National Football League picks: Surprising Vikings challenge Panthers in NFC
This Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium, Minnesota will have a chance to quiet the critics who think the last month has been a fluke and that the Packers are still going to end up with the division title.
For the last five years, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers have had a firm grip on this border state rivalry with the Minnesota Vikings that has otherwise been remarkably close. He also has to prepare for a short turnaround following the Vikings game since the Packers host the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving night.
The player that the sluggish Packers can least afford to lose was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday because of a right shoulder injury.
Lacy remains on the injury report this week, but head coach Mike McCarthy expressed optimism Wednesday that the team’s recently demoted workhorse will contribute against the Vikings. An inordinate amount of hits, including 14 sacks, the past four games have left Rodgers, the team’s indispensable leader on offense, and the Packers searching. We have to sustain drives better….
This matchup could very well come down to the running games for both teams. The lack of a running game, thanks to Eddie Lacy, who is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and in danger of not eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the season? He was inactive against Detroit with a groin injury.
The Packers defeated the Vikings twice last season and lead the all-time regular season series, 57-48-2.
Washington (+7) at Carolina: With Kirk Cousins at quarterback, the Redskins (4-5) are in contention in the mediocre NFC East. The bad news for Washington is an eight-game losing streak on the road going back to past year.
BANGED-UP: Rodgers joined four of Green Bay’s five starting offensive linemen on the injury report this week. “He can really hurt you (running the ball)”. When our defense makes a play, it kind of amps up our offense.
Over the last two games Rodgers has thrown for over 300 yards but his passes haven’t been almost as accurate or crisp. The Vikings hope to counter Rodgers with NFL leading rusher Adrian Peterson, the league’s No. 2 scoring defense and favorable field position. They had a season-low 47 rushing yards with only 18 attempts against the Lions. The team is looking to improve to 5-2 against NFC teams this season. Zimmer said the Green Bay defense will be a challenge. Right now, that statement could be amended to Minneapolis.
As for the Vikings, what a job Mike Zimmer has done with this team in the two years he’s been there.
“This has the potential to be the premier rivalry in the North if things keep going the way they are going”, Rodgers said.