The last time the Green Bay Packers faced a QB in his first NFL start it was 2009 in Tampa Bay. Aaron Rodgers threw three of his seven 2009 interceptions and the Packers lost to QB Josh Freeman and the winless Buccaneers, 38-28. This week, the Packers will face another rookie QB in the Viqueens' Christian Ponder. Unfortunately for Minnesota, the similarities end there.
The Viqueens are a franchise in disarray (how well would you play if you didn't know if your team would exist next year?). Last week, Minnesota lost to Chicago, 39-10. Donovan McNabb, essentially a placeholder until Ponder was ready to assume the throne, was benched in the fourth quarter. With the fans booing, even McNabb's mother walked out on him. See here. McNabb and his momma are far removed from the Campbell's Chunky Soup days...
Christian Ponder will be an instant upgrade for the Vikings, if only for his mobility. Ever since Minnesota's long time LT, Bryant McKinnie, showed up for training camp at 400 pounds and lost his job for eating too much, the Vikings have struggled in protection, surrendering 16 sacks in the first six games. Moreover, this week, their starting center, John Sullivan, is listed as doubtful. Ponder may just spend the entire afternoon running from Clay Matthews. Welcome to the NFL, Christian.
The Vikings have even more serious issues with their pass defense. While Minnesota boasts a premier pass rushing tandem in Jared Allen (the mullet man) and Brian Robison, they have huge holes in their secondary. Safety Jamarca Sanford and CB Antoine Winfield will not play this week due to injury and CB Chris Cook is sitting in Hennepin County Jail for strangling his lady friend. Look for Rodgers and his plethora of weapons to exploit the depleted Vikings secondary.
The Vikings' recipe for victory: the Packers overlook the Vikings and show up thinking it's a bye week practice, resulting in multiple turnovers early and free reign for Adrian Peterson to run at will. Trust in Mike McCarthy: "We're not overlooking the Minnesota Vikings, I can promise you that," McCarthy said. "This is a very competitive division, it's always an extremely competitive game in the Metrodome. It's a tough place to play." Never fear: even if the Packers show up lackadaisically, Green Bay's practice tempo trumps Minnesota's super bowl effort.
Three Keys to Victory:
1) Score early- The Vikings have the most talented running back in the league in Adrian Peterson. Scoring early and often snatches the ball from Peterson and forces rookie Christian Ponder to stretch the field. Ponder may be Minnesota's chosen one, but he's a rookie, put the ball in his hands and eventually he will cough it up.
2) Protect the edge- Marshall Newhouse will be tested once again. At left tackle he faces the league's premier pass rusher, Jared Allen. If Newhouse can handle the blindside, the Vikings will bring pressure up the middle, and Rodgers, the best QB in the league against the blitz, will dominate.
3) Focus- Football is meant to be played outside! Yes, it's cold, windy and snowy in Minne-sooo-da...but how pathetic are the Viqueens: 1) they wear purple 2) they resort to artificial noise because they can't sell tickets 3) they buy everyone else's used trash and pretend it's gold. 4) the Metrodome is really a collapsable tent. Managing crowd noise will be pivotal to Green Bay's offense, whose QB loves to audible at the line of scrimmage.
The Skinny
The Green Bay Packers' defense should confuse Ponder and force a few turnovers provided that Aaron Rodgers straps on his favorite Nike Destroyers and puts up early points. Adrian Peterson may put up big numbers on a heavy workload, but it will only aid the Packers in running out the clock. Under coach McCarthy, Green Bay has averaged 30 points per game in domes. This week will be no exception....Packers roll into bye week 7-0 with a 30-10 victory.
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