3 Hot Takes for Vikings at Packers on Sunday
Both teams’ fan bases are a bit down in the dumps as the Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12. The Vikings are close to elimination from playoff contention, while the Packers’ Super Bowl hopes look rather faint based on recent performance. Nevertheless, we have bold predictions for the event.
Three hot takes for the Minnesota Vikings’ showdown with the Packers on Sunday, highlighting bold predictions as the rivalry ramps up at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay is expected to win by six points, and Minnesota seeks to avoid a three-game losing streak.
Bold Predictions for Packers-Vikings
Just the brazen takes for Sunday.
1. The Switch Is Flipped to an Extent for J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy won’t shapeshift into Joe Burrow this weekend, but he also can’t play moronically. Justin Jefferson told reporters that McCarthy can make all the necessary throws, with proper mechanics and footwork, in practice, so the masses know the complete quarterback is in there somewhere.
It’s not like the guy is a 16-year-old learning stuff for the first time and being thrust into the wolves. McCarthy has the total package; he just needs to slow down and display it.
Well, onlookers will see a slight turn of the corner this week. The ridiculous passing inaccuracy will fall by the wayside, while his pass-catchers won’t produce six dropped balls like they did against the Chicago Bears.
When the dust settles, McCarthy will showcase a completion percentage around 63%, throw for 200-210 yards, 2 touchdowns, and his customary interception.
CBS Sports‘ Garrett Podell published a McCarthy prediction, too, on Friday: “Minnesota’s 2024 10th overall pick quarterback J.J. McCarthy is riding the struggle bus. He’s registered a 52.9% completion percentage, eight total touchdowns and eight interceptions in five starts while throwing at least one interception in every start.”
“He’s also thrown for fewer than 200 yards in four of his five starts this season. On paper, facing All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers top 10 scoring defense at Lambeau Field will likely lead to McCarthy having another bad day in Week 12. However, he will eclipse 200 yards passing on Sunday despite Green Bay allowing the 10th-fewest passing yards per game (195.3) this season.”
Minnesota will see Parsons for the first time in three years on Sunday.
Podell added, “The reason why is because the cornerback position is the one position on the Packers’ defense that is truly vulnerable. Vikings wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison should be able to break free for enough bombs against Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine to get McCarthy over 200 yards passing on Sunday.”
2. The Vikings Force 3 Turnovers
A calling card last year, Minnesota no longer forces fumbles and interceptions at an impressive clip. In fact, through 10 games, the Vikings are among the NFL’s very worst teams at taking the ball away from opponents.
That has to rectify as a mathematical law, and Brian Flores’ men will progress to the mean this weekend. Between defense and special teams, Minnesota will force three turnovers from an undermanned Green Bay team, and the takeaway drought will cease.
Byron Murphy Jr. logs a pick and the Vikings scoop two fumbles.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz on the takeaway mystery: “So, what’s happened? Where have the takeaways gone? There’s no clear and obvious answer, but there are several things we can point to in order to try to help explain it.”
“The easiest one would be the departure of Camryn Bynum, who had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries last season. Another big one is that the Vikings have spent more time trailing this season, which has led to fewer obvious passing situations. Last year, Vikings opponents passed the ball 63.3 percent of the time, the highest rate in the league.”
It’s worth noting that the Packers don’t force many takeaways, either.
“This year? Just 50.2 percent, the second-lowest rate in the league. Fewer passes lead to fewer opportunities for interceptions or strip-sacks. Another part of it is just random variance. It’s hard to explain something like Byron Murphy Jr. going from six interceptions last year to none this year,” Ragatz continued.
“Anecdotally, it feels like the Vikings have been close on a number of plays that haven’t quite ended up as takeaways. In the Bears game alone, there were a few.”
3. Minnesota Wins 3 Games in a Row at Lambeau Field for First Time in 48 Years
Minnesota has a shot on Sunday to do something it hasn’t pulled off since the mid-70s: win at Lambeau three straight years. The last time it happened was 1975–77, nearly fifty years ago.
The heavy lifting is already done with road wins in 2023 and 2024. Now it falls on McCarthy to steady up, play grown-up football, and finish the job.
McCarthy will bring his A-game — which will be akin to a normal quarterback’s B or B- — the Vikings will force three turnovers, and the 48-year skid with no back-to-back-to-back wins at Lambeau Field will end.
Fans will start dreaming big about Minnesota possibly turning the corner, with Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks a week away.
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