SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 17: GREEN BAY PACKERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

BY ADAM GREENE

It’s a veritable New Year’s Eve NFC Playoff elimination game as the Green Bay Packers travel to Prince’s hometown to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. Cris Collinsworth is already oiling up his cheeks for the epic slide in this one deserves.

This rivalry has been going strong since the Vikings first entered the NFL as an expansion team in 1961. This will be the 127^th meeting between the franchises with Green Bay holding a 65-58-3 advantage in the head-to-head. Minnesota won their last matchup, 24-10, back on Oct. 29. Kirk Cousins (now out for the season after getting hurt in this very game) was 23 of 31 passing for 274 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win. Rookie Jaren Hall came out of the bullpen to go 3 of 4 passing for 23 yards. Alexander Mattison rushed 16 times for 31 yards. KJ Osborn caught eight passes for 99 yards. Jordan Addison had seven receptions for 82 yards and a TD. TJ Hockenson (now out for the season too) had six grabs for 88 yards and a score.

In the loss, Jordan Love was 24 of 41 passing for 229 yards, one touchdown and a pick. He led the Pack in rushing with four carries for 34 yards. AJ Dillon had seven rushes for 29 yards and led the team with five catches for 41 yards.

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-2.5, O/U: 46.5)

Location: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.

Broadcast: NBC

Kickoff: Dec. 31, 8:20 p.m.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-8)

Green Bay nearly found itself in a complete meltdown disaster last week but was able to halt a two-game losing streak with a 33-30 last second win over the hapless Carolina Panthers. Jordan Love was 17 of 28 passing for 219 yards, two touchdowns and no picks in the win. He scrambled twice for 12 yards and a score and was sacked once. Aaron Jones had 21 carries for 127 yards. Romeo Doubs caught four passes for 79 yards and a TD. The defense sacked Bryce Young twice and held the Panthers to 96 total yards on the ground.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-8)

The Vikings dropped their second game in a row, falling 30-24 in a solidly entertaining game against the Detroit Lions. Nick Mullens was 22 of 36 passing for 411 yards, two touchdowns and four picks in the loss. He was sacked four times. Ty Chandler rushed eight times for 17 yards and a score. Justin Jefferson caught six passes for 141 yards and a TD. KJ Osborn had five receptions for 95 yards and a score. The defense sacked Jared Goff once.

THE PICK

This one is interesting, because Mullens can play winning football. It’s a loser literally leaves the playoff bracket match up and US Bank Stadium is a notoriously tough place to play. Vikings 23, Packers 20

Last week

Straight up: 12-4

Against the spread: 10-6

Season

Straight up: 124-74

Against the spread: 110-88

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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