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Behind Enemy Lines: After slow start, Aaron Rodgers carved Vikings up last week

As the Vikings prepare for Saturday’s playoff showdown with Green Bay at Lambeau Field, we asked Tyler Dunne, who covers the Packers for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, to give us his up-close-and-personal scouting report. Here are four things you need to know …

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 47611.html

Rodgers threw for 318 of his 365 yards after Winfield’s exit

This is not coincidence. We need Winfield out there all four quarters. Especially with Cobb coming back into the lineup.

Cliff wrote: This is not coincidence. We need Winfield out there all four quarters. Especially with Cobb coming back into the lineup.

Agree completely. Even then, our DBs aren't nearly as good as their stable of receivers. Defensively, unrelenting pressure by our front four and getting a couple turnovers are really the only hopes we have. Offensively, we must sustain drives with AD, get in third-and-short situations and avoid as much as a single turnover. Ponder (and Musgrave) needs to be every bit as good in this week as he was last week. I just don't have much confidence with GB at almost full strength playing angry at home while we have a lot of guys banged up. I fear AD needs another 200-yard day and put the team on his back.

dead_poet wrote: Agree completely. Even then, our DBs aren't nearly as good as their stable of receivers. Defensively, unrelenting pressure by our front four and getting a couple turnovers are really the only hopes we have. Offensively, we must sustain drives with AD, get in third-and-short situations and avoid as much as a single turnover. Ponder (and Musgrave) needs to be every bit as good in this week as he was last week. I just don't have much confidence with GB at almost full strength playing angry at home while we have a lot of guys banged up. I fear AD needs another 200-yard day and put the team on his back.

Yeah, it doesn't look great for the team as far as matchups go overall. However, it seems like they play best when that's the case so perhaps that's a good thing.

As far as AD needing another monster game ... that's kind of how the team is built; on AD's back. I'm looking forward to the game, I think it'll be a good one regardless of outcome.

GB doesn't have a guy that is a matchup nightmare like Calvin Johnson. The problem is the difference between their #1 guy and their #4 guy isn't nearly as steep as it is on most clubs. (I think a lot of this has to do with Rogers, how many of those guys would really scare you with a back up throwing the ball?) In order to defend them you need all of your coverage unit playing sound football and even then you still have to take the licks that Rogers will dish out with perfectly thrown balls, etc. The key is not giving it away on plays where he isn't perfect via crappy coverage.

The Vikings game plan is sound. Do not turn the ball over and win the time of possession by keeping Rogers off the field. IMO it is really as simple as that. If you give them bonus posessions on short fields, they are going to win. If you can take a lead and dominate TOP, you can keep it close.

Also, Rogers gave us his best game last Sunday. When we played in Lambeau a month ago he wasn't that perfect. Rogers is certainly capable of dropping the ball into a bucket, but the accuracy on those throws has to be laser sharp. He isn't that amazing on every play, so if the Vikings can score and get their running game going we have a shot. The Key is playing smart football.