Minnesota @ Green Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 25, 2018 ) Green Bay 17, Minnesota 24

The Green Bay Packers benefited from an impressive defensive performance to kick off the NFL season with a victory over the reigning NFC North champions. The Packers will look to defeat a division rival for the second time in as many weeks on Sunday when they host the Minnesota Vikings, against whom they are 0-3-1 in the last four meetings.

Green Bay's stingy defense made up for a subpar performance from Aaron Rodgers, who essentially capped his one successful drive with a touchdown pass to tight end Jimmy Graham in a 10-3 win over Chicago on Sept. 5. The two-time NFL MVP traditionally has struggled versus the Vikings, throwing for one or fewer touchdowns in four of his past five healthy games against them. Minnesota's Mike Zimmer sports a 4-4-1 mark in his last nine starts versus Green Bay, but those totals don't add up to a successful game against Rodgers on Sunday in the mind of the defensive-minded coach. "I don't really take much stock into that because each week's a different week and each game that we play him is always a tough, competitive game," Zimmer said. "... It's a sleepless week for me."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Packers -3. O/U: 44

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (1-0): Dalvin Cook has received an unfortunate nickname for the scarcity of his appearances in his young NFL career, but the 24-year-old made a statement with his 21-carry, 111-yard, two-touchdown performance in Minnesota's 28-12 victory over Atlanta. "We need the 'White Tiger' to be there for 16 games, right? He's been special when he's had the football in his hands, and we've got to have him out there," quarterback Kirk Cousins said. The 31-year-old Cousins threw the ball a career-low 10 times against the Falcons and has been held to 215 or fewer passing yards in five of his past six games. Adam Thielen reeled in Cousins' lone touchdown pass in the season opener while fellow wideout Stefon Diggs has scored in each of his last five games against the Packers, with three trips to the end zone highlighting last year's season series.

ABOUT THE PACKERS (1-0): Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams was optimistic in his assessment of Green Bay's new-look offense under coach Matt LaFleur, with the team mustering 213 total yards and converting just two of its 12 third-down opportunities. "There's nowhere (to go) but up," said the 26-year-old Adams, who bids to record a touchdown in his fifth straight game against Minnesota after being limited to just four receptions for 36 yards versus the Bears. A sluggish ground game did the Packers no favors, as Aaron Jones and company rushed for 47 yards on 22 attempts for the second-lowest rushing average (2.1) in the league. Perhaps a return home can jump-start the 24-year-old Jones, as he has scored in three straight games at Lambeau Field and had 93 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown in last meeting versus the Vikings.

EXTRA POINTS

1. All 28 of Minnesota's points in the season opener were scored off turnovers.

2. Packers LB Blake Martinez, who led the team with seven sacks last season, has averaged 10.8 tackles in his last four meetings with the Vikings.

3. Minnesota S Harrison Smith, who had a team co-leading nine tackles last week, has three interceptions and 1.5 sacks in his past four encounters with Green Bay.

PREDICTION: Packers 24, Vikings 23