It’s hard to believe with the season Green Bay is having that they could be in second or third place when the dust settles on Sunday afternoon. If that does happen, it’s okay. Believe me on that one. This is a tall task for the Packers. Even though Minnesota is beat up just like Green Bay, this is one of the tougher places to play in the National Football League. Any rational fan would have been okay with a Dallas-Minnesota split heading into the year. That said, Green Bay does have some things working for them, and what it takes to establish a commanding lead in the NFC North.

Lane Taylor versus Minnesota pass rushers
From the sounds of it, David Bakhitari will miss another game with a hamstring injury meaning Green Bay will have Lane Taylor again at left tackle. This is his biggest challenge. Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen are two of the best pass-rushers in football. They can give Aaron Rodgers all sorts of trouble. Green Bay will need to have that up-tempo style to slow down this Minnesota attack.

Keep McKinnon out of open space
After Lativus Murray failed the test on Monday night, Jerick McKinnon did not. He became a duel-threat back out of the backfield breaking off a couple big runs, and a few plays in the flat. Thus far, the Packers have been pretty solid in the flats thanks to Clay Matthews and Blake Martinez, but they’ll be tested again on Sunday. McKinnon will be a focal point of the Minnesota offense.

Attack Trae Waynes
Rinse, wash and repeat. Aaron Rodgers has been stellar thus far in the 2017 season. He’s not had a game with less than two touchdowns to begin his campaign for a third MVP crown, and Rodgers led two amazing comebacks. He will be challenged with this secondary as we alluded to yesterday, but there is a sore spot named Trae Waynes. Rodgers should attack him all game long with Davante Adams. I expect a massive day from Tae as the lockdown corner Xavier Rhodes will spend his time with Jordy Nelson.

Packers defense could break out
A part of me feels good about this game, and not the reasons you’d expect, it’s the defense. Packers are better than the radio callers want you to believe. Clay Matthews is off to one of his best starts in years. Mike Daniels gave Minnesota fits last year and the year before. Obviously, Stefon Diggs is an issue as well as Adam Thielen, but there’s a chance Diggs might not go with a groin injury.

Prediction
I’m taking the Packers only for the fact I can’t see how Minnesota has enough offense to win this football game. With the pending Diggs injury on top of everything else, I see the Vikings struggling to keep up with Green Bay’s offense plus the Packers will force one or two turnovers. I like Green Bay to win 23-13

Charlie.