Packers continue their playoff push as they host the rival Vikings
The Packers return home as they get ready to host the Minnesota Vikings in the Sunday late afternoon game on CBS.
The Packers are 7-8 after they rallied to defeat the Miami Dolphins on the road on Christmas Day. The Vikings are 12-3 after winning 27-24 vs the New York Giants on Saturday.
Kirk Cousins has hit some bumps in the road, but he is statistically having a fine season. Dalvin Cook had some big games vs the Packers in the past, and containing him will be a challenge. Justin Jefferson is having a monster year and very well could reach 2,000 receiving yards before the regular season is over. It will be quite a task to slow this offense down.
Aaron Rodgers has dealt with more injuries this past week, but he will play. Like Cook has done vs the Packers, Aaron Jones had some big games vs the Vikings before. It is unclear whether Christian Watson will play. Whoever they have out there will need to make plays. Against Miami, the Packers were unable to finish enough drives with touchdowns, either settling for field goals or failing on 4th down or turning it over. They cannot expect to do the same thing and win on Sunday.
The Vikings won 23-7 vs the Packers in Week 1, and that 16-point margin of victory is still the largest win for Minnesota all year. None of their other victories were by more than 8 points. All 3 of their losses were by 2 scores or more, including that 40-3 blowout at home vs the Cowboys. They are currently only a +5 in points scored vs points allowed despite a 12-3 record.
I have heard from many fans that the Vikings have been very lucky this year, and I don’t necessarily disagree with that. They held on by the skin of their teeth in some games, for example, at home vs the Jets. They had some improbable misfortune happen to the other team like the Bills fumbling the ball in their own endzone. They needed the largest comeback in NFL history to defeat the lowly Colts at home. This does not look like a championship team.
Despite all of their luck or whatever you want to call it, none of it really matters when the teams line up on Sunday. The Packers have won 3 in a row, but they haven’t exactly set the world on fire. They are a slight favorite on Sunday, and a part of me wishes they were underdogs instead to give them that much more motivation to win the game. In the end, beating the Vikings should be motivation enough. This is the team that took the division crown away after the Packers won it the previous 3 years. Besides, the Vikings would very much enjoy winning this game and ending the Packers’ playoff hopes once and for all.
The Packers have a small chance to make the playoffs but it’s still a chance. If they win these last two games and the Washington Commanders lose at home to either the Cleveland Browns or the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers are in.
All the team needs to worry about this weekend is winning this game vs the Vikings. They ended the year 2022 with 3 straight wins. Let’s get a win to start 2023. Happy New Year Packer fans! Let’s ring in the new year with a win over our bitter rivals on New Year’s Day!
Get Loud Lambeau!
Go Pack Go!
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