I was fortunate enough to spend my weekend at a lovely wedding of a dear friend of mine, but it came at a cost. The wedding was in Minneapolis and I was surrounded by Minnesota Vikings fans telling me how, yet again, this is their year. I believe the quote was “we’ll have a top 5 offense and the top defense in the North,” and that was BEFORE the open bar.
So let’s take a quick look at how exactly the teams compare position group.
Special Teams
I grouped this together to keep it short. MAYBE Mason Crosby has a bounce back year and maybe our Special Teams are better.. but I cannot say I will count on that. Until Green Bay can put it together, I won’t put their group above anyone.
Advantage: Minnesota
Defensive Secondary
The Packers boast what is most likely the best trio in the NFL at cornerback between Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Rasul Douglas, while the vikings have the past-his-prime and slowed down Patrick Peterson along with some unproven young players.
At safety, Vikings fans are quick to point to Harrison Smith and rookie Lewis Cine. Smith has been great for years, but he’s also lost a step as he comes into his 10th year in the league. I honestly liked Cine a lot coming out of college but Safety is a position that takes some time to develop. Adrian Amos is a certified star and Darnell Savage is short hop away from becoming a huge playmaker.
Even without Alexander last year Packers still allowed 600 less passing yards, and we were playing with the lead much more often.
Advantage: Green Bay
Linebackers and Edge
Eric Kendricks has tormented us for year. He is by far the best player on this defense, and yet the Packers are the one’s with the All-Pro (De’Vondre Campbell) at the helm along with a promising first round pick in Quay Walker.
At edge, Minnesota acquired former Packer Za’Darius Smith and have Danielle Hunter. This is a solid duo but it’ll depend on if they can stay healthy. Smith didn’t play almost the entire year due to a back injury and those don’t exactly go away overnight. Meanwhile, Rashan Gary is projected as a breakout player and a DPOY dark-horse candidate. If Preston Smith can stay healthy and get some rotational help, this is a dangerous group.
Advantage: Green Bay (though slight)
Defensive Line
I’ll keep this one short and sweet. The Packers have Kenny Clark, and more depth than they have had in maybe 20 years. Devonte Wyatt is going to be exciting as a rookie and TJ Slaton looked poised to make a jump at the end of the year. The Vikings? I guess they have Dalvin Tomlinson but that is their only player of note.
Advantage: Green Bay
Offensive Line
This is another position that comes down to health. If Bakhtiari and Jenkins make it back this year, it is Packers by a landslide. Vikings center Garret Bradbury and guard Ezra Cleveland are great players, but not All-Pros.
If Green Bay gets everyone back, they will have not only the best line in the North but possibly the league. Without them? They still performed better than the Vikings last year and they continued to add more depth in the draft which will breed competition.
Advantage: Green Bay
Running Backs
Both squads have really solid 1-2 punches at running back. The question is, can Dalvin Cook make it a whole season? Alexander Mattison may need to do more to lighten his load to help this be the case.
Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are also a phenomenal group. They help each other stay fresh and bring two different aspects to the backfield with their respective elusiveness and power.
I want to say Packers take this one, but I will give it a tough tie ONLY because of Minnesota FB CJ Ham who adds a second level blocking that opens up their entire run game.
Advantage: Tie
Pass Catchers
Finally the position everyone wants to talk about.. who is Aaron Rodgers going to throw to? For the record.. it doesn’t matter. But I will give the Vikings this one.
Justin Jefferson is going to be a star for years and Adam Thielen is a dangerous number 2. If KJ Osborn and TE Irv Smith take a step this is going to be a solid group.
No one really knows what Green Bay has at WR, or TE for that matter. I think they will be better than people expect, and could have better numbers than the Vikings, but that would mostly be due to our next and final position.
Advantage: Minnesota
Quarterbacks
I will aways appreciate that the Vikings decided to blow money on Kirk Cousins instead of invest around Case Keenum. No matter who he is throwing to, Aaron Rodgers is the back to back MVP and the Vikings are STILL overpaying their less athletic version of Baker Mayfield.
Advantage: Green Bay
Summary
Green Bay: 5
Minnesota: 2
Tie: 1
It turns out, this could have been written in two words.
So I ask again, how does Minnesota stack up against Green Bay? It’s easy.
They don’t.
PJ is an Ohio native who was fortunate enough to be born into the green and gold family through his father who grew up in Green Bay. He now resides in NYC where he is an avid fan and fantasy football player. You can follow him on twitter at @roden_pj.
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