The Green Bay Packers (2-1) aim to defend their home field against the undefeated Vikings at noon local time on September 28th. The game will be key in deciding who will take control of the NFC North early on in the 2024 season. As the gameday rosters are finalized, key positional matchups will dictate how the game will go.
Green Bay Packers Aim To Slow Down Justin Jefferson With Jaire Alexander
The Green Bay Packers have the challenge of stopping the Vikings offense twice a year. An offense that now offers one of the most talented receiving threats in the NFL. In the Green Bay Packer’s seven matchups with Justin Jefferson, they have succeeded at times though no formula has been established.
“You can never stop guys like that,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said prior to the matchup with Jefferson. “You can always just try to contain them. Obviously, he’s going to always have big plays but, for us, it’s to challenge him as much as possible. Obviously, we’ve got our guys over here that we believe in.
“We believe in Ja. Ja’s going to be on him all game, so we believe in him and we believe in the system that Haf (defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley) has put into place for us. For us, we look to go out there and execute, play hard, and challenge their best guys.”
Justin Jefferson’s performances at home against the Packers in 2021 and 2022 were nothing short of dominant. In those two games, the standout receiver totaled 19 receptions for 353 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 9.5 catches, 176.5 yards, and two touchdowns per game.
In contrast, Jefferson’s production in his other five matchups with the Green Bay Packers was much more subdued. He recorded just 17 catches for 184 yards and failed to score, averaging 3.4 receptions and 36.8 yards per game—well below his usual output.
The Packers’ defensive highlight came in Week 17 of the 2022 season when Jaire Alexander shadowed Jefferson throughout the game and held him to a single catch for 15 yards. Entering that game with 123 receptions and 1,756 yards on the season, Jefferson had his sights set on 2,000 receiving yards. However, Alexander’s tight coverage helped keep the Vikings star well below that milestone in the pivotal late-season showdown at Lambeau Field.
If the Green Bay Packers do slow down Justin Jefferson, it will be Jaire Alexanders efforts.
Rashan Gary Looks To Have Statement Game Against Brian O’Neill
Rashan Gary has been a force in his tenure with the Green Bay Packers, earning recognition as a pass rusher who can take over your game. However, Gary’s performances against the Minnesota Vikings have been underwhelming throughout his career. Gary has posted modest stats over eight games against the Vikings with just 9 solo tackles, 9 assisted tackles, and 2 sacks.
Despite being one of Green Bay’s premier defensive players, Gary’s production against Minnesota has been relatively quiet, failing to deliver the game-changing plays that the Packers count on. As the Packers prepare to face the Vikings again, there will be hope that Gary can elevate his game and become the disruptive force the team needs in these key NFC North battles.
He will face Brian O’Neill, who struggled in the Vikings’ upset win over the Texans, landing in the bottom five of the Vikings’ offensive performers (per PFF).
