Vikings at Packers

[edave]

Game Day
http://www.packers.com/gameday/game/2012/regular13/

Dope Sheet
http://www.packers.com/news-and-even...4-bc5556ba8301

Other links:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/min/roster
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201212...ikings@packers

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20121202009
http://www.pro-football-reference.co...1212020gnb.htm

The Vikings season thus far:

2012-09-09     Jaguars  26 23   W
2012-09-16      @Colts  20 23   L
2012-09-23       49ers  24 13   W
2012-09-30      @Lions  20 13   W
2012-10-07      Titans  30  7   W
2012-10-14   @Redskins  26 38   L
2012-10-21   Cardinals  21 14   W
2012-10-25  Buccaneers  17 36   L
2012-11-04   @Seahawks  20 30   L
2012-11-11       Lions  34 24   W
2012-11-25      @Bears  10 28   L
2012-12-02    @Packers  7-4-0
2012-12-09       Bears  8-3-0
2012-12-16       @Rams  4-6-1
2012-12-23     @Texans  10-1-0
2012-12-30     Packers  7-4-0

Huge win over the 49ers and they've already swept the Lions. Coming off a loss to the Bears this is an extremely important game for them.

Moving on...

Lang is a pretty good guard, but not a great tackle. Perhaps changing sides makes it more difficult but I'm inclined to believe he's just an inside kinda guy (short arms and all that). I wish they'd stick EDS (or someone) at RT and deal with 1 problem instead of flopping around and creating 2. Campen and/or McCarthy are so darned set on having everyone jump around, it makes me crazy at times.

Kyle Rudolph and Harrison Smith have both passed concussion protocols and will likely to play. Percy Harvin is still listed as doubtful as of this writing.

Greg Jennings makes his long awaited return. I'm not expecting much which could make for a very pleasant surprise if things go well.

Quarless is a man of mystery, I hope he makes the field this year but I sure don't want to see them rush it. Wilson, Shields and Woodson are out. Matthews is almost certainly going to join them in sweats (it's official now).

Buck and Aikman have the call but it's not a national game.

It is however, a division game. Allen is going to running around like a wild man. If Robison joins him it's going to be a long day.

The Vikings secondary has been better than what Packer fans have become accustomed to over the last couple of years. We'll likely see a bunch of dink and dunk as they sort of what they can do unless the plan goes up in smoke 10 minutes in.

With Wilson and Matthews out, stopping Peterson is going to be a huge challenge. He's always liked to get his gallop on in the second half and that appears to the plan this year as well.

Should the Packers lose, they'll be in a wild battle to make the playoffs at all.

[SpartaChris]

Peterson is going to get his yards, but I don't believe that will be a deal breaker for the Packers. They're going to be eager to get the sour taste of last weeks epic fail out of their mouth, plus I think getting Jennings back will provide a bit more of an offensive spark, even if it's more in spirit than actual production. I also think last week's loss will prove to be a blessing in disguise down the stretch, as this team was exposed in a way unseen since 2008. The team is going to be forced to get creative in their pass protection and play-calling.

The Packers added RB DuJuan Harris and WR Jeremy Ross to active roster, and sent TE Andrew Quarless and S Sean Richardson to IR. Rumor has it Harris took a ton of snaps in practice this week, and with Starks and Green being underwhelming, we could see Harris get some reps in the game tomorrow.

Defensively speaking, I'm eager to see if we'll be able to get pressure without Matthews. We weren't able to do much last week against Eli, but fortunately Ponder is no Manning, and the Vikings offensive line isn't as solid as New Jersey's.

All in all I think the Packers get the win, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's closer than it should be.

[edave]

I also think last week's loss will prove to be a blessing in disguise down the stretch, as this team was exposed in a way unseen since 2008. The team is going to be forced to get creative in their pass protection and play-calling.

I noticed that late in the game the Bone was working, just like it was in Seattle in the second half. They've got to take advantage of the hole left by playing over the top and outside.

