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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
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Zach Kruse

Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 4 vs. Vikings

The Green Bay Packers can run their win streak to three games by taking down the undefeated Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

It remains unclear if Jordan Love, who is questionable to play, or Malik Willis will be under center for the Packers, but Matt LaFleur’s team is flying high after beating the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans with Willis under center the last two weeks.

Can the Packers start the NFC North schedule with a big win over the visiting Vikings?

Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 4 showdown with the Vikings will go down:

Zach Kruse: Packers 24, Vikings 23 (0-3)

After two weeks of doubting the Malik Willis-Matt LaFleur magic, we’re back on win-predicting train — regardless of who is playing quarterback on Sunday. The Packers have proven capable of four key winning factors: creating explosive plays, generating turnovers, protecting the quarterback and disrupting the opponent’s quarterback. LaFleur’s team probably needs to do all four to take down the unbeaten Vikings. Protecting the quarterback against Brian Flores’ defense will be a challenge, but if the Packers can handle business pre-snap and at the line of scrimmage, explosive plays could be abundant. And there are good matchups for the Packers defensive front against the Vikings offensive line. One takeaway or explosive play provides the difference for the Packers late in a one-point win.

Brandon Carwile: Packers 24, Vikings 23 (2-1)

After practicing the last two weeks without any setbacks, it appears that Jordan Love will make his return in Week 4. Love should provide a boost to the offense, but it’s worth noting that Malik Willis stepped up admirably, showcasing his mobility and poise under pressure. His success kept the Packers’ offense afloat, and Love will look to build on that momentum. The Packers lead the league in rushing, while the Vikings have the second-ranked run defense. Love’s ability to stretch the field and challenge the Vikings’ secondary could be the X-factor, especially if he creates some chunk plays for Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Meanwhile, Sunday will also mark the return of Aaron Jones, who signed with Minnesota in the offseason after seven seasons in Green Bay. Quarterback Sam Darnold has the Vikings are off to an impressive 3-0 for the first time in eight years. Darnold and his supporting cast have been efficient for Minnesota’s offense this season, though they will now face a dictating Packers defense unlike any they have faced in recent memory. Darnold could struggle against Green Bay’s opportunistic pass defense and a relentless pass rush. The Packers hand the Vikings their first loss of 2024 on Sunday, with Love delivering in crunch time to secure the win.

Brennen Rupp: Packers 20, Vikings 17 (3-0)

Coming soon!

Greg Williams: Packers 30, Vikings 20 (2-1)

This Sunday’s Packers-Vikings matchup promises to be a competitive NFC North game. Green Bay enters the game with the No. 1 rushing offense in the league, but they’ll face Minnesota’s formidable No. 2-ranked run defense. The Packers’ defense has also been outstanding, forcing a league-leading seven turnovers so far, with Xavier McKinney leading the way with an interception in every game. Minnesota has shown big-play potential, but their offensive line has struggled and could be exposed by Green Bay’s pass rush. Jordan Love should make his return and should be a nice boost for the offense but if Malik Willis starts again for the Packers, expect them to lean on their ground game and a conservative passing attack to keep the Vikings off balance. Vikings Sam Darnold is off to a fantastic start but how long will this last? Darnold has a great support cast around him with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones, and a few others but defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has got the Packers defense playing at a lever we haven’t seen for a quite a while. Now, it was against the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts, but I do like the matchup for the Packers for their defensive unit.

Writer Prediction Score Record
Zach Kruse Win 24-23 0-3
Brandon Carwile Win 24-23 2-1
Brennen Rupp Win 20-17 3-0
Greg Williams Win 30-20 2-1

 

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