5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers – Week 8
By Chris Schad
Thielen will drop 150 yards on the Packers
In a 2017 meeting between the Vikings and the Packers, Minnesota had to decide whether to use Xavier Rhodes to shadow Jordy Nelson or Davante Adams. To the surprise of some, Rhodes clung onto Adams for the rest of the afternoon and it felt like that was the moment when Adams was deemed the Packers’ No. 1 receiving threat.
Fast forward to Sunday and the Packers have a similar situation. Jaire Alexander has become one of the top corners in the NFL, but he can’t guard two elite receivers at once. Green Bay defensive coordinator Mike Pettine will need to decide if Justin Jefferson or Adam Thielen poses more of a threat heading in and the decision could be an unofficial crowning of the Vikings top receiver.
With praise from Matt LeFleur earlier this week, it would seem like the Packers would choose to put Alexander across from Jefferson. This should open up more opportunities for Thielen, who would then square off with Josh Jackson if Kevin King isn’t available.
Jackson has been great for the Packers, ranking seventh among qualifiers with 0.49 yards allowed per coverage snap. But that number has been skewed with Jackson only seeing 12 targets across four games.
If Jefferson is shut down by Alexander, Kirk Cousins could latch onto Thielen, who put 110 yards and two touchdowns on the Packers back in Week 1.