“We’re making way too big a deal out of that”, Zimmer said, when asked to elaborate on his idea.
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“It’s not so much this game, but it’s as far how the season is going – what we’ve got going and how much more serious it’s going to get”, wide receiver Stefon Diggs said.
The advice to stay hungry and avoid complacency, analogous to a mouse sniffing a trap set with a tasty snack, will be especially pertinent now that they’ve moved past the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.
“He’s brought a different mentality in here the last two years”.
But it’s a nice kickoff to Packers week; something to do between now and when the 7-2 Vikings host the 6-3 Packers at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday. When he struggles, the Packers struggle. Rodgers and the Packers offense is sputtering right now. There’s a team in front of you every week and your job is to beat them whatever way you can since all wins count the same.
If the season ended today, the Vikings would own the No. 3 seed in the NFC (Arizona has a better conference record), but it doesn’t end today so that is meaningless.
Green Bay’s defense is, once again, a fairly mediocre bend but don’t break product.
Three seasons ago, the Vikings defense was near the bottom of the league in yards allowed (a rank of 31st with 397.6 yards allowed per game) and dead last in points allowed with 30.0 per game. They give up a lot of yards, and after watching several of their games, they don’t do anything at a high level, at least consistently. They’re just okay at stopping the run, just okay at stopping the pass, but they are good at getting to the quarterback, registering 23 sacks this year to Minnesota’s 21.
Zimmer also took a swipe at anyone who still doesn’t respect how the Vikings have reached the point of being five games over.
The Minnesota Vikings had a gift waiting for them when they arrived for Monday’s practice: tee shirts with the words “Beat Green Bay” on them. On the ground, Adrian Peterson rushed for 203 yards and one touchdown in 26 attempts.
What I am trying to re-emphasize is just how important these two games against Green Bay are. Let’s say, for example, the Vikings only go 2-3 against the five remaining opponents besides the Packers. “You’ve got to continue to grind even harder”. Sweep the Packers, and it’s 11-5 and, more than likely, a division title and a guaranteed home playoff game.
“I don’t know”, the coach said with a wince.
Yahoo Sports made a decision for the Green Bay Packers, it is time for them to panic.
The 7-2 Vikings have a one-game lead over the slumping Packers with a huge division matchup on tap for Sunday in Minnesota.
Since 2010, Green Bay is 9-1-1 against Minnesota, beat them in the playoffs and won a Super Bowl.
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Come Sunday night, there’s a good chance the new road through Minnesota will be open for business.
