Packers Desperately Seeking Their First Victory at US Bank Stadium
In a convoluted NFC playoff picture, the Packers are desperate for their first ever win at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
By Ryan Brunner
This Sunday, the Green Bay Packers will be making their third trip to US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota and they’ll be looking to win their first game in the venue since it opened in 2016. The new, high-tech indoor stadium was designed to be loud and it will be another tough test for the Packers on the road in a must-win game to help keep their season alive.
Back in 2016, the Packers had the unfortunate task of traveling to US Bank Stadium to play in the inaugural regular season game for the Vikings in the stadium and the Vikings defense dominated the Packers by a final score of 17-14. Last year, the Packers made the trip to US Bank Stadium in October and what ensued was the collarbone snap heard around Packers nation and a 23-10 Vikings victory. If the 2018 Packers want any shot at righting their ship this season, securing their first win at US Bank Stadium is a must.
While many have written the Packers off for the season after their gut-wrenching loss in Seattle last Thursday, a quick look at the NFC standings shows that the Packers hopes are still alive and well as the teams enter the final six weeks of the regular season.
- Rams (10-1)
- Saints (9-1)
- Bears (7-3)
- Redskins (6-4)
- Panthers (6-4)
- Vikings (5-4-1)
- Seahawks (5-5)
- Cowboys (5-5)
- Packers (4-5-1)
- Falcons (4-6)
- Lions (4-6)
With the Saints and Rams in cruise control heading to the NFC playoffs, the Bears pulling two wins ahead in the NFC North race and the NFC East being a dogfight between the Redskins and Cowboys, the remaining teams are likely fighting for two Wild Card spots in the NFC barring any significant collapses by the front-runners.
The Panthers certainly look the part of being in control for the first Wild Card spot. But with the remainder of the teams in the hunt for the playoffs having significant questions and issues, the Packers hopes are alive and well if they can string together some wins and that has to start in Minneapolis this Sunday night. The Vikings are coming off an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears and fans are left questioning the play of Kirk Cousins and asking why they haven’t beat a team with a winning record yet. The Seahawks have been a Jekyll & Hyde team so far this season and face the likes of the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs to finish the season. The Cowboys fans have been left questioning head coach Jason Garrett plenty of times this season and many are calling for his head on a silver platter given the high expectations of the team. The Cowboys finish against each of their NFC East opponents as well as games against the red-hot Saints and Colts. Finishing the list off, the Falcons and Lions have looked sketchy at best this season and both face difficult schedules featuring matchups with all of their divisional opponents to end the season.
Like the Packers, all of the teams likely fighting for the last one or two playoff spots in the NFC are teams that entered the season with very high hopes yet have underperformed significantly through the first 11 weeks of the season. That fact, paired with some likelihood of a nine-win team squeaking into the playoffs this year, gives the Packers hope on the season and it all has to start for the Packers this Sunday. After their trip to Minnesota, the Packers December schedule sets up very nicely with three of five games coming at Lambeau Field against the Cardinals, Falcons and Lions. The two road trips are to New York to take on the Jets and to Soldier Field to take on the Bears.
Back to this Sunday against the Vikings, both teams will be desperately itching to drive a nail into each other’s coffins on this season. A Packers victory evens the records between the two teams and puts them ahead in the tie-breaker should they be tied at the end of the season. A Vikings victory puts them two games ahead of the Packers and holding the tie-breaker. With the Vikings reeling after a primetime loss the Bears on Sunday Night Football last Sunday, the time is now for the Packers to put together their first full team effort on the year and come out of US Bank Stadium with their first victory at the venue.
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Ryan Brunner is an avid Packers fan hailing from Chippewa Falls, WI. He is a firm believer that punters are NFL players too! Follow him on Twitter @brunwardo
Comments (27)
Skip greenBayless
November 20, 2018 at 06:15 pm
"Nothing is over until we decide it is. "
John Belushi in Animal House
Since'61
November 20, 2018 at 06:41 pm
"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor??"
"No prisoners!!!" Thanks, Since '61
Skip greenBayless
November 20, 2018 at 07:06 pm
Thanks for finishing Since 61. I knew someone would step in.
Dash
LeotisHarris
November 20, 2018 at 08:36 pm
But, as far as we know, Bluto wasn't "desperately itching" like these two teams. Isn't Cruex still on the market?
Rak43
November 20, 2018 at 09:01 pm
Say what? You mean it wasn't the Japanese who bombed Pearl harbor? Who knew? :-}
ScaryGary
November 20, 2018 at 06:43 pm
i hear all this talk about a rally or hiring some unproven coach, what about after we lose to saints in nfc championship we fire coach and hire...jeff fisher. imagine mike mcarthy with mel kipers hair plus a mustache. we would go 19-0
Daren726
November 21, 2018 at 06:05 am
UGH
Rick1
November 20, 2018 at 07:02 pm
The o lineman better hold up against that front 4. MM has to lean heavy on the run game this week to give play action vertical passes time to develop.Then the pass game plan should be slants and short throws. With the defense beat up, keep away will limit the Vikings possessions. They can win with a balanced attack. MM if he is a good coach in this situation you do this to win time of possession and the ball game.
