Timing Could Be Perfect For A Vikings Winning Start
Adam New
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Gameday is here and the Minnesota Vikings start the 2022 NFL season by hosting an old foe. The Green Bay Packers come to town looking for a fast start on the way to claiming a fourth division title in a row. Repeating what they did between 2011 and 2014.
The Packers have dominated the division in recent years with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback; something Vikings fans are sick of. Minnesota will be hoping the new regime of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell brings a change in fortunes. There is no better way to make an early statement than by beating the team you are trying to catch. The good news is the Vikings are largely healthy, which can’t be said for the Packers. Therefore, the timing could be perfect for a Vikings winning start.
A feeling of optimism flows through Minnesota ahead of Week 1. I would expect the Vikings to come out and try to be explosive on both sides of the ball. The Packers have a good defense, but the Vikings have more than enough ammo in their offense to make it a long afternoon for those in green.
The Vikings defense could largely hinge on the big-name edge rushers. If Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith can stay healthy and perform at the elite levels they have in the past, life becomes much easier for the rest of the Vikings defense. Hunter and Smith are fit and ready to go and there is some very intriguing news for the duo.
Major Packers Injury Doubts
We await official confirmation but that would be huge news. Not one but both starting tackles missing weakens the Packers significantly. Yosh Nijman will come in at left tackle to protect Rodgers blindside. Nijman is no mug and has experience starting games their for the Packers. He is also no David Bakhtiari. The Packers will miss the All-Pro tackle.
On the other side of the line the Packers have a bigger problem with the injury to Elgton Jenkins. All of their backup players are rookies. It could be seventh-round rookie Rasheed Walker at right tackle, or they could put third-round rookie guard Seah Rhyan out there. Either way, I don’t fancy the chances for either one against Hunter.
Having lost Davante Adams, Allen Lazard is now WR1 in Green Bay. That would cause panic among most teams. With Rodgers ad quarterback there is an expectation the Packers can work around not having a star wide receiver.
They have some good depth with Sammy Watkins, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, and the two rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. If the rookies can step up and become big contributors to the offense. Then the Packers will be alright but to ask them to do that in Week 1 without Lazard is a massive ask. If the Vikings defense can contain the run game, they will be able to put huge pressure on the Packers passing game.
The cards are falling nicely for Minnesota heading into this game. The timing could be perfect for a Vikings winning start. They couldn’t ask for a better chance. Now it’s just the small matter (or huge matter) of going out there and getting it done.
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