Packers Pairing Sets up Interesting Situation for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings schedule release was the latest highlight of the NFL offseason, and quickly determining where and when the team will face its top rivals remains a focus. The Green Bay Packers are the pinnacle of that reality, and their positioning on the schedule sets up a pair of interesting spots for Kevin O’Connell’s club.
Packers Pairing Sets up Interesting Situation for Vikings
Traveling to Lambeau Field for a Week 4 matchup, the Minnesota Vikings should feel confident about avoiding cold or snowy weather at the otherwise tough-to-play Lambeau Field. With the matchup set for the end of September, there is a better chance for warmer temperatures than snow.
It will be the first Vikings rivalry matchup for whoever is under center. Of course, conventional wisdom would suggest that Sam Darnold will still be starting at that point, but there is a possibility that J.J. McCarthy’s development takes off at a rapid pace, and he finds himself leading Kevin O’Connell’s offense early. It will also be a homecoming of sorts for a pair of Vikings that should be playing prominent roles. The recently signed Robert Tonyan will still be filling in for T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones get his first crack at showing scorn for his previous employer.
Playing Green Bay early in the season sets up a later matchup with the Packers, which could be an interesting season for Minnesota. The second to last week of the season being a division opponent will almost certainly have playoff ramifications, and if they are in Minnesota’s favor, that would likely represent a pretty positive outcome for how McCarthy’s season took shape.
Green Bay went through a quarterback change of their own last season when Jordan Love assumed those top responsibilities in the wake of Aaron Rodgers’ departure. It took him some time to settle in, but as the season wore on, it was clear he had the chops to be a legitimate starting option at the highest level.
How the Vikings quarterback situation shakes out could look wildly different between the two Packers matchups. It would be impressive if McCarthy could make an immediate impact that quickly out of the gate, but there’s almost no reason why he shouldn’t be starting by the end of the season. O’Connell could give the Packers a pair of different looks with changing personnel by the end of the season.
Almost irrelevant to how the rest of any given regular season shakes out, the Vikings circle the Packers game and look to come out on top. Once again, that will be the case for the 2024 regular season.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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