What Minnesota Vikings Fans Need to Know Ahead of Week 12 vs. Green Bay Packers
The Minnesota Vikings officially have their backs against the wall heading into this weekend.
They are now 4-6 after falling to the Chicago Bears at home on Sunday, and now, they sit three games behind Chicago in the NFC North race with a road matchup against the Green Bay Packers looming this weekend.
Before the Vikings head to Lambeau for their final road divisional game of the year, here is what fans need to know.
How to Watch the Minnesota Vikings This Week
The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will kick off at 12 p.m. Central on Sunday, November 23 at Lambeau Field. The game will be broadcast on FOX and can be streamed on NFL+ through the NFL app as well as NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV.
Packers vs. Vikings History
It’s been one of the biggest rivalries in the NFL for decades, and it will be reignited on Sunday. Throughout the histories of the two franchises, the Packers and Vikings have met on the field 129 times, including two playoff matchups.
It’s been a pretty even matchup over the years, with the Packers holding the all-time series lead with a 66-60-3 record against the Vikings. Both teams have won one of the playoff meetings as well. However, the Vikings have gotten the better of their cheese head rivals in recent years, winning six of the past nine matchups and each of the past two.
Packers Spotlight Player: WR Christian Watson
Christian Watson missed the first six games of the season because of injury, and since returning to the field, he hasn’t exactly gotten off to a great start. The former second-round pick has totaled just 12 receptions for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
However, each of those touchdowns came in Green Bay’s most recent game, a win against the New York Giants. Watson may be beginning to heat up, and it comes as the Packers go against a Vikings team that currently has just three cornerbacks on its active roster after releasing Dwight McGlothern on Thursday.
The Packers are 2-2 since Watson’s return, and their other win against the Pittsburgh Steelers also came in a game where Watson performed well, totaling four catches for 85 yards. In the two losses, the numbers are nearly identical: two catches for 58 yards against the Panthers and two catches for 45 yards against the Eagles. We’ll see if the Vikings can hold the deep threat in check this weekend. If they do, they might just be able to squeak out a win.
Vikings Spotlight Player: C Ryan Kelly
The Minnesota Vikings spent a lot of capital between draft picks and money to fix their offensive line this offseason. However, to this point, they have yet to play a game in which all five of their starters take the field at the same time.
That could change this weekend. Ryan Kelly entered his 21-day practice window this week as he comes back from his second concussion of the season. So far, he has been listed as a full participant in both practices on Wednesday and Thursday.
If Kelly does indeed take the field, the starting quintet would be in place for the first time, assuming Will Fries will also take the field after being listed on the injury report with a knee injury this week. Against a Packers defense that is tied for the fifth-most QB hits this season, a fully healthy offensive line couldn’t be coming at a better time.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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