3 games Vikings fans should watch during Week 14
By Chris Schad
Washington Redskins (3-9) at Green Bay Packers (9-3)
Time: 12 p.m. CT, Sunday
Line: Packers by 13 points
Playoff Position: Green Bay – 3rd, Washington – 12th (eliminated from contention)
We’ll start with the obvious as the Vikings are still chasing the Packers for the lead in the NFC North. While Minnesota is only one game behind the Packers with four weeks to go, they also have to contend with Green Bay’s 3-0 record within the division that essentially gives them a two-game lead over the Vikings, who are currently 1-2 against the NFC North opponents.
Not only does this make Sunday’s matchup against Detroit even more important, but it has Minnesota looking for other teams to play spoiler.
This week, the Vikings will turn to the Washington Redskins for some help. It may be a lot to ask from the Redskins, who have had an eventful 2019 season that has included the firing of head coach Jay Gruden, the shaky support of Dwayne Haskins, and the march to another top-five pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
If there’s any hope for an upset, however, it has to be in the Washington ground game. Last week, Redskins running back Derrius Guice reminded people of the upside he showed coming out of LSU, destroying the Carolina Panthers with 129 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries.
With a north-south running style and a familiar tag team partner in Adrian Peterson, the duo will go up against a Packers defense whose 4.7 rushing yards allowed per attempt currently ranks 28th in the league.
The bad news is that Washington is bad almost everywhere else. Their offensive line has pulled a heel turn on Haskins and the rest of the team, outside of rookie receiver Terry McLaurin, looks like they can’t wait for this season to end.
If the Redskins can jump out to an early lead and control the clock with their ground game, they have a chance on Sunday in Green Bay. But it’s just not likely to happen.