5 biggest takeaways from the Vikings win vs. Packers in Week 11

Getting the defense back was huge

Being without some of your best players can make a huge difference in the outcome of football games. So far this season, the Minnesota Vikings have dealt with short-term injuries, long-term injuries, and COVID-19 as well as other things that made getting a full game together tricky.

Week 11 saw the return of several important players on defense. Cornerback Patrick Peterson, safety Harrison Smith, and linebacker Anthony Barr all made their return and it was noticeable in the defense.

Despite those players coming back, Green Bay still moved the ball well. They had 467 yards of offense and put up 31 points against this unit. Still, there is something to be said for holding Green Bay’s running backs to 64 yards on the day and giving up only four total first downs to the Packers ground game.

There were still hiccups. Missed assignments and some rust were evident during the game. But if the Minnesota Vikings can keep these players together on the field and allow them to gel, they will continue to improve and progress each week.

*Updated to correct the status of Michael Pierce