Packers and Vikings: 20 Brief & Essential Facts
Dustin Baker
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Each week, VikingsTerritory details 20 statistical or interesting facts about the upcoming Minnesota Vikings game. This week’s edition involves the Green Bay Packers, who are three-point favorites facing the Vikings in Week 17.
The game is on January 1st, 2023, at 3:25 pm CST at Lambeau Field.
Packers and Vikings: 20 Brief & Essential Facts
1. The Packers rank 13th in offensive EPA/Play and 27th in defensive EPA/Play — decent on offense, porous on defense. And the Packers defense was advertised as a would-be monster all offseason. The advertisers were wrong.
2. When Sunday’s game kicks off, Adam Thielen will have played the same number of games as a member of the Vikings as Jake Reed (134).
3. With Kirk Cousins at QB1, the Vikings have toppled the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers three consecutive times.
4. Through 15 games, the Vikings offensive line ranks 10th-best leaguewide per Pro Football Focus. The group has climbed four spots during the win over the New York Giants.
5. The Packers rank 32nd in the NFL per rushing defense DVOA. That is also known as last place.
6. To perceive Green Bay’s defense in simple terms, think of it this way: The Packers are phenomenal against the pass and woeful against the run.
7. Greg Joseph now owns three of the five longest field goals in Viking history:
Longest FGs in Vikings History:
61 Yds = Joseph (2022)
56 Yds = Joseph (2022)
56 Yds = Walsh (2012)
56 Yds = Edinger (2005)
55 Yds = Joseph (2021)
55 Yds = Walsh (2014)
55 Yds = Walsh (2014)
55 Yds = Walsh (2012)
55 Yds = Walsh (2012)
55 Yds = Longwell (2007)
8. Justin Jefferson is on pace for 1,990 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. He has Calvin Johnson’s single-season record (1,964 yards) within his grasp. He’s also 236 yards away from the elusive 2,000-yard season mark.
9. Minnesota has a 5% chance of winning the Super Bowl in February, per FiveThirtyEight. The Packers have a 26% of reaching the postseason and a 0.2% of probability of winning the Super Bowl.
10. If the playoffs started today, the Vikings would host the Washington Commanders at U.S. Bank Stadium in the wildcard round. Tunneling down the stretch of the 2022 season, Minnesota will very likely face the Giants, Commanders, Lions, or Seahawks in Round 1 of the postseason. There is also a scenario where the Vikings and Packers meet in the Wildcard Round.
11. This Week 17 game means everything for the Packers postseason hopes:
Packers Playoff Odds:
Currently = 26%
a Win vs. MIN = 56%
a Loss vs. MIN = 3%
12. The Vikings also have the opportunity to own this little record by themselves:
Most Wins in a Single Season,
When Trailing at Start of 4th Quarter,
NFL History:
2022 Vikings: 6
2011 Cardinals: 6
1999 Colts: 6
2021 Steelers: 5
2018 Saints: 5
2016 Raiders: 5
2014 Lions: 5
2001 Bears: 5
1992 Dolphins: 5
1990 Colts: 5
13. Minnesota is a 4th Quarter bandit compared to previous seasons:
Vikings Record,
When Trailing at the Start of 4th Quarter,
Since 2015:
2015-2021 = 6-43-1 (.143)
2022 = 6-3 (.667)
14. Justin Jefferson has -800 odds to win the Offensive Player of the Year award.
15. Not only was Greg Joseph’s 61-yard field goal on Christmas Eve the longest in Vikings history. It was the only third time in history the Vikings have attempted a field of 60+ yards.
16. The Packers have one former Viking on the current roster — linebacker Eric Wilson.
17. These are the things the Vikings do wonderfully so far in 2022:
? 1st in 4th Quarter Points Scored
? 4th in Fewest Penalties
? 5th in 1st Downs
? 5th in Passing TDs
? 8th in Takeaways
? 9th in Defensive 3rd Down Conv %
? 10th in 4th Quarter Points Allowed
18. These are the things the Vikings do terribly so far in 2022:
? 27th in Sacks Allowed
? 28th in Rushing Yards (offense)
? 28th in Time of Possession
? 28th in Points Allowed
? 29th in 1st Downs Allowed
? 31st in Yards Allowed
? 32nd in Passing Yards Allowed
19. A friendly reminder that Kirk Cousins played better in 2021 than in 2022 despite what your friends might tell you:
Kirk Cousins,
2021 Year-End Rankings:
➤ 4th in Passer Rating
➤ 5th in PFF
➤ 8th in DVOA
➤ 14th in EPA+CPOE
➤ 15th in QBR
➤ Tm = 8-9
Kirk Cousins,
2022 thru W16 Rankings:
➤ 13th in Passer Rating
➤ 14th in PFF
➤ 16th in EPA+CPOE
➤ 17th in DVOA
➤ 20th in QBR
➤ Tm = 12-3
20. Justin Jefferson has more receptions of 25+ yards (51) since entering the league in 2020 than the New York Giants do in the same timeframe (50).
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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