5 keys to the Packers-Vikings showdown

The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings meet in a huge NFC matchup at Lambeau Field this afternoon.

Minnesota leads the division at 3-0 while Green Bay sits atop the division at 2-1.

Here are five things you need to know about today's game.

1. The power of love

Twenty-three days after suffering an MCL sprain in Green Bay's Week 1 loss to Philadelphia, franchise quarterback Jordan Love returns.

The Packers took a 2-0 lead without Love as No. 2 quarterback Malik Willis shined and led Green Bay to wins over Indianapolis and Tennessee. But Love is one of the best quarterbacks in football, and his return should provide a boost to this crucial early-season showdown.

“I'm trying to push it forward and I tried to come back as quickly as possible no matter who the opponent was,” Love said earlier this week. “But definitely, look at this week and the NFC North opponent, 3-0 team, really good team, so it would definitely mean a lot to come back and push myself to come back for that game.”

2. Do you remember him?

Aaron Jones, who ranks third in Packers history with 5,940 receiving yards, is heading back to Green Bay for the first time with the arch-rival Vikings.

The only players in Green Bay history to gain more yards than Jones were Ahman Green (8,322) and Jim Taylor (8,207). Jones also had 2,076 receiving yards and 63 total touchdowns during his seven years in Green Bay.

As good as Jones was on the field, he was just as good off it.

However, the Packers released Jones on March 11 and he signed with Minnesota less than 24 hours later. Now he faces his former teammates and it's all about first place in the division.

“Man, he’s a great guy. And not only was he a great teammate, but he was a great person,” Packers defensive end Preston Smith said. “He's a great teammate, he's a great player, and obviously we know that he's an explosive player when he gets the ball in his hands and that he can do a lot of things from receiving the ball to running routes to running the ball out of the backfield and scoring” in many different ways.

“We just know what type of player he is. We know what awaits us this Sunday. We know we have to keep him in check and not give him a good day.”

3. Short corner

The Packers named two practice squad cornerbacks to the gameday roster on Saturday as No. 1 cornerback Jaire Alexander is questionable (groin/quadriceps) and backup Carrington Valentine is questionable (ankle).

That could spell trouble for a Green Bay secondary tasked with slowing down All-World star Justin Jefferson.

In seven career games against Green Bay, Jefferson has had mixed results.

He had two great games where he averaged 9.5 receptions, 176.5 yards and 2.0 touchdowns per contest.

However, in the other five games, Jefferson had a total of 17 receptions for 184 yards and no touchdowns. Those are pedestrian averages of 3.4 catches per game, 36.8 yards and no touchdowns.

If Alexander — who likely would have shadowed Jefferson — can't play, that could spell trouble for Green Bay.

“You turn on the tape and it doesn’t take long to figure out how good he is,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said of Jefferson. “I mean, he's big, he can catch the ball, he's fast, he can run all routes, he's good at catching and running the ball, he has incredible hands.

“You definitely want to pick other people’s minds and I’ve talked to other coaches around the league about him. But all you have to do is turn on the band. The tape speaks more than anyone can tell me. So you have to know where he is and you have to choose the times when you can make plans around him.”

4. Sack attack

Minnesota leads the league with 16 sacks and has had at least five sacks in every game.

Linebackers Pat Jones and Jonathan Greenard are tied for the lead with four sacks each, while former University of Wisconsin star Andrew Van Ginkel has three.

The Packers need to slow Minnesota's pass rush – especially if Love's mobility slows in his first game back.

“We have to do a great job on our protection calls and making sure we get body to body and then you have to go out and actually block those guys, which isn't the easiest job either,” Green Bay coach Matt said LaFleur. “So I think they have a lot of good rushers there. I think they charge as a unit and as a unit as well as anyone. I mean, the pick plays they run cause a lot of carnage on the offensive line at times. And they did a great job too, I mean it's all over the tape getting free runners to the quarterback and sacking the quarterback.”

5. Fab four

This could be a day for Green Bay's talented wide receivers to shine.

Minnesota ranks 26th in the league in pass defense, allowing 239.3 yards per game.

Cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin will remain on islands at times as Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores deploys his heavy blitz packages. And that could mean Green Bay wideouts Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks could have big days.

In Green Bay's 33-10 win at Minnesota in Week 17 last season, Love threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns, while Reed had two touchdowns and Bo Melton had 105 receiving yards.

“What happens when they blitz, when they send five or six, you leave gaps in the defense,” Packers tight end Tucker Kraft said. “We took advantage of that. There were guys who were open. We had a pretty complete game. In the fourth quarter we were able to take our starters off the field.

“It was a New Year’s Eve game, so it was great to get some reps out of the way. The key was finding the gaps. When they attack us, which guys are attacking, who is supporting them in coverage and where can we find the gaps in their defense?”