Last season, the Minnesota Vikings were able to get a win over the Green Bay Packers inside U.S. Bank Stadium thanks to a great performance from their quarterback.
Inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday night, the 10-4 Minnesota Vikings and 11-3 Green Bay Packers will resume their classic Border Battle rivalry.
The Packers lead the all-time series between the two teams 54-61-3 and they won the first meeting earlier this season at Lambeau Field by a final score of 21-16. Despite Green Bay leading the all-time series, the Vikings are 3-0 against the Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium since the building opened in 2016.
Last season, Minnesota got a 24-17 home win over Green Bay to improve their record to 6-4-1. The Vikings went on to finish the year with an 8-7-1 record.
During the victory, Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins went 29-for-38 for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Adam Thielen finished with eight receptions for 125 yards and a score while Stefon Diggs added eight catches of his own for 77 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings ended the night with four sacks and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was responsible for two of them.
For the Packers, Aaron Rodgers went 17-for-28 for 198 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay running back Aaron Jones rushed for 72 yards and a score on 17 carries while receiver Davante Adams pitched in with five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.
This season, Minnesota has been playing well, but so has Green Bay. The Vikings do still have a shot to win the NFC North this year. But in addition to needing victories in their final two games, Minnesota also needs the Packers to lose on Monday night and then again in Week 17 to the Detroit Lions.
Green Bay should be able to beat a banged-up Lions team in their season finale, which would make them the division champions. But you never know, crazy things happen all the time in the NFL and a bunch of the Packers wins this year have been very close.
The Vikings should make the playoffs this season, whether it is as a division winner or a wild card team remains to be seen. There’s also an outside chance that Minnesota could even end up with a first-round bye.
Once again, a lot will be riding on this week for the purple and many other teams hoping to make it into the playoffs this year.