The Packers added RB DuJuan Harris and WR Jeremy Ross to active roster, and sent TE Andrew Quarless and S Sean Richardson to IR. Rumor has it Harris took a ton of snaps in practice this week, and with Starks and Green being underwhelming, we could see Harris get some reps in the game tomorrow.

Good catch, I hadn't yet gotten around to checking out what the roster changes were all about. Harris is most probably going to replace White on special teams (White is out this week with a concussion), Ross takes over for Richardson. We could see Harris take some O snaps, should be interesting at least.

[edave]

A win is a win is a win. It was kind of ugly but that 11 minute drive was a thing beauty.

Two new injuries, Lang has an ankle problem and Nelson was having hamstring issues before the game even began. Late on Monday, we added Starks to the list of the walking wounded.

Adrian Peterson had a mostly mortal day against the Packers. Almost. Kinda. His 21 runs:

1-10-MIN 20 (11:26) A.Peterson left guard to MIN 22 for 2 yards (B.Jones, B.Raji).
2-8-MIN 22 (10:52) A.Peterson up the middle to MIN 25 for 3 yards (A.Hawk, B.Raji).
1-10-MIN 29 (4:00) A.Peterson up the middle to MIN 32 for 3 yards (D.Moses).
2-7-MIN 32 (3:30) A.Peterson right guard to MIN 37 for 5 yards (B.Jones, A.Hawk).
3-2-MIN 37 (2:52) A.Peterson right guard to MIN 45 for 8 yards (D.House, B.Jones).
1-10-MIN 45 (2:18) A.Peterson right guard to MIN 48 for 3 yards (A.Hawk, R.Pickett).
1-10-GB 27 (:07) A.Peterson right end to GB 24 for 3 yards (T.Williams).
3-1-GB 18 (14:23) A.Peterson right guard to GB 16 for 2 yards (R.Pickett; J.McMillian).
1-10-GB 16 (13:50) A.Peterson right tackle to GB 7 for 9 yards (M.Burnett, C.Hayward).
1-10-MIN 21 (10:45) A.Peterson left end to MIN 25 for 4 yards (A.Hawk).
2-6-MIN 25 (10:06) A.Peterson up the middle to MIN 27 for 2 yards (B.Jones).
2-1-MIN 18 (5:59) (Shotgun) A.Peterson right tackle to MIN 18 for no gain (A.Hawk, M.Burnett).
3-1-MIN 18 (5:21) A.Peterson right end for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
1-10-MIN 40 (15:00) A.Peterson left end pushed ob at GB 12 for 48 yards (T.Williams).
1-10-GB 12 (14:35) A.Peterson up the middle to GB 8 for 4 yards (A.Hawk).
2-10-MIN 20 (7:42) A.Peterson left tackle to MIN 19 for -1 yards (M.Burnett, B.Raji).
1-10-MIN 6 (6:03) A.Peterson right guard to MIN 12 for 6 yards (M.Burnett).
2-4-MIN 12 (5:35) A.Peterson left end to MIN 15 for 3 yards (C.Hayward, A.Hawk).
3-1-MIN 15 (5:35) A.Peterson right tackle to MIN 15 for no gain (B.Jones).
1-10-MIN 20 (2:12) A.Peterson left end to MIN 21 for 1 yard (A.Hawk, M.Neal).
1-10-MIN 37 (:59) A.Peterson left tackle to GB 40 for 23 yards (M.Burnett).


Sadly, 153 of his 210 yards came on three plays. I know AD cranks off at least one long run against the Pack, sometimes two, every game (2x per year), year in and year out, but this was crazy. Hawk was bamboozled on two of the plays, not sure about the last one (I didn't notice him when I watched the game).

Ponder was bad but the Packer DBs played well (not having to chase Percy around made things a lot easier) leaving a whole lot of not really open to throw to much of the time.

In the end, a bit of crazy running by AD went to naught and Green Bay found a little bit of a running game behind Sitton and Barclay. Barclay on the Starks TD:

"I think (tight end) Ryan Taylor came down to block and I cut the linebacker," Barclay said. "I didn't actually hit him clean, but he stayed behind me, which allowed Starks to go outside."

