury) remarkably well. Teddy Bridgewater outgunned Matt Ryan for a win in his first pro start, and the team is putting its best players in positions to make plays. And Minnesota sports an improved defense, with safety Harrison Smith looking like a bona fide stud.
But, the team they're playing against has Aaron Rodgers, and Rodgers feasts on the Vikings. Bridgewater, hobbled, on a short week, will be asked to go in to Lambeau Field and take down Aaron Rodgers in his own house.
If Minnesota's running game can keep Rodgers and Co. off the field like Chicago was able to do a week ago, and turn those long drives into touchdowns, the Vikings have a shot. But that's asking a lot for a rookie quarterback making his second pro start.
The Packers offense will stay hot, the Vikings will keep it close for two quarters and change, but there just won't be enough in the Vikings tank to run with this team for 60 minutes.
Prediction: Packers 34, Vikings 20.
Odds via OddsShark.com: Green Bay -10
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