Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) picks up 64 yards on a reception while being covered by Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage (26) during the second quarter of their game Sunday, September 11, 2022 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
The VikingsTerritory collective staff prediction for Packers at Vikings is ready.
Minnesota lost in Week 16 at home versus the Detroit Lions, 30-24. Then starting quarterback Nick Mullens tossed four interceptions, the defense stunk, and Detroit won its first NFC North title in 30 years on the Vikings’ turf.
This weekend, the Packers hope to keep their postseason hopes alive and basically have the same playoff math as Minnesota — win two games, and you’re in while getting one loss from the Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks in the next two weeks.
The writers at VikingsTerritory predict the Vikings will win their eighth game of the season.
Writers mostly chose the Vikings, evidently confident the club could right the ship with Jaren Hall as the starting quarterback.
Here’s how the panel sees the score for Week 17:
Dustin Baker: Vikings Win, 27-20
Sean Borman: Vikings Win, 27-26
Janik Eckardt: Packers Win, 24-20
Josh Frey: Packers Win, 24-17
Will Goodwin: Vikings Win, 26-13
Wes Johnson: Vikings Win, 30-20
Kyle Joudry: Vikings Win, 26-24
Adam New: Vikings Win, 26-20
Nate Powalie: Vikings Win, 24-19
Ted Schwerzler: Vikings Win, 28-17
Ali Siddiqui: Vikings Win, 27-21
Cole Smith: Vikings Win, 27-26
Mathematically en masse, we predict the Vikings will top the Packers by a score of 25-21.
And 2023 season standings for our writers’ predictions:
Dustin Baker: 9-6
Sean Borman: 9-6
Adam New: 9-6
Nate Powalie: 9-6
Ted Schwerzler: 9-6
Cole Smith: 9-6
Janik Eckardt: 8-7
Josh Frey: 7-8
Will Goodwin: 7-8
Wes Johnson: 7-8
Kyle Joudry: 6-9
Ali Siddiqui: 5-10
Last week, Sean Borman and Adam New most accurately predicted the Vikings’ outcome. They picked the Vikings to lose by four, and Minnesota lost by six.
The Vikings are favored to prevail by one point against the Packers, as the odds shrunk after Minnesota announced Hall as the starter. Hall will become the fourth rookie quarterback ever to start a primetime game for the Vikings, a list including Tarvaris Jackson, Joe Webb, and Christian Ponder.
Sporting News picked the Packers to defeat the Vikings, and SN’s Bill Bender explained with a 28-25 prediction, “Both NFC North teams are clinging on to their playoff hopes. Jordan Love has 13 TDs and one interception in the Packers’ last six games, but a much-maligned defense has allowed 401.3 yards per game in the same stretch. Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens has thrown six interceptions in the last two weeks. That is the difference here, too.”
If the Vikings lose on Sunday night, it will be only the third time in 62 years that they lost 6+ home games in a single season.
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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.