3 vital matchups the Vikings need to win in Week 17 vs. the Packers

Vital Matchup for the Vikings No. 2

Vikings secondary vs. Packers WR Jayden Reed

Packers wide receiver Christian Watson is not expected to play on Sunday night, leaving Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed as the two main receivers for Green Bay, with some other guys that will need to step in for Watson.

Doubs is a good player himself, but as this season has progressed, it appears that Reed and Packers quarterback Jordan Love are forming a strong connection.

Reed missed Green Bay's last game against the Carolina Panthers, but before that contest, he hadn't seen less than five targets in a game in the Packers' previous six matchups, and he has only finished with less than five targets three times this season.

Green Bay selected Reed in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, so it should be no surprise that they're trying to get him into their game plan, and they have done so in a big way.

He has been impressive as a rookie, and with significant injuries in the Vikings secondary, it should be expected that Green Bay will attempt to use Reed to exploit Minnesota's hampered secondary.

If the Vikings' secondary can step up and slow down Reed, that should go a long way in helping Minnesota secure a victory on Sunday.

Vital Matchup for the Vikings No. 3

Vikings RBs Ty Chandler and Alexander Mattison vs. Packers defense

If Minnesota wants to take pressure off of Hall this weekend, the best way to do that will be by establishing the run game.

Luckily for the Vikings, the Packers are statistically one of the worst defenses in the NFL against the run this season, which should mean that Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell will look to lean on the run game.

Green Bay has allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league this year, with the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos being the only teams that have been statistically worse.

This stat should be a beacon for the Vikings offense to run the ball against the Packers early and often on Sunday, which will also get the ball out of their rookie quarterback's hands as much as possible.

This is the game in which Minnesota should rely on the run the most, and it just so happens that they get to play against one of the worst teams in the NFL in terms of run defense.