Why the Vikings Might Beat the Packers
If the Minnesota Vikings have any dreams — any dreams whatsoever — of salvaging their season to the tune of a postseason appearance, the franchise must win this Sunday and finish the year with a 6-1 record in the next seven games. And you know what? It could happen.
Here’s why the Vikings might beat the Packers on Sunday, with matchup edges and situational advantages that could tilt Week 12.
Oddsmakers predict Green Bay to prevail by six points, a fair assessment. But here’s why it wouldn’t be the strangest phenomenon in the world for Minnesota to notch a dub.
The Case for the Vikings to Beat the Packers
When one pieces together the evidence, it’s not that outlandish.
The Week 9 Lions Example
The exact same mojo that accompanied Minnesota into its Week 9 meeting on the road at the Detroit Lions is present this week against Green Bay. Fans don’t really expect the Vikings to win, but they’re holding out hope for a “best game of the season” arc.
J.J. McCarthy returned from a high ankle sprain in Week 9 at Detroit, looking pretty fantastic during that contest. He had a lot on the line after missing five games, with fans wondering a) if he was any good b) if the guy was just totally injury-prone.
McCarthy faces similar questions this week, mainly onlookers wondering if he’ll ever stabilize his completion percentage.
The Vikings + McCarthy delivered against all odds versus the Lions a few weeks ago. Why not again? This is the same ordeal. No delineation.
The J.J. McCarthy About-Face Could Actually Be Real
There’s a hope — possibly irrational — that one particular Sunday, everything will simply click for McCarthy, and his bad habits from his first five starts will vanish.
After all, an NFL quarterback does not show his true colors until 250-300 dropbacks, by the numbers. McCarthy is around 180 dropbacks through five starts.
What if McCarthy arrives at Lambeau and looks the part of the man drafted in Round 1 by Minnesota in 2024? That’s probably a utopian situation, but it cannot be ruled out.
Slaying NFC North Teams on the Road — and Then That’s Pretty Much It
Name the high points of Minnesota’s 2025 campaign to date. Think for a moment.
Here they are:
- A Week 1 win at Chicago
- A Week 9 win at Detroit
The trifecta may be on the way. The only thing McCarthy can do consistently to start his career is win NFC North away games. For Sunday’s sake, we’ll take it.
Our Cole Smith mentioned this week, “For whatever it’s worth, the past two games were played at U.S. Bank Stadium. McCarthy’s two wins have both come on the road against the Bears and Lions. Perhaps playing in hostile environments forces him to lock in more to the game plan.”
“If he can do the same at Lambeau Field this week, the Vikings will still have a pulse, and McCarthy can give himself some more grace with fans, if only for a week.”
The Kevin O’Connell Win Streak Theory
In 2022, O’Connell’s first year on the job, Minnesota posted a seven-game win streak.
In 2023, O’Connell’s second year on the job, Minnesota posted a five-game win streak.
In 2024, O’Connell’s third year on the job, Minnesota posted an eight-game win streak.
Winning spurts of five games or more are in O’Connell’s blood. He’s created a pattern. If he wants to continue that modus operandi, he’s running out of time, and a streak almost has to start in Wisconsin.
A Flurry of Defensive Takeaways around the Corner
A year ago, forcing fumbles and interceptions were a trademark of this defense. Not anymore. Through 10 games, the Vikings sit near the bottom of the league in takeaways (ninth-worst in the NFL), and it shows up every week in field position and momentum. That has to correct itself. Turnovers always swing back eventually, and Minnesota can’t afford to wait much longer for the math to catch up.
Maybe the takeaway will sprout in Green Bay.
Best Offensive Line in Years
Nobody has talked about it much because all things Vikings center on McCarthy’s performance and development, but as the OL unit has returned to full health, Minnesota is suddenly featuring its best offensive line in years, perhaps a decade.
There’s a chance on Sunday that the intended starting offensive line from the summer — Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill — sees the field together. It will be the first time all season if so.
Suppose McCarthy plays well or average — just not a horrid clip. He’ll have a pretty damn sturdy offensive line in front of him.
Aaron Jones Vengeance
And then there’s the quasi-revenge angle.
Of course, Jones didn’t leave Green Bay on the backdrop of terribly bad blood. But any time a player faces his old team, he likes to put forth his A-game. That’s what Jones will do this weekend.
Too, Minnesota must continue to focus on running the football more often and more efficiently, and there’s no better option right now than Jones for the assignment.
Jones talked this week about wanting to score at Lambeau. It’s probably not a wise idea to bet against him.
You must be logged in to post a comment.