Vikings vs. Packers: Point Spread, Total & Prediction

But McCarthy said he would be out “several weeks”. Vikings Territory has the keys for a Minnesota win over Green Bay.

Packers OT Don Barclay: LT David Bakhtiari (knee) left last week’s game and was limited Wednesday and RT Bryan Bulaga didn’t practice (knee).

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson likes his team’s mental toughness and sees a positive shift heading into Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. It will be the first home Thanksgiving game for Green Bay since 1923. This year’s rematch is slated for Week 17, three days into the new year, at Lambeau Field, and playoff implications of a few sort very likely will be at stake.

With no running game and behind in the fourth quarter, Green Bay completely abandoned the run on Sunday. The Packers lost 29-10 on November 1 at Denver (7-2) and 37-29 on November 8 at Carolina (9-0). Sometimes it’s easy to forget that professional athletes have lives away from the field, and you never know what could be going on in their personal lives.

McCarthy had demoted Lacy, who rushed for only 78 yards the previous four games and has just 308 rushing yards this season, to No. 2 on the depth chart behind James Starks before the game against the Lions.

Rodgers has completed only 56.5 percent of his passes the last three games.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ sore throwing shoulder landed him on the injury report Wednesday, though he fully expects to play Sunday against the Vikings, ESPN.com reported. We definitely didn’t have any rhythm, and we’ve got to get into rhythm earlier…. Their sustained offensive drives, stingy defense, and solid special teams have keyed their success this season.

While one could continue going down this path, the sum total is that the Packers aren’t playing well enough offensively right now and their season will remain stuck in neutral until that changes. Obviously we understand they’re an excellent football team and excellent organization, but it still comes down to how we play.

As for Rodgers, he said he’s on his usual schedule. That’s really all you can do. “They’re the top level, and we’re just trying to get into the mix”.

Hopefully the Green Bay offense finds its rhythm again. Rodgers was sacked three times by the Broncos, five by the Panthers and three by the Lions.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is 12-3 ATS in home games sandwiched between two road games (Courtesy: Kelly Stewart).

It’s hard to imagine a repeat of that type of game, with the Packers offense in a slump and the Vikings ranking second in the league in scoring defense. They’ve got a good front and can get after the quarterback.