The Minnesota Vikings renew their rivalry with the Green Bay Packers this Sunday, but let’s look at the bold predictions for this Week 6 matchup.
The Minnesota Vikings play a pivotal division game against their rivals this Sunday. The Vikings play the Green Bay Packers. Besides the game being a rivalry game it is important because the Vikings will look to void losing their second division game at home this year.
Last season, Minnesota opened their new stadium against the Packers, where they were able to get the victory. The Vikings were able to attack the secondary and the defense gave the high-powered Packers offense trouble all night.
Minnesota will be looking for the same results and should game-plan very similar to last year’s scheme. But let’s take a look at the bold predictions for Week 6.
1. Case Keenum will throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns
Keenum is the guy in Minnesota now and he has the momentum. He played a good second half last Monday Night throwing for 140 yards in two quarters and one touchdown. The Vikings should exploit a weak Green Bay secondary.
Minnesota has had two games where their quarterback has thrown for over 300 yards this season. Sam Bradford did it in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints and Keenum did it against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. Both of those games were at home. Expect the Vikings to air it out and have some big plays in the passing game.
2. Adam Thielen will replicate his performance from Week 16 last season against the Packers when he had 202 receiving yards and two touchdowns
Thielen will be the main guy on Sunday with Stefon Diggs out. Thielen will rise up and step up for the Vikings’ receiving corp. The Minnesota pass-catcher has received at six or more targets in games Keenum has started and that trend should continue this Sunday.
3. Michael Floyd will get his first touchdown as a Viking
Floyd is a big body receiver that should be a weapon in the red zone. The veteran receiver will see more playing time with Diggs out. Also, it will be a nice welcome home for Floyd who will be playing his first home game in his home state of Minnesota.
4. Latavius Murray is the running back who has the big game this week
Murray was used early against the Bears and wore down the defense in the first half. While he didn’t have any explosive plays, he also didn’t get much help from the passing game in the first half which was non-existent. The Vikings will be more balanced on Sunday and Murray will have 90 yards rushing and 30 yards receiving.
5. Xavier Rhodes shuts down Jordy Nelson, holding him to less than 30 yards receiving
Rhodes is expected to shadow Nelson all game and will force the Packers to throw to their other receivers. In their first matchup last season, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t test Rhodes and instead went to Trae Waynes‘ side, which is expected again this Sunday.
6. The Vikings will beat the Packers in a shootout 38 to 35
Minnesota’s offense proves that they can score points and help their defense out.
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The Vikings will have their way with the Packers’ defense as they run and pass all over them. Minnesota’s defense will make a big play to stop the Packers with a Everson Griffin strip sack to seal the game.