What the Vikings Can Expect from Green Bay
We are in the regular season’s penultimate week, and all eyes are on the NFC North. The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC runs through the North division. It’s Packers week as the Vikings search for the first of two wins to secure them the number one seed in the NFC. We look at what the Vikings can expect from Green Bay in Week 17.
What the Vikings Can Expect from Green Bay
After the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Washington Commanders last week, the destination of the number one seed was left in the hands of the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions after their respective wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears. Before we get to a possible winner-takes-all-all game 17 in Detroit next week, the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers this week, while the Lions travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers.
The Vikings and Eagles both hold 13-2 records, with the Eagles one game back at 12-3 and the Packers at 11-4. The Eagles need either the Vikings or Lions to slip up this week to let them back in. Green Bay can’t win the division or the number-one seed from their position. This scenario makes the Packers especially dangerous, with the pressure somewhat off.
The Packers clinched a playoff spot with last week’s win over the New Orleans Saints. Whatever happens over the next two games, they will play on the road in the Wildcard round. They almost have a free shot at the Vikings this week, who are under pressure to stay in touch with the Lions.
A Well-Coached Offense
The Packers are a well-coached team, and Matt LaFleur’s battle with Brian Flores will be interesting. The Vikings won in Green Bay earlier in the season after blowing the Packers away in the first half and taking a 28-0 lead. A touchdown late in the half sparked a Green Bay comeback, which Minnesota just held off to win the game 31-29.
The Packers scored 22 points in the fourth quarter as LaFleur and QB Jordan Love figured out how to get the better of the Vikings defense that had been dominating them. LaFleur has a way of getting good results from any receiver the Packers put out there, and with Josh Jacobs leading the rushing attack, the Vikings’ defense will have their hands full.
A Confident Defense
Outside of the two games against the high-powered Lions offense, Green Bay has allowed less than 20 points in the other five of its last seven games, including pitching a shutout against the Saints last week. The Packers’ defense will be in a confident mood, but the Vikings’ offense is dynamic enough to do damage.
The Packers star CB, Jaire Alexander, missed the last five games with a knee injury. When the Packers HC was asked if he was likely to play this week, LaFleur bluntly stated, “I’d say probably not.” Alexander’s absence would be a big loss for the Packers against the Vikings’ explosive passing offense.
Vikings/Packers History
US Bank Stadium will host the 129th meeting between the Vikings and Packers. Green Bay leads the series 66-59-3, largely thanks to dominant spells in the 1960s, when the Vikings were an expansion team, the 1980s, and from 2010 to 15. Minnesota had its own dominant periods in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. The 2020s have seen a fairly even split, with the Vikings winning five and the Packers winning four. The Packers won comfortably last season in Minneapolis by a 33-10 scoreline.
The Vikings will look for a win on Sunday, allowing them to double over the Packers for the first time since 2017.
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