5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers – Week 1
By Chris Schad
Green Bay will finish with six sacks
As optimistic as we want to be about the Vikings this season, the one thing that will hold them back is the performance of the offensive line. After seeing the unit torpedo their 2019 campaign in the final month, Minnesota rolled up their sleeves this offseason and didn’t make any meaningful additions.
Somehow, Pat Elflein still has a starting job after being bowled over repeatedly last year. Dakota Dozier is a solid backup, but the more he played last season, the lower his overall PFF blocking grade went. This was especially true when Dozier had to make a start for Elflein in Week 2 last season and he proceeded to allow six pressures in a Vikings loss.
Meanwhile, the Packers still return Za’Darius Smith, who generated nine pressures and four sacks in their Week 16 meeting last season. Green Bay defensive tackle Kenny Clark dominated Minnesota center Garrett Bradbury in the middle for three sacks in the two meetings and Packers pass rusher Preston Smith also generated eight pressures and a pair of sacks.
Things could get worse for the Vikings if the reports of Green Bay defensive lineman Rashaan Gary having a positive training camp this summer are true, putting the offensive line in an extremely bad spot.
When it comes to Minnesota’s chances in 2020, they’ll go as far as the offensive line takes them. If the Vikings can’t figure out how to slow down the Packers pass rush, it’s going to be more of the same on Sunday afternoon.