The team returns home to face its NFC North rival.
Jordan Love will make just his seventh start as the Green Bay Packers No. 1 quarterback when the Packers host Minnesota, Sunday, so it’s way too early to decide his future. Even though several social media general managers already have.
The Packers still don’t know what they have in Love, just as the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t know what they had in Jalen Hurts and the Miami Dolphins didn’t know what they had in Tua Tagovailoa. All three quarterbacks came out of the same 2020 draft.
Here’s what the Eagles and Dolphins did to find out.
The Eagles drafted Heisman Trophy winner wide receiver DeVonta Smith, from national champion Alabama, with the ninth pick in the 2021 NFL draft and traded with the Tennessee Titans for wide receiver A.J. Brown the night of the 2022 NFL draft.
Miami drafted Jaylen Waddle, from that same Alabama team, with the sixth overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft and traded with the Kansas City Chiefs for Tyreek Hill before the 2022 NFL draft.
Hurts and Tagovailoa are now two of the top quarterbacks in the league.
Armed with as much draft capital as they have ever had, here’s what the Packers have done, or not done, for Love.
They did not draft a wide receiver in the first round (shocking, I know) and didn’t trade for a veteran receiver. The Eagles gave up a first and a third-round ick for Brown the same draft the Packers had two firsts and two seconds.
Instead the Packers gave Love a big, fast wide receiver from a non Division 1 school who is miles away from being a complete NFL player, and drafted another in the fourth round (from a non Power 5 school) of the 2022 NFL draft. They added a second-round slot receiver and a fifth-round receiver in the 2023 draft.
Love is playing with the youngest group of receivers and tight ends in the league by far. The wrong route running, inability to make tough plays, drops, and just overall inexperience, as somewhat expected, has shown up all over the first six games of this season.
There are 11 more games left this season and the Packers may still not know what they have in Love. But they should know what they don’t have at receiver.
Here’s the rest of what you need to know for Sunday’s game.
Who: Vikings (3-4) vs. Packers (2-4)
When: Noon, CDT
Where: Lambeau Field
TV: FOX (Kenny Albert, Jon Vilma)
Line: Vikings -1 1/2 Over/Under 41 1/2 according to Vegas Insiders
All-Time: Packers 65-57-3, including playoffs.
Last Time: Jan. 1, 2023 Packers, 41-17.
Keisean Nixon took a kickoff back 105 yards for a touchdown and the Packers defense had three interceptions of Kirk Cousins.
Injuries: Packers: CB Jaire Alexander (back) and TE Luke Musgrave did not practice Thursday.
Key Matchups: Packers RT Zach Tom vs. Vikings LB Danielle Hunter; Packers Def. vs. Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson; Packers LB Rashan Gary vs. Vikings T Brian O’Neill; Packers WR Christian Watson vs. Vikings CB Akayleb Evans.
Tom has been the Packers best and most consistent linemen this season. He’ll get a huge test in Hunter, who has nine sacks in seven games this season. … Hockenson leads the Vikings in bth targets (59) and receptions (47). Expect some combination of coverage involving De’Vondre Campbell, if he’s healthy and maybe safety Jon Owens. …Gary has been the Packers best pass rusher and goes against the athletic O’Neill. This is one match-up the Packers have to win. …It’s time for Watson to make a big play, and what better team than the Vikings who he dropped what would have been a big play a year ago. Evans, a second-year CB out of Missouri is physical but can be beat deep.
Rookie Report: Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks became the first rookie non-quarterback to throw, and complete, a pass since running back Willard Harrell in 1975.
Stat of the Week: The Packers are the only team in the league to not lose a fumble this season.
Prediction: Packers 20, Vikings 17
Record: 2-4
Record vs. Spread: 3-3
