4. Show what has been learned
The Vikings became a much different defense between hosting the Packers in Week 16 of 2019 and Week 1 of 2020.
The same can be said, to a lesser degree, when comparing Week 8 to Kickoff Weekend.
Defensive end D.J. Wonnum and defensive tackle James Lynch, for instance, were inactive but have each recorded their first career sacks and appear to have earned more opportunities for playing time.
Cam Dantzler and Jeff Gladney have been starting at cornerback, becoming the first pair of Vikings rookies to start at the position since 1999.
With a truncated offseason program and the absence of a preseason, first-year players across the league are having to learn on the fly. This will be their first rematch opportunity, albeit against a team that is second in the NFL with 32.8 points per game.
5. RBs a go? What about RG?
The game could feature two of the top running backs in the NFL, one or neither. The first injury report of the week will be out later today, and eyes will be on the status of RB1s for the Vikings and Packers.
Minnesota's Dalvin Cook suffered a groin injury at Seattle on the first play of the second half and missed the Atlanta game but still ranks fifth in rushing yards (489) and is tied for the NFL lead with seven rushing touchdowns.
A calf injury sidelined Green Bay's Aaron Jones at Houston last week. Jones has 389 yards (17th in the NFL) and is tied for fifth with five rushing touchdowns.
Attention also will be placed on what's happening at right guard where rookie Ezra Cleveland started in Week 6 against Atlanta.
Despite working most of the offseason at left guard, Cleveland slid over so that only one position would be affected. Cleveland stepped in after Dru Samia suffered a wrist injury after making four starts in place of Pat Elflein, who opened against Green Bay after playing left guard in 2019.
Local Connections
Packers T/G Billy Turner attended Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, Minnesota. He played for Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak, Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Rick Dennison and assistant offensive line coach Phil Rauscher in 2016 when Kubiak (head coach), Dennison (offensive coordinator) and Rauscher (offensive coaching assistant) were with the Broncos. Turner's father, Maurice Turner, ws a 12th-round pick by the Vikings in the 1983 NFL Draft. He played 23 games for Minnesota from 1984-85 before finishing that season with Green Bay.
Vikings LB Ryan Connelly, who attended Eden Prairie High School, played collegiately at Wisconsin.
Packers LB Kamal Martin played quarterback and safety at Burnsville High School before playing linebacker for the University of Minnesota.
Vikings-Packers Connections
Packers inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti's father, Tom, was a defensive assistant coach for Minnesota from 1996-99.
Packers defensive backs coach Jerry Gray held the same role with the Vikings from 2014-19.
Vikings Senior Defensive Assistant Dom Capers was defensive coordinator with the Packers from 2009-17.
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October 28, 2020 at 10:03PM
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Vikings-Packers Week 8 Storylines to Watch - Vikings.com
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