How to beat the Vikings (lots of opinions so all this just IMO):
Personnel: DuJuan Harris is the starting RB. It's OK to use Kuhn on third downs because he's the best pass protector of the backs but other than that, IMO McCarthy should tire Harris out. Grant should only come in when Harris needs a rest. BTW, Harris had one great blitz pickup in the game - that had to be very encouraging to Rodgers and the coaching staff.
Start Wilson at DE. He, Raji and Pickett are the best three vs. the run. I'm encouraged by Neal's continued health (short-lived as it is so far) and he's better rushing the passer, but Wilson is better vs. the run at DE. And that's more important vs. the Vikings.
IMO Jeremy Ross should be the new returner. Not only for this game but for the rest of the playoff games and next year. He's fast, shows good instincts, and is big for a returner (6' 215 lbs. vs. Cobb's 5'-10", 192 lbs. - and Cobb isn't "small" for a returner). He's not better than Cobb but he looks pretty damn good and saves the wear and tear on Cobb, who has become extremely important to the offense.
Of course Woodson should start in base D at safety. Even a rusty Woodson is better than Jennings or McMillian.
Preparation: I hope this has already occurred: Show (embarrass/shame) the following players how they "performed" last Sunday in film/tape/whatever sessions.
Tramon Williams: If you're not hurt you have to "sack up" and tackle. If you are hurt, you should only play on obvious passing downs.
Sam Shields: You can't get beat in a three-deep zone as you did. Just because you aren't facing an elite QB doesn't mean you can stare statute-like into the offensive backfield.
Casey Hayward: (this is a pet peeve of mine in football pass D and basketball) Even when playing zone defense, at some point you have to cover a player! And give a better effort tackling.
Clay Matthews: This is surprising but as McGinn writes, he did not set a good edge Sunday and was controlled too often by TEs in the running game.
Brad Jones: AP is the best RB in the game, even so when you get your hands on him you've got to AT LEAST hang on. Same for AJ Hawk.
Morgan Burnett: He too missed a couple of tackles but I'm hoping his role with change with Woodson's return. Still he'll also have to do a better job tackling.
Strategy/Tactics: Normally I prefer to have the Packers defer to the second half if they win the coin toss. I heard Rodgers call scoring at the end of the first half and again with the second half KO a "double double". But against the Vikings, starting quickly and getting a lead is important, so if they win the toss I think they should take the ball.
McGinn says Sunday's game was only the second time in Rodgers' career he didn’t have a rushing attempt. Encourage him to run when the opportunity presents itself but of course, slide or run out of bounds before contact. If Rodgers would have made the decision to run sooner on the fumble play, it likely wouldn't have happened. And it's deflating for a D that gets a good pass rush and has all the receivers covered adequately to get burned by a running QB.
Having Jennings, Nelson, Cobb, Finley, and Jones all healthy should be a huge boost. "All" they have to do is give Rodgers time and he should be able to carve up the Vikings secondary.