4 Packers the Vikings need to do better against the second time around

David Bakhtiari – OT

Aaron Rodgers had a huge game against the Vikings in Week 1 and a big reason why was all the time he had to scan the field and find the open man. Much of that time he was allotted was due to the play of David Bakhtiari.

Bakhtiari was nearly perfect on the day protecting Rodgers’ blindside. He shut down Minnesota’s newly acquired pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue and no other Vikings pass rusher could get by him either.

If Minnesota going to somehow beat the Packers, they’ll have to find a way to get around and past this elite left tackle. That is going to be a major uphill battle for the Vikings.

Minnesota recently traded away Ngakoue and even with him on the field, the defensive line was struggling to apply heat off the edge. What the Vikings will do to make up for his loss is going to be one of the more interesting aspects of this game.

They’ll likely rely on rookie D.J. Wonnum and maybe rotate him with Jalyn Holmes. That is a major downgrade in talent from Ngakoue, but maybe the rookie can surprise and get the best of the Pro Bowler once or twice and get to Rodgers. If Bakhtiari stonewalls the Vikings the way he did back in Week 1, Rodgers will easily throw for another four touchdowns and nearly 400 yards.