There’s a new team atop the NFC North. With the Green Bay Packers’ recent struggles, the red-hot Minnesota Vikings have taken advantage to claim the division lead. The Vikes will be riding a five-game winning streak as they host the Packers for the first of their two meetings this season, with a win sending them two games clear of Green Bay.
Can reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and his reeling Packers regain control of the division with a big win on Sunday? Read on for our complete preview of this primetime NFC North battle. And for more of NFL Week 11’s top division matchups, check out our previews of the Bills vs. Patriots and 49ers vs. Seahawks.
[sc:Football ]
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings Preview
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minnesota
When: Saturday, November 22, 5:25 PM ET
Line: Green Bay Packers (+1) at Minnesota Vikings (-1); total: 45.0 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Green Bay Packers (6-3)
It’s gotten so bad for Green Bay that not even playing the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field could solve their recent slump. With their 18-16 loss to Detroit on Sunday, the Packers lost to the Lions for the first time at home since 1991 and scored their fewest points at home since November 2013.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Aaron Rodgers went 35-of-61 for 333 yards and two touchdowns, but most of those came during a late-game rally and masked what was a pretty ineffectual performance. Lead running back Eddie Lacy was sidelined with a groin injury, and James Starks could only run for 42 yards on 15 carries in his place.
As evidenced by the 18 points per game they’ve scored in their last three games, the Packers offense is in serious disarray at the moment. Rodgers is not playing like an MVP, and the running game has fallen off a cliff.
The defense hasn’t looked too good, either. It made the recently-benched Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense look decent, and gave up 37 points to a Panthers team that isn’t exactly a high-powered offense.
There’s really no reason to trust this Packers team at the moment other than the fact that Rodgers has the ability to turn it on at the drop of a hat, which is a pretty compelling reason. The Packers have also had the Vikings’ number in recent years, going 9-1-1 against them in their last 11 meetings.
The Minnesota Vikings have found their stride over the last month or so. They’ve now won their last five games in a row – and have gone an incredible 8-0 ATS in their last eight after losing their opening game against the Niners – the most impressive of which coming in their latest 30-14 beatdown of the dangerous Oakland Raiders on the road.
Adrian Peterson broke out with a season-high 203 rushing yards, including an 80-yard touchdown to ice the game. But the other star of the show was the Vikes’ very impressive defense, which now leads the league in scoring defense (17.1 points per game).
The Vikings have all the important tools which the Broncos and Panthers used to beat the Packers at home – a stellar defense and the ability to run the ball – and they’re not afraid to use them.
The Minnesota pass rush has the ability to put some serious pressure on Rodgers, especially if Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari’s knee injury forces him to miss the game. Meanwhile, Peterson, who’s averaging 143 rushing yards in his last three games, is very much capable of having another huge day against a Packers front that gave up 290 total rushing yards in those losses to the Broncos and Panthers.
Writer’s Prediction
The Vikings (-1) add to the Packers’ woes as Peterson and co. roll to a 24-17 home win.
