Green Bay Packers: Morgan Burnett on Vikings matchup
Aaron Rodgers will be under center on Sunday night when the Green Bay Packers take on division rival the Minnesota Vikings.
But, who will be commanding the Vikings’ offense?
According to Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, he doesn’t want the Packers to know who will be the starting quarterback. So how do the Packers prepare without knowing if Shaun Hill or Sam Bradford will get the nod?
“You have to prepare for both,” Packers safety Morgan Burnett said on CBS Sports Radio’s The Doug Gottlieb Show. “Those are two veteran quarterbacks. They’re good quarterbacks, in my opinion, so you have to prepare for both.”
Hill started in the Vikings’ week one victory on the road against the Tennessee Titans and wasn’t impressive. He completed 18-of-33 passes for 236 yards, but did not find the end zone.
The 15-year pro has played against the Packers five times in his career, but only started once against them. His one start came back in 2010 as a member of the Detroit Lions, where he threw for 331 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 28-26 loss.
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On the other hand, the Vikings also acquired Sam Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles, in exchange for a 2017 first-round draft pick and a fourth-round pick in 2018 that can become a third or second-rounder based on performance.
Bradford, a former number one overall pick of the St. Louis Rams, has yet to defeat the Packers since entering the league in 2010 (0-2).
Green Bay (1-0) will look to spoil Minnesota’s (1-0) home opener in their brand new stadium; US Bank Stadium and seek revenge after losing to the Vikings last season, for the first time since 2012.
“It’s going to be a division game, so you know the sense of urgency is going to pick up,” Burnett said on CBS Sports Radio’s The Doug Gottlieb Show. “The energy is going to be very high. You’re going into a hostile environment, playing on prime-time TV, so it should be a lot of fun.”
Burnett is no stranger to the rivalry. In 10 games against the Vikings, the safety has recorded 56 tackles and two interceptions.
As for the Packers’ offense, they will have a daunting task going against the Vikings superb defense. Minnesota’s defense forced three turnovers against Tennessee, two of which were returned for touchdowns in their week one victory.
Aug 18, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) during warmups prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
However, their defense will have a much tougher task trying to contain the Packers’ offense, especially with the return of Jordy Nelson.
Nelson has had tremendous success against the Vikings. In 13 games, he has hauled in 45 receptions, 636 yards and seven touchdowns.
“Jordy is not only just a leader on our offense; he’s a leader on our team,” Burnett said on CBS Sports Radio’s The Doug Gottlieb Show. “You never want to see no one on your team go down with any type of injury, especially not one of your leaders, and just seeing Jordy back, that brings confidence to your team. You know with his leadership that’s going to help our team out on the field and off the field.”
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