A running line of 36-152-1 and 4.2 yard average was a nice find for early December. Par for the course, Starks was promptly injured.

[wxwax]

Sadly, 153 of his 210 yards came on three plays.

Significantly, all late in the game. Adds to the conventional wisdom that if you stick with the run, you get rewarded when the defense tires.

[edave]

Significantly, all late in the game. Adds to the conventional wisdom that if you stick with the run, you get rewarded when the defense tires.

Well not quite. His last run was at 3Q 00:59, Ponder was picked off shortly thereafter. I guess I should have adjusted those gamebook time stamps.

The Packers held the ball for 11 minutes to open the 4th quarter.

[edave]

This may make it clearer (or not):

1-10-MIN 20 (1Q 11:26) A.Peterson left guard to MIN 22 for 2 yards (B.Jones, B.Raji).
2-8-MIN 22 (1Q 10:52) A.Peterson up the middle to MIN 25 for 3 yards (A.Hawk, B.Raji).
1-10-MIN 29 (1Q 04:00) A.Peterson up the middle to MIN 32 for 3 yards (D.Moses).
2-7-MIN 32 (1Q 3:30) A.Peterson right guard to MIN 37 for 5 yards (B.Jones, A.Hawk).
3-2-MIN 37 (1Q 02:52) A.Peterson right guard to MIN 45 for 8 yards (D.House, B.Jones).
1-10-MIN 45 (1Q 02:18) A.Peterson right guard to MIN 48 for 3 yards (A.Hawk, R.Pickett).
1-10-GB 27 (1Q 00:07) A.Peterson right end to GB 24 for 3 yards (T.Williams).
3-1-GB 18 (2Q 14:23) A.Peterson right guard to GB 16 for 2 yards (R.Pickett; J.McMillian).
1-10-GB 16 (2Q 13:50) A.Peterson right tackle to GB 7 for 9 yards (M.Burnett, C.Hayward).
1-10-MIN 21 (2Q 10:45) A.Peterson left end to MIN 25 for 4 yards (A.Hawk).
2-6-MIN 25 (2Q 10:06) A.Peterson up the middle to MIN 27 for 2 yards (B.Jones).
2-1-MIN 18 (2Q 05:59) (Shotgun) A.Peterson right tackle to MIN 18 for no gain (A.Hawk, M.Burnett).
3-1-MIN 18 (2Q 05:21) A.Peterson right end for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
1-10-MIN 40 (3Q 15:00) A.Peterson left end pushed ob at GB 12 for 48 yards (T.Williams).
1-10-GB 12 (3Q 14:35) A.Peterson up the middle to GB 8 for 4 yards (A.Hawk).
2-10-MIN 20 (3Q 07:42) A.Peterson left tackle to MIN 19 for -1 yards (M.Burnett, B.Raji).
1-10-MIN 6 (3Q 06:03) A.Peterson right guard to MIN 12 for 6 yards (M.Burnett).
2-4-MIN 12 (3Q 05:35) A.Peterson left end to MIN 15 for 3 yards (C.Hayward, A.Hawk).
3-1-MIN 15 (3Q 05:35) A.Peterson right tackle to MIN 15 for no gain (B.Jones).
1-10-MIN 20 (3Q 02:12) A.Peterson left end to MIN 21 for 1 yard (A.Hawk, M.Neal).
1-10-MIN 37 (3Q 00:59) A.Peterson left tackle to GB 40 for 23 yards (M.Burnett).

[packa7x]

that 4th quarter drive was a thing of beauty. It's truly encouraging to see the Pack able to eat away the clock.

[wxwax]

Well not quite. His last run was at 3Q 00:59, Ponder was picked off shortly thereafter. I guess I should have adjusted those gamebook time stamps.

The Packers held the ball for 11 minutes to open the 4th quarter.

Ah, OK. I read it to mean the first big run came with 5 mins left in Q3.