Sunday’s NFL action concludes with an NFC North rivalry game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers will be looking for some redemption after losing to Minnesota earlier this year and having just one win in the last four games the Vikings played at Lambeau Field.
Of course, Green Bay is favored by 6.5 points in this game with an over/under of 46 points.
To some extent, the Packers can rest easy knowing that they’ve already won the NFC North. But at 12-3, three 11-4 teams are chasing them for the top seed in the NFC.
Since the Packers are 7-0 at home this year, they’ll want to keep winning so they can secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Minnesota’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. The Vikings have lost three of their last five games, leaving them at 7-8 with two weeks left.
They need to win both of their remaining games and hope for some outside help to reach the postseason.
Get Cooking
Minnesota’s potent offense has helped the Vikings average 27.6 points over their last eight games, making them a formidable foe for the Packers.
However, the Minnesota passing game has taken a hit with Adam Thielen unavailable, leaving the Vikings shorthanded once you get past Justin Jefferson. The good news is that Dalvin Cook is set to return to lead the rushing attack, with the Vikings being 4-1 in the last five games that Cook has played.
Of course, the Vikings can only win games when they score a lot of points because their defense hasn’t been reliable this year.
During the eight-game stretch that Minnesota has scored 27.6 points per game, the Vikings have given up 26.9 points per game. This week, the Vikings are set to be without several key members of their front-seven, including their best pass rushers, beating extra pressure on the rest of the defense.
Remember This Guy?
The Packers look poised to finish the season strong with the potential league MVP leading the way.
Over his last nine games, Aaron Rodgers has thrown 23 touchdown passes while limiting himself to just one interception. While the supporting cast around him still has some questions, especially on the offensive line, Rodgers looks as sharp as ever.
Perhaps the only question for the Packers is what they can expect from their defense. Starting with their loss to Minnesota, the Packers have allowed 28.8 points per game over their last five games.
While they have the potential to play better, some injuries in the secondary and a lack of an elite pass rusher have created some concerns.
Pack It In
There should be few doubts that Rodgers and the Green Bay offense will move the ball and score points against the Vikings. The only question is whether the Vikings can keep up sans Thielen, who was huge in the first game between these teams.
As mentioned, the Packers are 7-0 at home this year, so bet on them to win and cover at Lambeau Field on Sunday night.
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