5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers – Week 16

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 15: Minnesota Vikings Running Back Mike Boone (23) during an NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Chargers on December 15, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Kiyoshi Mio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 15: Minnesota Vikings Running Back Mike Boone (23) during an NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Chargers on December 15, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Kiyoshi Mio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings and Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers speak after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins /

Cousins will out-duel Rodgers

When the Vikings left Lambeau Field in Week 2, there were many questions as to whether Kirk Cousins will ever be what they wanted him to be.

Although Minnesota had a chance to win the game late, Cousins YOLO, 500-style interception in the end zone proved to be the back-breaker and effectively threw Minnesota’s chances of winning the NFC North out the window. But just like the offensive line, Cousins is a different quarterback this time around.

Two weeks after Cousins threw that pick in Green Bay, the Vikings’ offense had a turning point and as people were burying him with insults, Angry Kirk Cousins showed up and has taken over, throwing 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions in his past 12 games.

Those numbers are even more impressive considering Dalvin Cook has had a dip in effectiveness as the season has progressed and Adam Thielen missed significant time due to injury.

Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers has put up a solid season statistically, but as Acme Packing Company points out, the combination of a poor supporting cast and Rodgers missing the plays he usually makes has made him seem more human. This could be a problem against a Vikings defense that seems to turn it up a notch under the glass (sorry, ETFE) at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Even with the Minnesota secondary struggling, this should be a game where the Packers’ offense has issues, giving Cousins a chance to earn his first “Monday Night Football” victory in nine career starts.