Breaking news: Five star-set to join Packers.
On Sunday night, the Minnesota Vikings (7-8) and Green Bay Packers (7-8) will play in what is very definitely an elimination game in the NFC playoff race. In the event that the winner prevails in the season finale, they will have the opportunity to advance. Who loses? The game is over.
Is it possible for Matt LaFleur’s side to win in primetime and prolong the season one more week at U.S. Bank Stadium?
The Packers Wire staff predicts the following outcomes for their Week 17 matchup with the Vikings:
The Vikings are 1-4 in their last five games, coming off back-to-back losses and preparing to start a rookie fifth-round quarterback who has thrown 10 passes over four career series in the NFL. This is both a terrific opportunity and the last stand for Joe Barry and the Packers defense. I just can’t muster enough confidence in that side of the ball to predict a win on the road against a team with three capable receivers and a creative playcaller. This defense was fortunate to give up only 30 points last week in Carolina. The Vikings are better up front along the offensive line than the Panthers and Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn will likely give the downtrodden Packers secondary fits. I think the offense will score plenty, but it won’t be enough to save the defense in a tough atmosphere this week. A disappointing ending to a rollercoaster season, but also a means to an end. Change is so obviously necessary on the defensive side, and this is the nail in the coffin. The Vikings play nothing but one-score games, and the play of both defenses in recent weeks strongly suggests a shootout is coming.
Should the Packers win this game? Probably. Does that mean they will? I’m not so confident. Corner Jaire Alexander will be serving his one-game suspension, which could open the door for a big performance from Justin Jefferson. Working in Green Bay’s favor, the Vikings are rolling with rookie Jaren Hall at quarterback. However, Joe Barry has a tendency to make average or even mediocre quarterbacks look decent, and Minnesota has plenty of talent at receiver. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from the Packers’ offense during the second half of this season, but they will likely be without their big-play receiver, Christian Watson, yet again. His availability would help immensely against an aggressive and opportunistic defense that has forced a turnover in each of its last four games. Jordan Love has played mistake-free these last two weeks, but that will change this Sunday night and ultimately gut this team’s playoff hopes.
Anybody have a coin that I can flip? I want to pick the Packers. The offense is playing at a high level and the Vikings are starting a rookie quarterback with 22 career snaps. But Minnesota is at home in a very difficult road environment, and there is little faith right now that this Jaire Alexander-less Green Bay defense can slow this Vikings passing game that is led by Justin Jefferson, and also features Jordan Addison and KJ Osborn, who combined have 12 touchdowns at nearly 1,400 yards. Even with the inconsistency at quarterback during the second half of the season, the Vikings will enter Sunday’s game ranked sixth in yards per pass attempt as a team. Jaren Hall’s mobility could also present issues for the Packers. As Matt LaFleur said on Thursday, that element at quarterback has given Green Bay fits previously. I do believe the Packers offense finds some success against the blitz-heavy Vikings, but I don’t know if the Green Bay defense can come up with that crucial fourth quarter stop in what I expect to be a close game.
