We are on the edge of our seats as we await one of the biggest matchups of the year for the Vikings as they get ready for the Packers. The teams will kick off their latest installment of their rivalry on Sunday afternoon, but for now, we are approaching the matchup with something else.
What better way to get to know a unique opponent than to go behind enemy lines and discuss the matchup with Packers Wire?
We spoke to Zach Kruse, who is the managing editor for Packers Wire. He provided us with some great insight into a tough matchup with the Packers that lies ahead for the Vikings, where they may cause problems and where Minnesota is vulnerable.
Q: How has the play of Jordan Love been this year?
A: Love has played very well through 10 games. Although the Packers offense has gone through some peaks and valleys, Love as a standalone player has been accurate, good at protecting the football, excellent on third down and generally efficient at creating explosive plays down the field, even with some shaky play along the offensive line and a few injuries hampering the operation. The advanced analytics, like EPA, see him as a top-5 quarterback in 2025. Love’s 2024 season, which was up and down and ended poorly, looks more and more like an injury-based anomaly. The question now is, can Love get red hot and elevate the Packers to true contender status down the stretch?
Q: What impact has the arrival of Micah Parsons had on the defense in 2025?
A: Parsons’ arrival has changed everything for the Packers defense. Because he’s such a unique game-wrecker, teams are having to commit multiple blockers to him on most snaps, and more and more teams are leaning on the run game and using the quick passing game to ensure Parsons doesn’t take over. The result has been a pass defense that is first in the NFL in yards per attempt allowed, yards per completion allowed and explosive passing plays allowed. And when Parsons does get opportunities to go one-on-one against a true dropback passing look, he usually creates a play-changing pressure. The price to acquire him was steep, but Parsons has been everything the Packers could have asked for and probably a little bit more.
Q: Is there one injury that is going to affect the Packers in Week 12?
A: Monitor the Josh Jacobs situation. He injured his knee last week in New York, and although the Packers aren’t closing the door on him playing against the Vikings, he’s fighting swelling and restricted range of motion in the knee and will almost certainly be a game-time decision. Not having him on Sunday would be a big blow because a lot of what the Packers do on offense is structured around Jacobs and his ability to impact the game as a runner and as a checkdown YAC receiver. Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks are the backups. The Packers might also be without starting linebacker Quay Walker, who didn’t practice this week.
Q: Who is the biggest x-factor on the Packers in Week 12?
A: I’m going to go with Sean Rhyan, the new starting center. Benched as a right guard, Rhyan is back in the starting lineup after Elgton Jenkins went down in Week 10. Considering how much stress Brian Flores puts on offenses to set the right protections pre-snap, Rhyan has a big mental task ahead. And a big physical task, too. The Vikings have several disruptive interior defenders, and you know Flores will send A-gap pressures to test Rhyan early. It could be a long day up front for the Packers if Rhyan struggles.
Q: Who wins and why?
A: I’ll take the Packers in what could be an ugly defensive battle. Always preparing for the worst case scenario, Packers fans seem to believe J.J. McCarthy will break out of his slump and play well on Sunday. I don’t see that happening. I do think Brian Flores is going to make life tough on Jordan Love and the Packers, and I’m not anticipating a bunch of long, sustained drives. However, the guess here is a couple of turnovers go the Packers way, and scoring off a few short fields ends up being the difference. The turnover battle is going to be so important in this one. Whichever quarterback takes better care of the ball wins. I’ll take Love over McCarthy, and a final of Packers 23, Vikings 12.
