Pack clinging to playoff hopes
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Two weeks after ending the Packers’ three-year reign as NFC North champions, the Vikings have a chance to give their division rival’s playoff hopes a devastating blow.
Green Bay lost 23-7 at Minnesota in the season’s opening weekend as part of a 4-8 start but has since won three consecutive games to move back into playoff contention heading into Sunday’s rematch with the Vikings at Lambeau Field.
The Packers (7-8) can earn a fourth consecutive playoff bid if they win their final two games, and either the Commanders (7-7-1) lose once or the Giants (8-6-1) fall twice.
“We’re building each week,” Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb said. “And with every win, that snowball effect continues to grow, and we’ve just got to find a way to put ourselves in position to give ourselves a chance.”
The Packers can be eliminated from the playoff picture if they lose Sunday and either the Commanders win at home against the Browns (6-9) or the Lions (7-8) win at home against the Bears (3-12).
Minnesota (12-3) is seeking its first regular-season sweep of the Packers since 2017.
“Vikings-Packers week, so everything is on the board,” Vikings running back Dalvin Cook said. “It’s time to go play some ball. I don’t care if it was Week 20, it’s time to go play some ball and live out this dream Vikings-Packers rivalry.”
The Vikings still have an outside chance of earning the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed and the conference’s lone first-round playoff bye, but that goal might be out of reach by the time they start this game. Philadelphia (13-2) can wrap up the No. 1 seed by winning at home against New Orleans (6-9) earlier Sunday.
Minnesota earned its playoff spot because of its ability to win close games. The Vikings’ Sept. 11 triumph over the Packers is their only victory that was decided by more than eight points.
The most notable example of the Vikings’ tenacity came Dec. 18 when they clinched the NFC North title by erasing a 33-0 deficit to beat the Colts 39-36 in overtime, completing the biggest comeback in NFL history.
Jefferson’s records
Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson already has set franchise single-season records in catches (123) and yards receiving (1,756).
His record-setting season started when he caught nine passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings’ victory over the Packers.
Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander called Jefferson one of the top three receivers in the NFL, but said he was looking forward to rectifying things in Sunday’s rematch.
“He’s a really good receiver,” said Alexander, the Packers’ lone Pro Bowl selection. “But at the end of the day, I’m a really good corner, we’ve got really good corners, we’ve got really good linebackers, D-line, whatever it is. You don’t want to put too much focus on that one person because it’s like, the first game, that was a fluke.”
Forcing turnovers
The Vikings have allowed the most yards passing of any NFL team. Only the Lions are giving up more overall yards per game or yards per play.
Yet the Vikings are going to the playoffs in part because of a plus-6 turnover margin that ranks fifth in the league.
Injury report
The Packers are coming off a 26-20 victory at Miami that proved costly, with injuries knocking wide receiver Christian Watson (hip), cornerback/kick returner Keisean Nixon (groin), right tackle Yosh Nijman (shoulder) and defensive lineman Dean Lowry (calf ) out of the game.
Lowry was placed on injured reserve. Nixon and Watson are questionable for Sunday’s game, though Nijman is expected to play.
The Packers also expect to have left tackle David Bakhtiari back after he missed three games to recover from an appendectomy.