If they lose and it is a bad performance MM is out at the end of the year. The last 5 games will be a painful memory of a season that was pissed away.
dobber
November 20, 2018 at 07:13 pm
If they're going to beat the Vikings, they're going to need to play a script that matches the first 3 quarters at Lambeau: jump on them early, pick up a few fortuitous TOs/mistakes, make them one-dimensional and playing catch-up.
Daren726
November 21, 2018 at 06:07 am
And not give up the long ball.
Kb999
November 20, 2018 at 07:04 pm
Need to run the table
Rick1
November 20, 2018 at 07:24 pm
The packers are the walking wounded on defense especially. Didn’t have Jones in week 1 I think you have to put together long drives10-15 plays. If it becomes a high scoring game and MM gets tight and nervous light a shy boy on prom night we are going to get our ass kicked.
Bearmeat
November 20, 2018 at 07:51 pm
If we make the playoffs, it will be as the NFCN champ I think. Lest we all forget, we've found ways to lose the past 4 weeks against the best teams in the NFL in the toughest venues.
Look, this is not a great team. But it is a talented one. IF they stop shooting themselves in the foot, it is the best team in the NFCN.
I do think the Bears are good, but they're not great. They'll lose @ MIN, @LAR. That means if we win out, we'll win the division.
I'd give that a 1 in 5 shot of happening.
Daren726
November 21, 2018 at 06:14 am
Did you watch the bears Vikings game Sunday night? If you did, I don’t think you would be so confident, but I hope you are correct.
Bearmeat
November 21, 2018 at 07:02 am
I'm not confident. I said a 1 in 5 shot.
I also have watched our team the past month. Self-inflicted wounds have cost them a 5 game winning streak against the toughest competition in the league.
Samson
November 21, 2018 at 07:17 am
2-3 in their last five but you somehow think they could be on a 5 game winning streak. -- That's a real stretch. -- It's like winning the lottery but not having all the correct numbers. -- Hard to do.
flackcatcher
November 21, 2018 at 09:24 am
I think that's a honest eval. As usual with this team, injuries will tell the tale. I don't know if there is enough depth to counter the losses giving how this team is currently playing.
Fire_Gute
November 20, 2018 at 08:04 pm
I've been hearing and reading for 4 weeks now how this team has to run the table or go on a run or get it together. We're 1 and 3. I don't care how good the opponents were, you play good teams in the playoffs. We have the Vikings in their new empty trophy case of a stadium, the Bears at their house and the Falcons. Does anyone really see 3 wins out of that? Or 2 even? The Vikings game is probably the easiest of the 3.
CAG123
November 20, 2018 at 11:03 pm
Is it really worth it to “run the table”? I mean the Saints rebuilt there team off 3 straight 7-9 seasons so does making the playoffs really benefit this team in the long run especially with a coach they don’t plan on keeping? If it doesn’t end in a Lombardi then it was a wasted effort.
Daren726
November 21, 2018 at 06:18 am
One good draft was all they needed to kick start it. We are in the same boat. Our talent is depleted because of the last three TT drafts. Gute did an awesome job this year and is stockpiling draft picks ( see ha ha trade) for next year. If he strikes again we should be in much better shape with some depth and talent.
bodei1newbie1
November 21, 2018 at 04:18 am
they are going to lose to the vikings so everybody get over it watch the game sunday and see what the defense gives rodgers or will he go for the long ball or will he dance around in the pocket we will see
PAPackerbacker
November 21, 2018 at 05:49 am
Even if the Packers do make the playoffs do you really believe they can win any of their playoff games on the road?
Daren726
November 21, 2018 at 06:20 am
6th seed against one seed ( New Orleans in the super dome) good luck.
Daren726
November 21, 2018 at 06:24 am
Defense will be our undoing this week (too many injuries) unless Rodgers can stay on the field and score a bunch of points.
Samson
November 21, 2018 at 07:23 am
This is the NFL & on any given Sunday ..... However, the game is in Minnesota, the Pack will be showing their lack of depth (again) and MM & AR will continue to try and convince the football world that they are amigos & are on the 'same page'.
To run the table & actual make the playoffs, the Pack need to win at Minn. -- I doubt they will.
Chuck Farley
November 21, 2018 at 09:08 am
I think to play there you have to have confidence in your team and what your doing. This team is just not settled into who they are and what they are doing.
That tends to lead to slow play, too much thinking and indecision. Hope I'm wrong.
dobber
November 21, 2018 at 09:26 am
Bills week 3?