Packers (11-3) at Vikings (10-4)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis TV: ESPN
Danny Sheridan’s by 4
Packers’ keys to victory: This could be a rough day for Minnesota’s secondary. The Vikings’ pass defense has been brutal this season, and things won’t get any easier for them with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers slinging it to WR Davante Adams. If Green Bay can exploit Minnesota’s secondary the way other teams have, the Packers should be able to put a bow on their first NFC North championship since 2016. Also, RB Aaron Jones is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving.
Vikings’ keys to victory: Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins is probably having the best season of his career, but people won’t care about it if he can’t win these big games. How will Cousins play in a game with major playoff implications? He has plenty of weapons with RB Dalvin Cook and WRs Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. Cook left the team’s Week 15 game with a shoulder injury.
Matchup to watch: Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes vs. Packers’ Adams. Rhodes is having the worst season of his career. Adams has been hurt for most of the season, but he’s still Rodgers’ favorite receiver, and the two have chemistry that goes back to 2014. In the first matchup between the two teams this season, Adams hauled in seven passes for 106 yards.
Who wins? You have a Vikings team that is trying to just get into the playoffs after a disappointing 2018. But there is Green Bay, which is not only trying to win the NFC North, but hoping to get a top-two seed. The Vikings are 6-0 this season. This one could very well come down to a Dan Bailey field goal.
Vikings, 27-24 line:
Vikings
Packers schedule
W ....... at Chicago ....... 10-3 W ...... Minnesota ...... 21-16 W ......... Denver ......... 27-16 L ..... Philadelphia ..... 34-27 W ........ at Dallas ........ 34-24 W ......... Detroit ......... 23-22 W ........ Oakland ........ 43-24 W ..atKansasCity ..31-24 L . at L.A. Chargers . 26-11 W ........ Carolina ........ 24-16
BYE
L ....... at San Fran . ....... 37-8 W ...atN.Y.Giants ...31-13 W .... Washington .... 20-15 W ........ Chicago ........ 21-13 Dec. 23 at Minnesota 8:15 Dec. 29 ..... at Detroit ...... 1
Vikings schedule
W ......... Atlanta ......... 28-12 L .... at Green Bay .... 21-16 W ........ Oakland ........ 34-14 L ........ at Chicago ........ 16-6 W ...atN.Y.Giants ...28-10 W .... Philadelphia .... 38-20 W ....... at Detroit ....... 42-30 W ...... Washington ...... 19-9 L ...atKansasCity ...26-23 W ........ at Dallas ........ 28-24 W ......... Denver ......... 27-23
BYE
L ....... atSeattle ....... 37-30 W .......... Detroit .......... 20-7 W ... at L.A. Chrgrs ... 39-10 Dec.23 ..GreenBay ..8:15 Dec. 29 ....... Chicago ....... 1