Pack gift wrapped win by Tua
Look to stay hot vs. Vikings
The Green Bay Packers found a W under the tree on Christmas Day thanks in large part to the embarrassingly inept and inadequate medical team of the Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins franchise QB Tua Tagovailoa sustained his third concussion of the year this season on a play late in the second quarter — his first after receiving two in four days earlier this year — and played the rest of the game.
The report that he had entered concussion protocol didn’t come out until the day after the game and looking back, the stats couldn’t have been more clear.
If Tua leaves that game, it’s possible Teddy Bridgewater does enough to let the Miami running attack continue it’s blistering pace it had on the first drive and put the game away for the Dolphins as they look ahead to the playoffs.
Instead, Tagovailoa threw three interceptions on three pretty bad throws, giving the Packers the chance to comeback and win the game — which they did.
Defensively, the game plan was not the greatest as Joe Berry didn’t read the book that was co-authored by the Chargers, 49ers and Bills titled “How to stop the Miami Dolphins offense.”
Neither Jaire Alexander nor Rasul Douglas were physical with star receivers Tyreek Hill (four catches, 103 yards) or Jaylen Waddle (five catches, 143 yards and a touchdown) at the line and let them run their routes cleanly in the first half.
Had it not been for the Dolphins’ training staff’s ineptitude, Packers probably lose this game.
Offensively, they spread the ball around once again. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed a pass to 10 different receivers with only Samori Toure and Tyler Davis not receiving targets or catches this week.
Overall, a good team win by the Packers and did what they were supposed to do to keep their playoff hopes alive this week.
The Cheeseboard 🧀
Talk of the Tundra’s Cheeseboard is a season-long leaderboard tracking and ranking exceptional performances from Packers players in the form of cheeses 🧀, of which they are three: Muenster (🧀), pepper jack (🧀🧀) and an aged sharp cheddar (🧀🧀🧀). At the end of the season, we will recap the Cheeseboard and see who ends up being the team MVP.
Preston Smith 🧀
Preston Smith stepped up again this week recording a sack and another hit to go with his four tackles this week. He’s been the leader of this Packers front seven since Rashan Gary went down and has had quite the come up going from borderline cut victim to leading the team in sacks.
Jarran Reed 🧀
Big day for Jarran Reed who forced a fumble in the second quarter and recovered it himself to swing the momentum in the Packers favor. Throw in another sack and four more pressures, Reed is showcasing why the Pack went out and got him.
Jaire Alexander 🧀
Big timely interception for Jaire. This cheese is half for the pick and half for the explanation of it afterwards.
De’Vondre Campbell 🧀
The field general made a great play to intercept Tua on a pass to Raheem Mostert late in the game. Nevermind Raheem Mostert wasn’t even looking for the ball when it was thrown to him, but it’s been nice having Dre back commanding the defense.
Cheeseboard after 15 games:
Aaron Jones: 🧀 x 10
Preston Smith: 🧀 x 6
De’Vondre Campbell: 🧀 x 5
AJ Dillon: 🧀 x 5
Christian Watson: 🧀 x 5
Jaire Alexander: 🧀 x 4
Keisean Nixon: 🧀 x 4
Rashan Gary: 🧀 x 4
Elgton Jenkins: 🧀 x 3
John Runyan: 🧀 x 3
Kenny Clark: 🧀 x 3
Quay Walker: 🧀 x 3
Romeo Doubs: 🧀 x 3
Rudy Ford: 🧀 x 3
Aaron Rodgers: 🧀 x2
David Bakhtiari: 🧀 x 2
Pat O’Donnell: 🧀 x 2
Randall Cobb: 🧀 x 2
Rasul Douglas: 🧀 x 2
Jarran Reed: 🧀 x 2
Zach Tom: 🧀 x 2
Allen Lazard: 🧀
Eric Stokes: 🧀
Darnell Savage: 🧀
Devonte Wyatt: 🧀
Josh Myers: 🧀
Krys Barnes: 🧀
Mason Crosby: 🧀
Robert Tonyan: 🧀
Sammy Watkins: 🧀
Yosh Nijman: 🧀
Joe Berry: 🤢🧀
Packers vs. Vikings Preview, players to watch score predictions
An absolutely huge matchup this week with the divisional rival Minnesota Vikings this week as the Packers look to keep their playoffs hope alive.
Minnesota is having their best year since 2017 when they were in the playoffs and lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Sitting at 12-3, the Vikings have had a stressful year of victories as they are 11-0 in one-score games. A stat unheard of in this day and age when so much variance plays into each game.
With that being said, the Vikings defense has been pretty bad this year allowing the second most total yards in the league and the most passing yards in the league.
There’s ample opportunity for pass catching running backs to have their way against this team which is why I think it’s going to be very important Aaron Jones — who is battling a nagging ankle injury — plays this week. Getting Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon going in the passing game is a big trend to watch this week. Not so much the run game itself, just the running backs being involved.
However, the Vikings have their own star players to the Packers need to worry about on defense.
Justin Jefferson is a little over 200 yards away from breaking Calvin Johnson’s record of most receiving yards in a season and he torched the Packers in week 1 for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
I think without a doubt he is going to want to break the record this week and twist the knife himself in the Packers playoff hopes.
Additionally, Dalvin Cook continues to be one of the best running backs in the game when he is healthy. Over 1,100 yards this season in 15 games and eight touchdowns.
This game has huge stakes for the Packers and if Joe Berry can’t find a scheme that limits both of those players and they sink the Packers’ season. It might be the final straw in Joe Berry’s tenure as the Packers defensive coordinator.
Players to watch
Ti: Keisean Nixon, Za’darius Smith
Jordan: Preston Smith, Dalvin Cook
Numac: Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas, Justin Jefferson
Score Predictions:
Ti: 28-27 Packers
Jordan: 23-20 Vikings
Numac: 34-24 Vikings