Week 17 - Green Bay Packers (Home)
Just like Sunday’s game, this New Year’s Eve battle could have a lot on the line for both teams.
If the Vikings fall to the Lions this weekend, Minnesota will be battling to hold onto one of the final playoff spots in the NFC.
The Packers could also be looking to force their way into the playoffs this season, assuming they take care of business against the two-win Carolina Panthers this weekend.
The biggest matchup in this game will be Brian Flores’s defense against Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
While Love completed just 58.5 percent of his passes for 229 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the October 29 meeting between these two teams at Lambeau Field earlier this season, his numbers were weighed down by several drops in the Vikings’ 24-10 victory.
In addition, Love has turned a corner for the Packers since the loss, completing 67 percent of his passes for 1,876 yards (268 yards per game), 14 touchdowns, and three interceptions over his last seven games.
If anything, the Packers are going to put up points, which puts the pressure on the Vikings to keep up.
With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, the Vikings have the personnel to do so, but they’ve also struggled at home with a 2-4 record and 20 points per game entering Sunday’s game with the Lions.
It won’t be easy but the Vikings pick up the win.
Prediction: Vikings win 23-20