The Green Bay Packers are without question one of the most disappointing teams this season. After being hyped up quite a bit during the offseason, the Packers are now just 4-5-1 on the season. Aaron Rodgers and company know that they are nearly out of the NFC playoff race heading into their primetime matchup on Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings.
Looking ahead to Sunday night's game, the Packers are in a must-win situation. Minnesota is also in desperate need of coming away with a win after their loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.
Playing in Minnesota is never a fun task for any team. The fans are hostile, especially when an arch-rival like the Packers comes to town. Add in the fact that the Vikings need a win in a bad way and the atmosphere is going to be very difficult for Green Bay.
Mike McCarthy's tenure with the Packers also could be coming to a close if the team is unable to make the playoffs. That makes this week's game an even bigger matchup for Green Bay. After Week 12, the Packers' schedule gets much easier, which makes winning on the road in Minnesota a do-or-die situation.
All of that being said, what five things do the Packers need to do this week in order to ensure a win over the Vikings and keep themselves alive and kicking in the NFC playoff picture?
5. Put Pressure on Kirk Cousins All Game Long
Kirk Cousins showed in Week 11 against the Bears that he cannot handle pressure situations. Green Bay has been a lethal pass-rushing team this season and they need that to continue against Chicago.
If the Packers can get to Cousins around five times for sacks, they will break up the Vikings' offensive rhythm. When that happens, the Vikings have been unable to prove that they can get it back.
Green Bay needs players like Clay Matthews, Kyler Fackrell, and Kenny Clark to get to the quarterback, especially with star defensive lineman Mike Daniels expected to miss some time.
4. Continue Giving Aaron Jones the Football
Another huge factor for the Packers is the continued high-caliber play by starting running back Aaron Jones. It took McCarthy a long time to give Jones the workhorse role, but now that he has it, he is showing why he should have been given it earlier.
In eight games this season with the Packers, Jones has racked up 534 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He has also caught 16 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Green Bay's running game has needed help for a long time and Jones seems to be the man that's ready to fix it.
3. Don't Give Up the Big Play
One of the Packers' biggest issues on the defensive side of the football has been giving up huge chunk plays. Green Bay needs to instead focus on forcing the Vikings to earn their yardage.
Mike Pettine's defense has been up-and-down this season. They have had some huge games where the young secondary stepped up and others where they were unable to stop the opposing offense. Growing pains are a usual occurrence for young players like the Packers' new defense.
Minnesota has some big-play threats for Cousins. Both Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen will be looking for big chunks of yardage, but the Packers have to force them to earn yardage without giving up large chunks.
2. Aaron Rodgers Must Stay Upright
If there is one thing the Packers can count on this week about Minnesota, it will be the fact that they are going to do everything in their power to get to Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers will receive a lot of pressure this week and he still isn't quite right from an injury perspective. His knee isn't back to 100 percent, which could be a cause for concern this week. Minnesota is going to be doing everything in their power to get to him and put him on the ground.
The offensive line for the Packers is going to have to step up this week. In order to win this game, Rodgers needs to stay on his feet and ready to make plays.
1. Dominate in Short-Yardage Situations
Another issue that the Packers have had this season is in short-yardage situations. That will not be something that they can afford to struggle with this week against a tough Vikings' defense front.
Green Bay's offensive line will need to dominate those situations. Minnesota has a lot of beef on their defensive line, which will make things difficult. If Green Bay can pick up first downs in short-yardage situations, they will be able to put a lot more pressure on the Vikings.
On the other hand, the Packers' defensive line will have to slow down the Vikings' ground game. Dalvin Cook is tough to stop, but Green Bay has to figure out how to force Minnesota to punt.
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