Confident Packers defense ready for difficult early test September 9 GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) The Green Bay Packers should get an immediate indication of whether their defense is as stingy as its preseason billing suggests.I think our defense, at least on paper, is as good as its ever been, defensive lineman Dean Lowry said. Paper doesnt mean anything, though, and weve got to go out and prove it for 17 weeks and then go John Mitchell Jersey and do it in the playoffs.The chance to prove it starts Sunday at Minnesota. the last time these teams faced each other, but the Vikings played that game with Sean Mannion as their starting quarterback When Cousins has been available, the Vikings have moved the ball quite well against the Packers. The Vikings had scored at least 28 points in three straight matchups with the Packers before the Mannion game. They have given us some problems, defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. They have a lot of weapons. They have really good players over there. They present a lot of challenges for us.Complicating matters is the uncertainty of facing a new staff Weve kind of got a blueprint of what we think theyre going to come out and do, outside linebacker Rashan Gary said. But at the end of the day, once that ball is snapped, weve got to go play. It could be un-scouted looks. It could be C.J. Prosise Jersey looks we think we were going to get.Green Bays defense enters this season brimming with confidence The Packers 2021 rankings dont jump off the page but they closed the season by not allowing a single offensive touchdown in a Green Bay then signed and to new deals following their breakthrough seasons. who both helped They also get back star cornerback after he mi sed most of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury.That has the Packers believing their defense could help give them a fourth straight NFC North title and the Super Bowl bid that has eluded this franchise since its 2010 championship season.I dont care how many wins we have, were not going to be satisfied until that end goal of winning a Super Bowl, safety Darnell Savage said. And if we get to that goal, were going to keep striving for another and another and another.The mi sion starts in Minnesota as the Packers contend with a Vikings playmaking trio that has given Green Bay problems in the past.Dalvin Cook was limited to 13 yards on nine carries in the 37-10 lo s last season, but at Green Bay in 2020 by becoming the first Viking since Ahmad Rashad in 1979 to score four touchdowns in Jake Curhan Jersey a game. Cook had 163 yards rushing and 63 yards receiving that day.Me personally, I think hes probably the best back in the league, Clark said. Hes as talented as any running back Ive ever played.Cousins threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns without an interception to lead the when the Packers visited Minnesota last year. Justin Jefferson had 10 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns that day, though hes failed to score in his other three career matchups with the Packers.When we give Dalvin the respect to stop the run, weve got to hold up in the back end, defensive coordinator Joe Barry said. Thats what makes an offense like this, when they have two elite weapons, so unique. Because very few times do you play an offense that has top-three players at a position that is a wideout and a back. Theres challenges every week, but thats definitely the challenge this week. Youve got to deal with 18 (Jefferson) on the outside and youve got to deal with No. 4 (Cook) in the backfield.The Packers cant wait to discover how well they meet this Ugo Amadi Jersey challenge.As far as a measuring stick, its definitely a big one for us, for this defense to go against those guys, Clark said.___More AP NFL: hub/nfl and AP_NFL in this topic Green Bay Packers National Football League Darnell Savage Dalvin Cook Jaire Alexander Kenny Clark Sean Mannion Rasul Douglas Rashan Gary Dean Lowry Kirk Cousins Minnesota Vikings Green Bay Packers Los Angeles Rams Spain or Morocco? World Cup pa sions blur in Spanish exclave The World Cup knockout game between Spain and Morocco will bring millions of fans on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar together around screens in bars and living rooms to see w... 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Believe the hype, Bellingham is lighting up the World Cup Jordan Henderson knew exactly who to thank after opening the scoring in Englands 3-0 win against Senegal 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Mbapp is bringing soccer to a new dimension at World Cup Cristiano Jordyn Brooks Jersey Ronaldos precision 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Poland finds its true level at World Cup, beaten by the best Poland heads home from the World Cup as the latest team unable to resist an inspired Kylian Mbapp 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS World Cup fans find booze at hotels, Qatar's 1 liquor store Qatar's strict rules regarding alcohol have drawn attention as it hosts the World Cup 4 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS