Key Battles, Week 16 Edition: Minnesota at Green Bay

Expect Saturday's showdown with the Vikings to be rough; so instead, focus on the Packers' emerging young talents

Keep the Egg Nog close for Saturday night’s home finale against the hated Minnesota Vikings. But be reasonable: Do not turn the contest into a drinking game—unless you plan to be not long for this world. Against the highly-motivated Vikings—who are surely eyeing the top seed in the NFC—the playoff-eliminated Packers have only pride to play for. 
 
The Packers couldn’t muster a win against the Panthers, and that was with Aaron Rodgers back and playoff hopes still alive. Minnesota could have its way with the Packers, who shelved Rodgers for the final two games and are also missing standout receiver Davante Adams. 
 
Had the stakes been more significant, the key battles might include the Packers receivers finding ways to get open against Minnesota’s in-your-face secondary; or the offensive line against an aggressive front seven; or in generating pressure against Case Keenum. Those battles will be prevalent, but the Packers’ biggest battle on Saturday will be an internal one: 
 

Head start on 2018 begins now

Head coach Mike McCarthy said this week that the evaluation process for offseason changes has already started. And with injuries still ravaging the depth chart, the final two games will have a tryout element. McCarthy and the staff can get a clearer look at what they have in players like linebackers Vince Biegel and Reggie Gilbert. 
 
The Packers will have a chance to see what eight games of action have done for Brett Hundley. His journey this season started against Minnesota after Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone. Since then he’s had to ride the wave, playing his best football on the road with his best game against one of the team’s hardest opponents, Pittsburgh. Now he’ll have his plate full against the Vikings, who sport one of the league’s finest defenses. Minnesota’s defense is noteworthy because of the complementary nature of its position groups. The defensive lineman, linebackers, and defensive backs work in concert. (On the flip side, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote Friday, “working in concert” is the single greatest weakness of Dom Capers’ defense.) 
 
At running back, now is the time to evenly split the carries between rookies Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones. (One could argue, I think correctly, that the Carolina game was the right time to give Jones more opportunities, given his inclination for big plays.) Williams is clearly the superior pass blocker, and he’s been a pleasant surprise catching the ball to go along with a decisive, physical running style. But Jones’ pedigree coming out of UTEP was excellent pass-catching skills and we’ve seen what he can do in terms of big plays. There’s no benefit to making Williams the de-facto starter. To even stay competitive, Jones needs 15 to 20 touches. Mark my words. 
 
They’re playing for pride, yes, but they also need to have a clearer picture of their young players and what roles they can carve out next season. Because all there is at this point, aside from pride, is next season. 
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Comments (9)

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NickPerry's picture

December 23, 2017 at 10:38 am

"There’s no benefit to making Williams the de-facto starter. To even stay competitive, Jones needs 15 to 20 touches. Mark my words."

I completely agree with this but I wonder about McCarthy. Last weekend against Carolina the Packers were IN that game the whole time yet Jones had 3 carries. When the first 2 went for over 40 yards you just have to wonder where McCarthy's brain goes during a game. Jones was pretty much forgotten and it's not the first time we've seen this type of thing happen. With the speed the Vikings have on that defense, especially at LB, Jones would really be the best RB to throw at them.

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dobber's picture

December 23, 2017 at 11:16 am

Certainly Janis showed some rapport with Hundley in the preseason. With Adams out, if Janis can't show anything over these last couple weeks then he really is a lost cause at WR.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

December 23, 2017 at 02:31 pm

A little confused, Jonathan. Carries don't tell the whole story since AR has a role in that. Still, 3 of 16 running back carries = just 18.75% for Jones. Re snaps: 26 of 69 RB snaps = 38% for Jones, and 62% for Williams.

The necessity to run the ball a reasonable percentage of the time has slipped MM's mind repeatedly over the years. It is a clear pattern.

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Chuck Farley's picture

December 23, 2017 at 10:57 pm

I was high on this guys potential but gave up two years ago and so should the packers. I think he is just to dumb to learn the play book. The fact that they keep him around says a lot about talent evaluation on this team. Pipkins? Whitehead? Hawkins?
Vikes sure new from the film who the patsy and easy pass plays were going to, whomever hawkins was covering.

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Donster's picture

December 23, 2017 at 10:49 am

The Pillsbury Dough Boy can't stick to running game to save his butt. He is just a pass minded coach. He talks like a typical politician at his press conferences answering question and not giving a real answer. And he says "We are going to run the ball effectively". What he is really saying is "We are going to run the ball effectively for five or six plays, because we are going to throw it on the rest of the plays in the game". Tonight with the cold, he better plan on really running the ball as much as possible. We do not know how Hundley can throw the ball in real cold weather. He isn't that great in warm weather. Hundley will be running for his life tonight if MM constantly calls pass plays. Not only do the Viqueens want to beat the Pack, but they want to do it and make GB look as bad as possible. Especially in Lambeau.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

December 23, 2017 at 02:33 pm

Will MN blitz more or less than the 62% of the time that Carolina did?

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dobber's picture

December 23, 2017 at 06:45 pm

With #7 under C, they really don't need to blitz very much. Their front 4 will generate enough pressure without it.

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al bundy's picture

December 23, 2017 at 05:55 pm

My hope for u real pack fans, and I know it won't matter because Thomson etc will cry poor us all the injuries, is that the Vikes kick the packs asses, exposing the piss poor pass defense, lack of pass rush and hundley who is the worst QB in football.

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billybobton's picture

December 26, 2017 at 02:17 pm

Seriously - is home or away the limit of complex problems on this site?

BH is not a home or away problem, he had decent, not great stats against two of the worst bottom feeders, and the absolute worst bottom feeder of all time.

That is the difference. It is no great shakes to go into the dog pound and almost lose; despite trying to spin it into some kind of great come from behind victory.

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