Heading into the second to last week of the regular season and the NFC North is on the line as the Packers head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. Green Bay enters at 11-3, while the Vikings are at 10-4. The Packers won the first meeting at home, 21-16, and are 5.5 point road underdogs in this one.
The Packers are 14th in scoring at 23.6 points per game and ninth in points allowed at just over 20 per contest. Minnesota has been more potent at offense, ranked 6th in scoring at 27 per game. They have also been stronger defensively, allowing only 18.5 per game.
Aaron Rodgers leads the Packers attack throwing for 3463 yards and 24 touchdowns, against only two interceptions. Top threat Davante Adams has 63 catches for 788 yards despite missing four games. Jamaal Williams leads in receiving touchdowns with five and Marquez Valdes-Scantling is averaging 18.6 per catch.
On the ground, Aaron Jones has rushed for 830 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jamaal Williams has added 427 yards and over four yards per attempt.
Defensively, the Packers have 35 sacks, 21.5 of them coming from Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith. Green Bay have been active around the ball with 15 interceptions and 12 forced fumbles. Kicker Mason Crosby is dependable, knocking through 16-of-17 field goal tries.
For the Vikings, Kirk Cousins takes the helm, having thrown for 3481 yards and 25 touchdowns versus five interceptions. Much like Rodgers, Cousins has spread the ball around nicely, as five players have at least 30 receptions. Stefon Diggs is the top target with 60 catches for 1073 yards and five touchdowns. Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph are tied for the team lead with six touchdown receptions.
While the passing game is good, the rushing game is the Vikings’ bread and butter. Dalvin Cook has 1135 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Alexander Mattison has added 462 yards on well over four yards a touch. However, they will have to make do without Dalvin Cook due to an injury.
Danielle Hunter leads a ferocious pass rush with 13.5 of the team’s 41 sacks. Also active around the ball, the Vikings have intercepted opposing quarterbacks 16 times with 14 forced fumbles. Dan Bailey is nearly perfect on field goal tries, converting 22-of-24 and all three from 50 yards on out.