NFC Game Of The Week
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Vikings: They sure know how to keep you on the edge of your seat, don’t they? If I needed a phrase to describe their season, it’d be they have a flare for the theatrics. First, they complete the greatest comeback in the history of this sport when they erased the 33-point lead against the Indianapolis Colts in week 15 and on Christmas Eve against the New York Giants, they got all they could handle from that up and coming group as they needed a 61-yard field goal from Greg Joseph to seal the deal. Here’s an interesting fact. In games decided by a touchdown or less, the Minnesota Vikings have a record of 11-0, a perfect mark. Do you notice a trend there? While they have a 12-3 record, they don’t put teams away as I’ve been saying throughout this season. My issue is this. You can’t always expect to fall behind in games and find ways to come back because that opportunity won’t always present itself and here I am thinking they learned their lesson after getting destroyed by the Dallas Cowboys in November. Look at the hole they dug themselves into as they weren’t able to get out of it. Can I give Justin Jefferson his flowers? He’s truly grown up as a Wide Receiver this year and has shown why he’s Kirk Cousins’ top target. Whenever you’ve needed him to deliver and make that big catch down the field or to move the chains, Mr. Griddy himself has always answered when his number was called. He’s a top-three receiver in this league and has shown this all throughout this season. While it might not be the prettiest, the Vikings have won games. They’ve won the division for the first time since 2017. On Sunday, they will make their annual trip to Lambeau.
Packers: It’s been quite the roller coaster for them this year and I’m just not talking the actual season. Let’s take it back to the off-season. After winning another league MVP and an exit in the playoffs as the top seed, Aaron Rodgers was extended and got the money he wanted. A day later, the team shocked the world in what became a wild off-season and traded Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Okay, I got that all out of the way. Let’s talk about the actual season. After four games, they were 3-1 and things looked to be clicking, right? Then came the losing streak and they sat with a 4-8 record and the towel was pretty much thrown in on them. Sometimes in this league, all you need is the ball to roll your way and that’s exactly what’s happened with the Green Bay Packers. Now, they’ve won their last three games and finally, they decided to listen to me and execute the gameplan I’ve been preaching since training camp. The Packers haven’t had the depth at receiver that we’ve become accustomed to seeing. I kept calling for them to run the football and build this offense around Aaron Jones as he is their best player. It’s actually been a nice trio that’s been stepping up that’s consisted of Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillion and Christian Watson. Those three have provided Aaron with guys he can lean on and get the football too. This Sunday afternoon, they will welcome the 2022 NFC North division champs to town.
Vikings X-Factor: Dalvin Cook– I can’t stress enough how vital of a piece he is to the Vikings offense. He’s a game changer when he’s used and featured in the offense. Dalvin has the complete package as a Running Back. He’s quick, strong, elusive in space and tough to bring down when he has it going for himself. He’s that back that waits for the lane to open up, then he exploits it with space and attacks. Few backs can burst through that lane like Dalvin can.
Packers X-Factor: Allen Lazard– He’s one of the few receivers that’s played with Rodgers for a few years. I like what Allen brings to the Packers offense. He’s a physical receiver off the release and he’s also a tough guy to bring down in the open field with the ball in his hands. Another aspect of Allen’s game that stands out to me is his ability to run block and he has no issues with getting his jersey dirty. As a receiver, you’re asked to do other things at your position outside of what you’re primarily responsible for.
Final Thoughts: This looked to be a game with little interest a few weeks back. This is a rivalry with plenty of memorable moments throughout the years. These two opened up the season against one another in week one and the Vikings dominated the Packers in every aspect of the game. Green Bay enters this game winners of four of the last six games. Minnesota must get Dalvin Cook going. There’s no excuse for him not to have at least 20-25 carries in this game and the Packers struggle to stop the run. For Green Bay, continue to slow the game down with the running game. All Aaron has to do is just manage the game at this point and when the opportunity presents itself, he’ll take a shot down the field. It’ll be tough for the Packers to get that running game going because the Vikings have been stout against the run all season long. This might be crazy to say, but make the Quarterback beat you. The Vikings are fighting for the two seed in the NFC playoff picture while the Packers are in the midst of the Wild Cart hunt.
Prediction: Packers 28, Vikings 23
