Key Points: For the Vikings to win... |
Izzy | - Don't choke. As simple as it may sound, it obviously hasn't been very simple for the Vikings. The Vikings can almost be named "Chokings" because of how dramatic of a fade they do in the second half of the season. To top it off, the Vikings blew a lead to the Packers in essentially the NFC North title game.
- Stop something, anything on defense. Not surprisingly, the culprit for the Vikings' failures to win games is almost directly attributable to a horrible defense. LBs Donterrius Thomas and EJ Henderson are experiencing the growing pains of second year players, the secondary has been torched despite the addition of shut-down CB Antoine Winfield (the injury to Corey Chavous does not help them). That being said, the Vikings should take a page out of the Chargers' playbook: come up with a play when it counts.
- Create pressure on Favre. Led by Pro-Bowl DT Kevin Williams, the Vikings have some serious talent at their defensive line. That being said, the unit has somewhat underachieved this season. Despite the presence of Williams and the addition of rookie DE Kenechi Udeze, the Vikings have somehow managed to generate relatively little pressure with their front four. That's not good, considering their lack of experience at the second level of defense. Against a quarterback like Favre and a tailback like Ahman Green, the front four is going to have to lift their play to another level?c if they can somehow manage that after failing for the most part in the regular season.
| Nick | - Throw the ball downfield. If the Vikings are to win, they'll need to make big plays down the field, not chip away with their paltry run game and throw short slants that gain three or so yards a play. Coach Tice should send the receivers deep and count on Randy Moss or Marcus Robinson to make athletic leaping catches.
- Establish a pass rush. The Vikings defense will need to dig deep to muster any sort of pass rush, but if they don't manage to pressure Favre, the game is all but over. They'll need to find ways to force Favre out of the pocket, because it's when Favre's out of his comfort zone that big turnovers or sacks happen, not behind Green Bay's stellar offensive line.
| Pratik | - Randy, Randy, Randy. Randy Moss is just about the only player on the Vikings who is absolutely clutch. He always steps up his game a notch during the playoffs and almost singlehandedly got them into the playoffs last week against Washington. If anyone has seen the touchdown catch he made (over Sean Taylor, no less) they'll know what I mean. To have an offensive duo like Daunte Culpepper and Moss incites jealousy from just about everyone, except for maybe the Colts.
- Stop #4! Brett Favre is about as close to a god as you can get to in the football world nowadays, especially on Lambeau field in the playoffs. The Vikings must stop him from willing the Packers to a win. How? Maybe by playing a little defense! I find it pitiful that the Vikings gave up 21 points to the Redskins, come on?cthey didn't even have Portis!
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Key Points: For the Packers to win... |
Izzy | - Attack the secondary. Aside from CB Antoine Winfield, the scariest thing on the secondary was S Corey Chavous, who led the league in interceptions last season. Guess what, Favre, how about a little late Christmas Present: Chavous is out with a broken elbow. That means the Vikings' secondary is ripe for the picking. That is, if they weren't already. The Packers have an array of weapons in the receiving corps led by standout WR Javon Walker. A shootout with the Vikings is inevitable, so the Packers will have to keep gunning the ball deep.
- Get Ahman past the front four. With the Vikings' dearth of experience at linebacker, RB Ahman Green can wreak some serious havoc- if he can get there. The Vikings' defensive line has done a commendable job stopping the run, and it will be up to the Packers' offensive line to get Ahman Green into the midst of the linebackers more often.
- Protect the ball. Aided by some untimely fumbles by Ahman Green and their defense's inability to take the ball, the Packers had the sixth worst turnover differential with -14. In a shootout, that is never a good thing. Costly fumbles by Green must be avoided (although with the Vikings' defense, which forced just 11 turnovers, it is pretty doubtful) to win a shootout. Oh yeah, and a good Favre (not the four picks in a game one) needs to show up. Then again, we ARE talking about the Vikings' defense.
| Nick | - Cover Randy Moss. If the Packers can cover the Vikings' big play receiver, then Culpepper will have to find other ways to move the ball. Double teaming isn't a bad idea; in fact, it's a really good one. If the Pack can prevent the big play, they should little to no problem with the Vikings.
- Keep it close. As long as the Pack can keep the score manageable, they can continue with their normal game plan. If they get down by a couple of scores early and switch to panic mode, with Favre playing something like a 2-minute drill each drive, then the Vikings will probably get a turnover or two. Plus, if it's close at the end of the game, we know what kicker Ryan Longwell can do to correct that.
| Pratik | - Quadruple cover Randy Moss. I joke not. If that's what it takes to stop him, you might as well. Last week Nate Burleson dropped a wide open catch that would have given him a huge touchdown, whereas Moss did some weird acrobatic rolling dive and came up with an impossible catch. You cannot let Randy Moss get even a step because Culpepper and Moss have such great chemistry with each other that before you know it, six points will be going up on the scoreboard
- Cause Culpepper to regain his fumbleitis. Culpepper is approximately 6'4", 260 pounds. To put that into perspective, he is roughly two of me, plus about ten pounds (I'm 125). He is a big man, but unfortunately, he seems to have butterfingers or something. He is one of the quarterbacks most prone to fumbling the football in the whole league. I guess its because he's big enough to keep fighting whoever's got him wrapped up and by that time, some quick thinking safety has poked the ball out. Anyway, that is exactly what the Packers must do. Blitz early, and often, even though you might get burned in the hopes that you can get the ball back.
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- Packers offensive line led by RG Marco Rivera and LT Chad Clifton vs. Viking's D-Line led by DT Kevin Williams and DE Kenechi Udeze
- WR Randy Moss, WR Nate Burleson, WR Marcus Robinson vs. CB Al Harris, CB Ahmad Carroll, FS Darren Sharper
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