Packers Face Minnesota’s Relentless Blitz

Minnesota’s defense has blitzed on 75.3% of its plays this season, a rate far above any other team’s since 2000. The Vikings will bring that pressure to Green Bay when they face the Packers on Sunday, November 15. Coach Matt LaFleur summed up the challenge simply: “it’s called pressure.”

The Vikings lead the league in points allowed, total defense, sack percentage and red-zone defense. They have also limited opponents to 4.5 yards per first-down play, and their opponents face an average of 8.3 yards to go on third down. Minnesota then allows just 4.2 yards on third-down plays and leads the league with four interceptions in those situations.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love said Minnesota’s disguises make it difficult to know what coverage or rush is coming. He said Green Bay needs to trust its reads, recognize the defense and get the ball out quickly rather than panic. Tight end Tucker Kraft also said the Packers would have to find ways to benefit from the pressure.

A recent game against Buffalo offered one possible approach: Josh Allen completed 15 of 16 throws traveling no farther than 10 yards from the snap point. The Bills also kept running the ball against Minnesota, even when the gains were small early in the game. The Vikings gave up 154 rushing yards to Indianapolis, 230 to Detroit and 134 to Buffalo across their past three games. Green Bay, which has struggled to run the ball for much of the season, will need to manage first downs and avoid penalties and missed assignments that can leave it in long-yardage situations.