PurplePTSD: Nearly Everyone Is Picking The Packers

Press release from the PurplePTSD:

K. Joudry

2022-01-02

Even before the Kirk Cousins news, I was picking the Packers to beat the Vikings. Minnesota has gone on a 2-by-2 back and forth since the bye. Two losses and then two wins. Repeat ad infinitum. Well, the Vikings beat the Steelers and then the Bears, so it only made sense they’d need to drop a couple. They got beat by the Rams and will lose this upcoming game to complete the duo, as per this season’s tradition.

It turns out I’m not alone in my prediction.

Paul Bretl from Dairyland Express suggests the Packers may struggle to corral Dalvin Cook:

Bretl, if I’m not mistaken, wrote his piece before the Cousins news emerged. It would be very, very surprising if the Packers don’t respond to the QB’s absence by ensuring they always have 8 men in the box to shut down the Vikings run game.

The article on Vikings.com suggests that most notable names are rolling with GB. Here is their quote from NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal:

Freddie Boston of Lombardi Ave offered his prediction (though before the Cousins news):

So here’s the thing. I happen to agree that if this game had Cousins, it would likely be a close one. One wonders if Minnesota’s unbelievable streak of one-score games will survive the absence of their QB1. Another factor is the weather. If it’s awful enough, both teams may struggle to throw the ball.

Sean Mannion will be the man under center, much to the chagrin of many fans. Some want Kellen Mond, and yet it’s tough to think that wouldn’t be a mistake. Whoever is under center is going to have a difficult time. I don’t imagine either will be able to find much success, so it’ll take a dominant day from the Vikings’ poor defense to pull off the upset against the Packers.

This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.