The stakes are high every time the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers get together but Justin Jefferson knows there’s a lot on the line when the two NFC North rivals meet on Sunday.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Jefferson made it clear just how much the rivalry means to the Vikings and gave a simple statement as both teams look to close out the regular season on a high note.
“Just going up against Green Bay, everybody knows we hate them, and they hate us. The fans know. Just the whole rivalry in general is something to get juiced up about."
Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson have a lot on the line against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday
Sunday’s game will be the 129th meeting between the Vikings and Packers, and while every game has bragging rights in workplaces and even households, Sunday’s matchup means a little more.
Minnesota enters the contest tied with the Detroit Lions for the best record in the NFC at 13-2, and beating Green Bay and Lions to close the regular season would give the Vikings home-field advantage in the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
But the Packers also have a lot to gain as they look for playoff positioning. If Green Bay beats Minnesota on Sunday and the Chicago Bears in Week 18, a Vikings loss to the Lions next week would put the Packers in the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs.
The difference between the fifth and sixth seeds in the NFC is massive as the No. 5 team would travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Atlanta Falcons in the Wild Card round while the No. 6 seed would travel to face the current No. 3 seed in the conference, the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams started the season 1-4 but have rebounded to win eight of their last 10 games, including a 30-20 win over the Vikings in Week 8. Los Angeles also lost to Green Bay in Inglewood in Week 5, but that game was played without the Rams' top receiving targets, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.
It would also be a big deal if Minnesota gained home field in the playoffs as they currently own a 6-1 record at U.S. Bank Stadium with their lone loss coming in Week 7 to the Lions.
Everything on the line turns this rivalry matchup up a notch and Jefferson knows it could have a pivotal role in deciding the NFC North.
“It’s definitely high. Especially with us still competing for the No. 1 spot. Detroit is still a dominant team. Green Bay is also still a dominant team as well as us. It’s definitely been crazy to see the talent that we have in the division.”