Does It Matter Which QB the Packers Play?

Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) throws against the Tennessee Titans during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. © Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings currently have to plan for a pair of quarterbacks ahead of their matchup with the Green Bay Packers this weekend. They aren’t sure if Jordan Love is going to play, but does it really matter either way?

Does It Matter Which QB the Packers Play?

A year ago, the Minnesota Vikings went into Lambeau Field and knocked off the Green Bay Packers without Justin Jefferson. Kirk Cousins wound up with a season-ending injury during the contest, but Jordan Love was under center for Matt LaFleur. The Vikings will have Justin Jefferson this time, and they have a better defense as well.

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What the Packers have done with Malik Willis in such a short time has been beyond impressive. The former Tennessee Titans draft pick has come over and quickly acclimated in a way that has kept the Packers afloat without their franchise quarterback. He has a substantially different skillset than Love, but the Vikings shouldn’t be worried.

Last week, Brian Flores watched his defense destroy second-year signal caller C.J. Stroud. The Houston Texans quarterback is better than either option Green Bay can deploy, and he does a bit of both. Brock Purdy, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Minnesota beat, is probably on par with Love.

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Minnesota’s goal is to push its record to 4-0. To do so, it will need to get another quality outing from its quarterback, Sam Darnold. Beyond that, Flores will need to make sure his defense is locked in and ready to control the outcome. That can take place against either Willis or Love, and the group could be relatively matchup-proof.

Of course, it would be great if the Vikings had a straightforward idea of who they should gameplan against. That doesn’t appear to be a reality, however, but it shouldn’t deter them from having positive feelings about entering the contest.

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Flores’s entire unit is playing at an extremely high level, and even a divisional road test doesn’t need to knock them off their pedestal.

Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.