Despite Solid Showing, Packers Offense Just Too Much for Vikings Defense

The Minnesota Vikings fell to the Green Bay Packers in their return home by a score of 24-21. Proceedings went as planned for the Vikings in the first half, but Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were too much down the stretch, pulling apart Mike Zimmer’s defense at its seams.

Zimmer and the Vikings were pitted against Rodgers and the Packers in a game-long chess match, always looking for numerical advantages in the box. When the Vikings backed off, Rodgers checked to run plays at the line of scrimmage. When the Vikings moved a safety forward, Rodgers took his chances through the air.

In order to survive in coverage and limit big gains, the Vikings utilized two safeties in a shell over the top more often than not. The adjustment was mildly successful too, allowing Rodgers a longest completion of only 34 yards despite a few deep shots.

The front four were even able to restrict Eddie Lacy for stretches despite the passive alignment of safeties, as Aaron Nagler of SI.com describes:

"

Zimmer the anti-Bill Davis. Sure seems like almost all 2 high safety looks. Packers can't run them out of it. Where they've long struggled.

— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) November 23, 2014"

It wouldn’t hold.

It was Lacy who ultimately undid more than a half’s worth of sufficient defensive work. The bruising back picked up the tough yards when Green Bay needed them the most.

His productive day was more of the same in this divisional matchup. Some telling statistics from ESPN Stats & Info paint a clear picture of Lacy’s success against the Vikings:

"

Eddie Lacy: 3rd career 100-yard rush game in 4 games vs Vikings (3 100-yard rush games in 22 other career games)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 23, 2014"

Green Bay did not continually gash the Vikings with big gains on the ground, though. Instead, Lacy churned his way past the century mark with a big share of offensive touches (25 carries) and some timely conversions.

When the Vikings needed to stop Lacy the most, trailing late in the fourth quarter, the back broke off gains of three, five, four, five and 10 respectively. He wore down the Minnesota front seven and finished off the Vikings defense with his fourth-quarter gains.

Minnesota sorely missed 3-technique Sharrif Floyd, who was deactivated with a knee injury, as reported by Vikings.com. Rookie Shamar Stephen filled in but failed to make a significant impact.

The entire defensive line was not able to consistently affect Lacy in the backfield. Linebackers were unable to pick up the pieces at the second level, and missed tackles down the field riddled what could have been a fine showing from the Vikings defense.

That lack of depth along the defensive line and the strength of Lacy led to the Vikings folding in the fourth quarter. Bleacher Report’s Zach Kruse details it perfectly:

"

55 of Eddie Lacy's 125 rushing yards came in the fourth quarter. Caught a TD pass in the fourth and picked up two late first downs. Closer.

— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) November 23, 2014"

Missed opportunities became the theme for the Vikings too, and the defense was no exception. Lacy slipped multiple tackles for extra yardage, including the fateful final drive. Harrison Smith also missed his opportunity for a game-changing interception of Rodgers in the second half.

Late-game failures in run defense and the inability to capitalize on clear opportunities undid a fine day’s work in which the Vikings were able to successfully slow down Rodgers and the potent Packers offense.

Zimmer’s plan for Rodgers gave the Vikings a realistic chance to take down one of the NFL’s giants, but failures on a few different fronts left Minnesota and its fans with a sour taste in their mouths once again.

Statistics via ESPN.com unless noted otherwise.