Vikings Packers Spread
September 8, 2008
-Brad Marchetti
The Aaron Rodgers era begins Monday night for better or worse when the Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers game kicks off at 7 PM ET at Lambeau field. In his first game replacing the irreplaceable Brett Favre, Rodgers will face a Vikings team that is eager to prove they are the class of the NFC North. Minnesota will look to pound their hated rivals with a heavy dose of All-Pro RB Adrian Peterson and a stifling run defense. Despite the off-field distraction for Green Bay, they return 20 starters from a team that went 13-3 last year and just missed the Superbowl. The NFL betting odds on the Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers game is Green Bay -2.
Despite the legendary Brett Favre departed for Green Bay, the offense will remain mostly the same. The Packers will employ a West-Coast style offense that will throw more often than usual against a Minnesota defense that excels at run defense. The Vikings rush defense is arguably the best in the NFL and they have now added a legit pass-rushing threat in DE Jared Allen who recorded 15.5 sacks a year ago. Packers RB Ryan Grant will need to bounce some runs to the outside where he could find some running room to take the pressure off of Rodgers against Minnesota’s improved pass-rush. Green Bay has some solid personnel on the O-line that should be able to open some holes off the edge for Grant on sweeps plays and tosses. Look for Rodgers to rely on his upper-tier group of wideouts to make plays against a Vikings secondary that has some leaks. Minnesota will be missing starting safety Madieu Williams due to a neck injury so Green Bay should find some opportunities to take some shots downfield. While Aaron Rodgers is not the flame thrower that Favre was but, he Rodgers throw a nice deep ball that could do some damage in this game. The NFL betting odds OVER\UNDER on the Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers game is at 38 points.
The key to the Minnesota Vikings season and this Monday night game will be the play of 2nd year QB Tavaris Jackson. Tavaris was looking sharp in the preseason before suffering a knee injury in the second game. Often compared to Donovan McNabb, Jackson has the upside to be a very good QB if he develops. In this game, however, Jackson will be facing a tough Green Bay pass defense under the bright lights of Monday night football. Without a doubt Jackson will have plenty of help from his all-world RB Adrian Peterson. The key matchup in this game will Peterson against the Packers run defense that ranked 14th in the NFL last year. Expected to miss the game for the Packers is athletic OLB A.J Hawk. The Packers will need solid play from their men upfront in this game to keep defenders off their linebackers too avoid Adrian from running wild. In these teams first meeting when Petersons knee was 100% healthy he rushed for 112 yards on just 12 carries. Have all of the off-field distractions gotten too Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers? Can Tavaris Jackson provide the passing threat necessary to keep the Packers from loading up 8 men in the box against RB Adrian Peterson?