Minnesota Vikings: Vikings-Packers rivalry has different feel this time around

For as long as I can remember, “Packer week” has been the most anticipated week of the football season for me. As a fan of the Minnesota Vikings, the chance to take down the Green Bay Packers twice a year is always something to look forward to.

This season, it has a bit of a different feel to it.

The last time the Vikings and Packers squared off with serious playoff implications on the line was back in the 2012 season finale, when the Vikings clinched a playoff berth by beating the Packers at home 37-34. Besides then, you have to go back to 2009, the year Brett Favre dominated the NFL in his 74th season, leading the Vikings to the NFC Championship game.

This week’s game against the Packers is definitely the most important in the rivalry over the last three seasons. Minnesota has been one of the surprises of the NFL season, off to a 7-2 start and owning sole possession of the NFC North lead (it feels really good to type those words). Green Bay trails the Vikings by one game in the division at 6-3. However, the Packers are on a three-game losing streak after falling to the Lions at home (!!!!!) last week.

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Over the past few years, I’ve gotten accustomed to going into a Vikings-Packers game expecting the Packers to come out on top. Aside from that 2012 season finale, the Vikings haven’t beaten the Packers since you-know-who was playing quarterback in 2009. Time and time again, Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay’s high-octane offense has proved to be too much for a Vikings defense that just had no answer.

With that being said, this week is the first time in years that I’m genuinely confident in the Vikings the week of a Packer game. And it’s not just because Minnesota is on a five-game winning streak and Green Bay is on a three-game losing streak (although that’s a large part of it). There’s just something different about the 2015 version of the Vikings. I’m not sure exactly what it is, but I do know this: they get the job done. It might not always be pretty, but they find ways to win games.

Mike Zimmer has built an identity in Minnesota, an old-school identity, for this team and they stick to it. Offensively, coordinator Norv Turner will give you exactly what you expect — he’ll pound Adrian Peterson right at you and wear you down until he starts to rattle off big gains. With the run established, he’ll throw in some play action passes for Teddy Bridgewater. There’s absolutely nothing fancy about it, but it’s been good enough to win. Furthermore, the Vikings now lead the league in rushing as a team at 147.2 rushing yards per game. Also, Adrian Peterson is the NFL’s leading rusher at 961 yards — 227 yards ahead of second place.

Oh, and another thing that seems relevant: Green Bay’s defense is 24th in the NFL against the run, allowing over 116 yards per game. Yeah.

Defensively, the Vikings have put together one of the most talented front 7’s in all of football. This unit has been getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season, while also showing tremendous gap discipline against the run. The secondary hasn’t been spectacular, but they’ve made enough plays behind that front 7 to be successful. Green Bay’s offensive line has allowed 22 sacks this season, which is 8th most in the NFL. Additionally, the Vikings haven’t allowed more than 23 points in a game this season, and are only allowing 17.1 points per game, which is only first in the NFL.

I guess I should mention that the Vikings special teams has been very, very good this season. Mike Priefer has done a fantastic job with that unit this season. They seem to make one or two big plays each game that swing momentum towards the Vikings.

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The Packers are reeling, having lost three straight, while the Vikings have all the momentum in the world after having won five straight. This combined with the attitude and identity that has been built by Mike Zimmer and Co., and I think Vikings fans have every reason to be optimistic about their chances this Sunday.

It’s been far too long since Minnesota Vikings fans could be genuinely optimistic about Packer week. Well, this week is that time. Embrace it.

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