Packers-Vikings: Minnesota Dominates

Before assessing what Sunday's 38-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings actually means to the Green Bay Packers (the subject of my next article—look for it Sunday morning), I want to provide the report card on each unit:

Quarterback: B+

Aaron Rodgers had a passer rating over 100 for the fifth consecutive week, raising his season rating to 110.4. He now has 14 TDs and just two picks, plus one rushing TD and two fumbles lost for a 15:4 touchdown to turnover ratio. All of these stats are better than The Traitor has ever had.

In this game, he was 26-41 (.634) for 287 yards, three scores, and no turnovers despite being under constant pressure that led to six Viking sacks, giving them 14 in the two games between the rivals.

While these stats are worthy of an A grade, two of the sacks he took could have been avoided—knowing the lack of pass protection, Rodgers has to get an internal clock and learn to get rid of the ball sooner to become an elite quarterback.

Running Back: D

Granted, the Packers were up against the defense that, while coming in only tenth against the run, has been the league’s best in this category in each of the past three seasons.

But the three running backs accounted for just 38 yards on 14 carries (2.7 average), failing to allow coach Mike McCarthy to get some pass-rush relief for his beleaguered signal-caller. While they did catch seven passes for 59 yards, there were no scores out of this unit.

Receiving Corps: B

This unit accounted for 20 catches, 231 yards, and three scores. Spencer Havner stepped into the second-tight end role and had 16- and five-yard touchdowns on both of his catches, and Greg Jennings looked like a Pro Bowler again with seven catches for 81 yards.

However, while I do not remember a single drop, the yards per catch was low (11.5) because there was only one reception that went for over 30 yards. It is a fallacy that you cannot get deep if there is no time to pass, as most long pass plays are on rather direct routes or runs after the catch.

Offensive Line: F

After a brief respite from the failing grade, the line has returned. They one again opened no significant running lanes and did not give Rodgers enough time to go through his progressions on pass plays.

Defensive Line: A-

The Packers will be the only team to hold Adrian Peterson under 100 yards rushing twice this season—he finished with a solid 97 yards on 25 carries (3.9 average) and one TD, giving him just 152 on 50 carries (3.0) for the two games combined.

Overall, the Vikings ran 31 times to get their 111 yards (3.6 average), and the line deserves most of the credit for this, even with a pedestrian eight tackles, four assists, and one fumble recovered.

This shows that the game plan for McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers was not personal regarding The Traitor. They focused on Minnesota’s best player to the expense of allowing No. 4 to be successful.

Linebackers: D-

This unit finally looked like the one that would struggle to adapt to the 3-4. Based on their performance in five of the seven weeks so far, I do not think it is the new system that accounts for this performance, but rather the game plans and talent levels of the two teams.

Packer linebackers had 20 tackles and six assists, but no big plays—not one sack, interception, or fumble recovered. Moreover, they surrendered five catches for 73 yards and two scores to Vikings running backs and tight ends.

Defensive Backs: B+

Despite no pass rush and no help covering backs and tight ends, The Traitor completed just 60.7 percent of passes and had only 12 completions for 185 yards (a somewhat hefty 15.4 average) go to wide receivers, even if you include Percy Harvin in that group (he plays wide receiver and running back).

They did give up two scores, but also recovered a fumble. The unit accounted for 14 tackles and three assists.

Special Teams: D

The Vikings return game did a lot of damage—they had a 20-yard punt return and Harvin averaged about 35 yards on five kick returns. Jeremy Kapinos still managed a 35.8-yard net average on five punts, with one inside the 20, but Mason Crosby did not help the cause by failing to get one kick in the end zone (and missing a field goal attempt, albeit one beyond 50 yards).

The Packers got eight yards on their one punt return, and averaged only about 20 yards on their seven kick returns.

The most disappointing thing about the loss was the game plan and execution. There were not enough max protect schemes, not enough blitzing to force quick decisions that would play upon the emotions running through a gambling opposing quarterback, and not enough taking advantage of early successes that could have put mental pressure on him to make big plays.

The only time this game was in doubt was after the Vikings had surrendered 17 of the 21 point second half cushion they had established.

Once the defense quickly yielded a big play to let the Vikings widen that margin, there was no chance that poor decisions would hand the game to the Packers.