2 Things 'Bout the Packers
1. Dynamic O&D personnel
Green Bay has a surplus of talent, including many first-round investments on both sides of the ball.
The pass-catching depth and balanced production stands out; nine Packers have 10-plus targets and seven have 100-plus receiving yards. Matthew Golden and Christian Watson are speed threats. Romeo Doubs is a solid possession option. And Savion Williams and Dontavion Wicks are super-sized wideouts.
Running back Josh Jacobs, however, is Green Bay's most consistent playmaker. He is listed as questionable because of a knee injury but is worth highlighting because he's been a fiend for the end zone in 2025.
Jacobs has accounted for about 40 percent of the Packers offensive touchdowns this season and is second to MVP frontrunner Jonathan Taylor of the Colts in rushing scores (Taylor has 15; Jacobs has 11).
Beyond his 43 missed tackles forced, the seventh most per NGS, Jacobs is dangerous because of his fit in Matt LaFleur's offense, which dials up runs from under center or out of the gun and features lots of eye candy.
"It's thoughtfully constructed and designed in a way to kind of accentuate the gifts, talents and abilities of the guys on their team – o-line, tight ends, running backs, and in some cases it's the quarterback when Malik Willis jumps in there," Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores said of the Packers ground attack. "There's a lot to defend. But really, for us, it always boils down to technique, fundamentals, communication, setting edges, tackling [and] defeating blocks – all that stuff that's boring to everybody."
Minnesota's defense is ranked in the top half of the league in total yards allowed (317.5/game) but is one of the worst groups at taking away the football – the Vikings are 24th overall in turnovers forced (9) and 29th in interceptions (3). Both are far cries from 2024, when Flores' unit hoarded 33 and 24 (both 1st).
Flipping around, Packers DC Jeff Hafley "uses his players very effectively," Phillips assessed.
"Getting Micah [Parsons] was a big deal, but I've had tons of respect for Rashan Gary since he's been in the league, the way he plays the game, the physicality. Now they've got kind of a guy on each edge that you really have to deal with and contend with," he said, also complimenting the LB corps and secondary.
Green Bay has given up 20 or fewer points in seven of 10 games this season, the first time it's done so since 2010 (won Super Bowl XLV). Opponents have managed more than 20 three times and more than 25 just once – Dallas dropped 40 when the teams tied in Week 4. Furthermore, the green and gold are ranked in the Top 7 defenses for PPG (19.6), YPG (292.1), QB hits (59) and yards per play allowed (4.7).
Like Minnesota, however, Green Bay has struggled mightily to create takeaways, totaling eight so far.