SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

BY ADAM GREENE

You want playoff ramifications? Well, you get them to the smallest degree when the Minnesota Vikings travel to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to take on the NFC leading Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.

The Vikings are currently on life support in the playoff seeding and a loss would pretty much pull the plug. Green Bay holds the No. 1 seed in the NFC as of this writing, but a loss and a Dallas Cowboys win would put them at the No. 2 spot with just a single game to go. Everybody, especially walking Dunning-Kruger poster boy Aaron Rodgers and his broken toe, wants that first round bye.

The Pack leads the all time series 65-56-3, but has lost two straight to Minnesota and, since 2016, is just 4-7-1 against the Vikes. Their last match up was a 34-31 Minnesota win on Nov. 21. Kirk Cousins threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Dalvin Cook rushed for 86 yards and a score and Justin Jefferson caught eight passes for 169 yards and two TDs. Rodgers was good for 385 yards and four touchdowns. Devante Adams caught seven balls for 115 yards and two scores.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-7, O/U: 46)

Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc.

Broadcast: NBC

Kickoff: Jan. 2, 8:20 p.m.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-8)

Minnesota comes into this one after a 30-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday that realistically shut down their playoff plans. Cousins threw for 315 yards, a touchdown, a pick and was sacked three times. Jefferson caught eight passes for 116 yards. Minnesota’s defense did not sack Matthew Stafford, but did intercept him three times while giving up 159 yards and a TD on the ground.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (12-3)

The Packers survived their second scare in a row, holding off the Cleveland Browns 24-22 last week. Rodgers finished 24 of 34 for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Aaron Jones rushed 12 times for 66 yards and Adams caught 10 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Green Bay’s defense sacked Baker Mayfield five times and picked him off four times. They did surrender 219 yards on the ground.

THE PICK

The Pack is making a habit of keeping these games close and with Minnesota’s run game, I don’t see that changing this week. The Vikes seem to regularly bring their best game against the Packers and while they’re heading to their couches in the offseason and Mike Zimmer is likely heading to the unemployment line, they’ll still make this one interesting. Packers 27, Vikings 24

Last Week

Straight up: 12-4

Against the spread: 10-6

Season

Straight up: 145-94-1

Against the spread: 125-115

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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