Packers QB Rodgers probable for division showdown vs Vikings amid pass

When Green Bay is clicking, this is an interesting matchup.

Losing to the Lions was a cold slap in the face to Packers coach Mike McCarthy. “I think that’s the difference”, he said Wednesday, via Jason Wilde of ESPN.com.

Still, in two of those three games, Rodgers produced quality fantasy numbers. It hasn’t happened since his first season as a starter in 2008.

Minnesota has won five in a row, most recently leaning on Adrian Peterson and a strong defense to beat an improving Oakland Raiders team by 16 points on the road. But they know it won’t be easy. “You would expect us at home to score 19”. Obviously we understand they’re an excellent football team and excellent organization, but it still comes down to how we play. So we just have to … make those plays and those opportunities.

The Green Bay Packers have lost three straight games since the bye week, falling to second place in the NFC North, behind the 7-2 Minnesota Vikings. Half of the sacks Green Bay has permitted this season have come in the last three weeks.

On the season, the Green Bay Packers average 236.3 yards in passing and 108.0 yards in passing. Two teams going in opposite directions. Like Peterson, Packers NT B.J. Raji also missed both meetings previous year.

One player unable to get through the pain is Ty Montgomery who continues to deal with an ankle injury.

In his first six games, a much more efficient Rodgers completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 1,491 yards with 15 touchdowns and two interceptions. The Packers could only find their missing flow late in the fourth quarter, and then they still needed to knock through a 52-yard field goal to win, but Mason Crosby couldn’t deliver. We had a few catches to catch balls we couldn’t catch in order to sustain drives. The Vikings have a five-game winning streak and a 7-2 record after starting 2-2.

“We have to be really smart in our rush lanes”, defensive end Brian Robison said.

Green Bay routed the Vikings, 42-10, in the rain at Lambeau Field with Teddy Bridgewater out with injury, but barely edged Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium, 24-21, in a hard-fought rematch. Carolina and Detroit sacked Rodgers eight more times, and when he had time, nobody was open.

The Vikings, coached by second-year man Mike Zimmer, also boast the NFL’s second-best scoring defense at 17.1 points per game. They’ve got a good front and can get after the quarterback. The Vikings aren’t as good against the run, but Eddie Lacy is banged up and James Starks wasn’t able to get anything going against the Lions.