Aaron Rodgers and the surging Green Bay Packers (4-1) roll into U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday to take on their arch-rival Minnesota Vikings (3-2) in a game that will give one team at least periodic control of the NFC North.
I probably don’t have to convince you too hard to watch this one. It will be on your local FOX station at 1 p.m. and is certainly where my attention will likely be in the early slate.
The Game: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (+3)
O/U: 45.0
The History
This will be the 114th meeting between the two teams. The Packers lead the all time series 6-51-2.
The Packers and Vikings split their series last year with each team winning at home. Minnesota took a 17-14 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium and the Packers won 38-25 at Lambeau Field.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-1)
Aaron Rodgers is coming off another dagger thrown straight into the heart of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. That’s two straight trips the future Hall of Fame quarterback has made there and in each of them he’s led his team to last second victories with his ridiculous talents. Rodgers is probably the best quarterback in the game right now and I’m not sure even Tom Brady would argue with that.
In the backfield, rookie Aaron Jones not only made his first start, he was a big reason the Packers were able to win the game. Jones carried the ball 19 times for 125 yards and a touchdown and added a catch for nine yards. For all the talk about Jamaal Williams ending up with this job before the year is up, Jones has filed a pretty solid resume for the position.
The promise that made Green Bay draft Devante Adams in the second round out of Fresno State in 2014 seems to finally be realized. Adams was Rodgers go-to receiver against the Cowboys, catching seven passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Jordy Nelson played, but was hobbled by a back injury and quad. He should be healthy this week.
Up front, Rodgers could still be working with a patchwork offensive line. David Bakhtiari and Brian Bulaga are both questionable but did practice this week. But, if the last few weeks have been any indication, that doesn’t mean they’ll stay in the entire game.
On defense, Green Bay will be without safety Morgan Burnett who is nursing a hamstring. Kevin King is officially listed as doubtful with a concussion and Davon House is questionable, but will probably play.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-2)
Sam Bradford hasn’t practiced all week and won’t play Sunday. He gave it a nice effort last week, but it’s obvious his knee is still a problem. Bradford is probably putting off surgery, hoping he can come back this season. If he does go under the knife, his time in Minnesota is likely done. That means the Vikings will dial up Case Keenum’s number yet again and since he did OK last week, he’s due for a solid nursing home bed shitting against the Packers.
It won’t help Keenum that his best wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, is out with a groin injury. That’s going to put a lot of pressure on Kyle Rudolph and Jerick McKinnon to haul in all the little dump offs Keenum is notorious for throwing. This would be a great week for Michael Floyd and Laquon Treadwell to make some noise, but Keenum doesn’t have the arm of field vision to get it to them outside. He is good for a few passes to Adam Thielen up the seam.
The match up to watch in this game will be Rodgers and his improvisational skills (overcoming Mike McCarthy’s shitty playcalling) taking on the Minnesota defense. The Vikings bring one of the best, most complete units in the league to the field and they play even better at home. Last week they held the Chicago Bears to just 3 of 12 on third down. Now, the Bears aren’t the Packers, but Minnesota did what a great defense is supposed to do. They got Chicago off the field.
The Pick
I’ve talked up the Vikings plenty, but I’m still picking Green Bay. These games are usually close, but Keenum is going to flub this one away long before Rodgers has a chance to steal it in the fourth quarter. Packers 27, Vikings 16
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 6-8
Against the spread: 6-8
Season
Straight up: 43-34
Against the spread: 38-39
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