The Packers’ 35-14 loss to Atlanta on Thursday night handed Minnesota exactly the kind of opening it wanted in the NFC North.
Green Bay fell flat at Lambeau Field, and with the Packers now sitting at 1-2, the Vikings can widen the gap on Sunday when they travel to Tampa Bay. Minnesota is 2-0, and a win would put Green Bay two losses back after three weeks.
That cushion has been built the hard way. The Vikings opened by beating the Packers in Week 1, then followed it up with a win at Chicago. Those two division victories already give Minnesota a strong early position, but the offense hasn’t exactly made the case that the lead is safe.
Thursday’s Packers loss only sharpened the contrast. Atlanta scored 27 straight points after Green Bay’s opening touchdown, Bijan Robinson ran for 194 yards, and the Packers managed just 17 rushing yards. Michael Penix Jr. was back at quarterback for the Falcons, so this wasn’t even the version of Atlanta that had stumbled to an 0-2 start.
Minnesota has already seen enough of Green Bay to know the danger is real. Jordan Love threw for 387 yards in the opener and had the Packers up 12 late in the third quarter.
Then Carson Wentz helped Minnesota rally, Green Bay piled on penalties that extended the go-ahead drive, and Brian Flores’ defense forced two turnovers. Love can still attack this secondary when the teams meet again in Green Bay in November.
For now, though, the Vikings have the head-to-head win and the Packers have another loss on the board.
The Vikings’ start also comes with a warning label. Flores’ defense finished off the comeback against Green Bay and held the Chicago Bears to three points in Week 2.
Dallas Turner is getting home off the edge. But Minnesota’s offense produced only three field goals in Chicago, which is good enough when the defense is nearly perfect and not something the team can count on every week.
Sunday brings a different look at quarterback. Kyler Murray has cleared concussion protocol and is set to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
His Vikings debut ended in the first quarter of Week 1 after five pass attempts and an interception. Now Minnesota should finally get a real read on how Kevin O’Connell uses Murray’s mobility with Justin Jefferson.
Wentz kept the Vikings afloat, but Murray now gets the chance to finish drives that never materialized in Chicago.
The backfield situation adds another layer. Jordan Mason is on injured reserve with a thumb injury, and Minnesota is thin behind Aaron Jones Sr.
Jones hurt his knee against Chicago, though he carries no game designation on the final injury report and is expected to play. If that knee becomes an issue, DeeJay Dallas and rookie Demond Claiborne are the other backs available to help Murray keep the offense moving.
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Vikings Take A Late Defensive Hit Before Huge Bucs Matchup
The Vikings head into their Week 3 trip to Tampa Bay with the offensive side in decent shape, as quarterback Kyler Murray and running back Aaron Jones are both available for the matchup with the Buccaneers. Minnesota also made a change at punter, with Brett Thorson still sidelined by a hamstring injury and Johnny Hekker set to handle the job for at least one week.
On the other side of the injury report, though, the defense took a late hit. Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was downgraded to questionable because of a non-injury related personal matter, and he did not travel with the team, leaving the Vikings to sort through another important absence before a big early-season test. [Read more 🡒]
J.J. McCarthy Just Put The Vikings In A Real Trade Debate
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Any trade talk would have to run through Kevin OConnells view of McCarthys future, and that is where the real debate starts. OConnell has shown interest in developing him, which makes an in-season deal feel complicated even before you get to the value question, but recent quarterback trades suggest McCarthy would not command a massive haul, perhaps landing somewhere in the range of a fourth- or sixth-round pick. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Give Dillon Bell A Chance Their Passing Game Desperately Needs
The Vikings brought Dillon Bell up to the 53-man roster last week, giving him a shot after Jauan Jennings absence created another opening on the depth chart. Bells limited role so far has been confined to special teams, but the move still hinted at a team looking for any way to spark a passing game that has been sputtering.
Bell flashed in the preseason, and Minnesota has not been shy about searching for answers as the offense tries to find more consistency through the air. He has yet to turn that into a real regular-season impact, but the door appears open for more opportunities if the Vikings decide they need another receiver to help lighten the load. [Read more 🡒]