Its never easy going against this defense, QB Jordan Love says

Mike Spofford

GREEN BAY It's the rematch of one of the league's most explosive offenses against one of the most chaotic defenses.

In the first go-round back in Week 1, the Packers won the battle for three quarters before the tide irreparably turned the Vikings' way in the fourth.

So Green Bay enters Sunday's showdown at Lambeau Field knowing it has what it takes to get it done against Minnesota, but it can't let something that goes wrong snowball into anything worse.

"Against this defense, you know what it is, you can't get frustrated," quarterbackJordan Lovesaid Wednesday. "There's going to be some times where they get you, or the call we got just isn't good enough versus what they're bringing.

"That's part of it. They'll win some reps for sure, and you just gotta stay focused."

Multiple things will be different in the rematch.

For one, the Packers now have far more experience at the guard positions to help protect Love. It's unclear which two amongstLaken Tomlinson,Kevin ZeitlerandAaron Bankswill play Sunday, but it won't beJacob MonkandDonovan Jennings, who were making their first career starts at those guard spots in Week 1 when the Vikings got way too many free runners at the QB.

On the flip side, the Packers may be rolling at center with the youngJohn Williamsin place ofSean Rhyan, but it's possible Rhyan could return from his ankle injury this week.

For another, this game is at home, where the Packers' offense will not have to operate on a silent count and will be able to communicate up front much better without having to deal with the deafening crowd noise of U.S. Bank Stadium.

"Playing them at home is a lot different than playing them there for that reason right there," offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. "That is, in my opinion, one of the toughest places to play in the NFL."

Added Love: "Oh, man, it makes a huge difference. Silent count, it's easier for D-line to get a little bit of a get-off. They kind of know what's coming. But I think, too, just playing there, the environment, the noise, all those things, it throws communication off for an offense. We can't hear each other."

Love confessed that against coordinator Brian Flores' defense, which leads the league with a 72.5% blitz rate on passing downs, a quarterback can't always figure out who's rushing from where, and there's guesswork involved.

That puts a greater stress on Love's eyes, to manipulate the defenders in the back end so they can't simply read where he's going with the ball. It also requires the receivers to adjust routes quickly and properly based on the pressure the defense is sending, and to be ready for a quick throw so Love can avoid a sack.

The worst thing that must be avoided, though, is turnovers. A strip-sack and interception late in the fourth quarter in Week 1 set up the Vikings for two easy touchdowns as they pulled away. The Packers had protected the ball for more than 50 plays, until suddenly they didn't.

"We had some meltdowns at the end of the game that really cost us, where we didn't have our guys on the same page," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. "On one, we got knocked off a block, and one of the sack/fumbles we miscommunicated protection."

The game also will feature star duos. Vikings edge rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner have combined for 14 sacks this season, while Packers receiversChristian WatsonandMatthew Goldenhave combined for 102 catches, 1,662 yards and 12 TDs.

Minnesota's blitz rate is more than 20 percentage points higher than the next-closest defense this year (Baltimore, 51.5%), and it's the highest since NextGenStats has been tracking it over the past decade.

The Packers' counter is Love, who leads the NFL in passing yards against the blitz this season (967) and is tied for first in passing TDs against the blitz (10).

"His anticipation to see space and just trust his receivers and get the ball into wherever area that's supposed to be has been pretty awesome," Stenavich said of Love vs. the blitz. "Whether that's layering a ball, giving it some time or throwing it on a line, it's been pretty impressive to watch.

"He's calm, doesn't get rattled, so he's just a special player when it comes to that."

More specifically against Minnesota, the Packers connected on seven pass plays of 20-plus yards back in Week 1. Since then, over their last seven games, the Vikings have given up just nine more pass completions of 20-plus.

So nobody has gashed the Vikings the way the Packers did for three quarters in the opener. Can they do it again?

They're gonna try, but there's no telling until Sunday.

"It's never easy going against this defense," Love said. "It's always a challenge. Every week is a new test for them, and there's so much different stuff you've got to prepare for. Who knows if they'll do that in the game?

"They live in the world of chaos and try to make you confused. We definitely want to live in that world of trying to find those explosives."