The Vikings lobbied the National Football League for a marquee opponent to open the new stadium and might want to be careful what they wish for. The Vikings defeated the Giants 49-17.
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Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said in a media call on Wednesday his team is preparing for both quarterbacks, but expects Bradford to get the call. But, both teams didn’t have their greatest outings in the first week of the season, and they are looking to improve.
Green Bay may have re-upped left tackle David Bakhtiari recently, but after letting another OL in Josh Sitton go due to his negative presence in the locker room, this offensive line is well, in flux. During the latter, September 1 against Los Angeles, the lights were dimmed whenever Minnesota scored a touchdown.
The big question leading up to Sunday night’s game is who will be starting under center for the Vikings.
That was last season, though, and this is this season.
Then again, one issue with playing at night could be detrimental to the Packers. And Aaron Rodgers doesn’t throw a lot of picks, so it will be incumbent upon the Vikings to not give the Packers any housewarming gifts.
Everyone knows how good Rodgers is. He is by far their best player on offense.
Rodgers has the arm, the agility, and the awareness to find open receivers on the field and can throw out-of-the-pocket, in-the-pocket, and on the run in a way that makes him special.
Who that quarterback is, the Vikings aren’t saying.
According to a list in online Sports books and Bovada, the Minny are underdogs with 2.5 point. Bradford is an upgrade on Shaun Hill, who started in Week 1, particularly against a Packers squad that surrendered 300 passing yards against Jacksonville. He acknowledged that he was feeling more comfortable in the offense and added he felt they could put together a full plan if he got the start. The running game is better and the total defense has already shown – through one game – that it can play at an elite level.
And finally, it’s the opening of the new home for the Vikings. What a showdown it will be in Minnesota’s new home. The Pack have covered six of their past seven road games.
Not surprisingly, the Packers feature an active roster with 83 percent of their players age 28 or younger.
In less than two weeks, Zimmer feels confident that the hours Bradford has spent studying the Vikings playbook with offensive coordinator Norv Turner and quarterbacks coach Scott Turner has prepared him for Week 2.
“I might not tell them, I might tell them”, he said.
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Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has tweeted: “Pssst: QB Sam Bradford took all the first-team snaps at practice today”. The Vikings got defensive touchdowns from Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter but managed just four field goals on offense and those came after Blair Walsh who cost the Vikings a Wild Card game a year ago shanking a 26 yard field goal attempt as time expired missed from 37 and 56 yards in the first half before hitting his next four in the second half. Minnesota’s defense was excellent, as Eric Kendricks intercepted Marcus Mariota and returned it 77 yards for a score and Danielle Hunter scooped up a fumble and took it 24 yards for another defensive touchdown in the fourth quarter to help the Vikings pull away.
