Minnesota Vikings tight finish Johnny Mundt (86) scores a landing on a six-yard reception whereas being coated by Inexperienced Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) in the course of the fourth quarter of their recreation Sunday, December 31, 2023 at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Inexperienced Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings 33-10.
We’re within the common season’s penultimate week, and all eyes are on the NFC North. The street to the Tremendous Bowl within the NFC runs via the North division. It’s Packers week because the Vikings seek for the primary of two wins to safe them the primary seed within the NFC. We take a look at what the Vikings can anticipate from Inexperienced Bay in Week 17.
What the Vikings Can Count on from Inexperienced Bay
After the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Washington Commanders final week, the vacation spot of the primary seed was left within the arms of the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions after their respective wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears. Earlier than we get to a attainable winner-takes-all-all recreation 17 in Detroit subsequent week, the Vikings host the Inexperienced Bay Packers this week, whereas the Lions journey to San Francisco to tackle the 49ers.
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The Vikings and Eagles each maintain 13-2 data, with the Eagles one recreation again at 12-3 and the Packers at 11-4. The Eagles want both the Vikings or Lions to slide up this week to allow them to again in. Inexperienced Bay can’t win the division or the number-one seed from their place. This state of affairs makes the Packers particularly harmful, with the stress considerably off.
The Packers clinched a playoff spot with final week’s win over the New Orleans Saints. No matter occurs over the subsequent two video games, they’ll play on the street within the Wildcard spherical. They nearly have a free shot on the Vikings this week, who’re beneath stress to remain in contact with the Lions.
A Nicely-Coached Offense
The Packers are a well-coached workforce, and Matt LaFleur’s battle with Brian Flores shall be fascinating. The Vikings gained in Inexperienced Bay earlier within the season after blowing the Packers away within the first half and taking a 28-0 lead. A landing late within the half sparked a Inexperienced Bay comeback, which Minnesota simply held off to win the sport 31-29.
Inexperienced Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur talks about defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley throughout a press convention Thursday, February 22, 2024, at Lambeau Area in Inexperienced Bay, Wis.
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The Packers scored 22 factors within the fourth quarter as LaFleur and QB Jordan Love found out easy methods to get the higher of the Vikings protection that had been dominating them. LaFleur has a manner of getting good outcomes from any receiver the Packers put on the market, and with Josh Jacobs main the dashing assault, the Vikings’ protection can have their arms full.
A Assured Protection
Exterior of the 2 video games towards the high-powered Lions offense, Inexperienced Bay has allowed lower than 20 factors within the different 5 of its final seven video games, together with pitching a shutout towards the Saints final week. The Packers’ protection shall be in a assured temper, however the Vikings’ offense is dynamic sufficient to do harm.
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The Packers star CB, Jaire Alexander, missed the final 5 video games with a knee harm. When the Packers HC was requested if he was prone to play this week, LaFleur bluntly said, “I’d say probably not.” Alexander’s absence could be a giant loss for the Packers towards the Vikings’ explosive passing offense.
Vikings/Packers Historical past
US Financial institution Stadium will host the 129th assembly between the Vikings and Packers. Inexperienced Bay leads the sequence 66-59-3, largely due to dominant spells within the Nineteen Sixties, when the Vikings have been an growth workforce, the Eighties, and from 2010 to fifteen. Minnesota had its personal dominant durations within the late Nineteen Sixties and all through the Nineteen Seventies. The 2020s have seen a reasonably even break up, with the Vikings successful 5 and the Packers successful 4. The Packers gained comfortably final season in Minneapolis by a 33-10 scoreline.
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The Vikings will search for a win on Sunday, permitting them to double over the Packers for the primary time since 2017.
