Longtime rivals lock up fighting for a playoff spot and more when the Minnesota Vikings welcome the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night in Minneapolis.
Minnesota (7-8) and Green Bay (7-8) have endured up-and-down seasons and tumult at quarterback. The NFC North division title is out of reach after the Detroit Lions clinched it last week. Yet a wild-card playoff berth remains possible barring a loss Sunday.
The Vikings would boost their playoff chances to 49 percent with a win this weekend, according to playoff probability metrics. A loss? The playoff chances for the Vikings plummet to 4 percent.
The gap is even greater for Green Bay, which would boost its playoff chances to 55 percent with a win and see its chances crater to 1 percent with a loss.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love said players are embracing the stakes in what is shaping up to be a virtual playoff-elimination game.
“We all know what’s in front of us, and we know what we’re capable of,” Love said. “We’re just going to go finish this thing off.”
The Packers are coming off a 33-30 road win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 16 courtesy of a last-second field goal. Love threw for two touchdowns and ran for another one in the victory, and Aaron Jones rushed for 127 yards.
Green Bay’s success on offense was tempered by its defensive woes. The Packers gave up 30-plus points for the third time this season and struggled to contain Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
Now, the Packers defense will face additional adversity after the organization suspended starting cornerback Jaire Alexander on Wednesday for conduct detrimental to the team. In a bizarre incident, Alexander walked onto the field for the pregame coin toss in his native Charlotte, N.C., even though he was not a captain, and he nearly botched the call after Green Bay won the toss.
“Unfortunately, Jaire’s actions prior to the game in Carolina led us to take this step,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said in a statement. “As an organization, we have an expectation that everyone puts the team first.”
Alexander’s suspension could cause additional problems for the Packers secondary as it looks to contain the Vikings’ receivers, led by Pro Bowl wideout Justin Jefferson. He had six catches for 141 yards and a touchdown last week, but it was not enough to prevent the Vikings from losing 30-24 against the Lions.
Jefferson has 51 catches for 823 yards and four touchdowns despite missing seven games due to injury this season. Rookie teammate Jordan Addison has 63 catches for 826 yards and nine touchdowns while playing in all 15 games.
Minnesota has started four quarterbacks this season, and coach Kevin O’Connell stayed mum at the start of this week’s practices about whom he would start against the Packers.
“We’re working through that right now,” O’Connell said.
Nick Mullens has started the past two games but is coming off a four-interception game against Detroit. Josh Dobbs started four games before that but lost the job to Mullens after continued struggles. And rookie Jaren Hall, who has started one game, also is a candidate to earn another look.
Minnesota is hoping to sweep the season series with the Packers. The Vikings won at Green Bay on Oct. 29, but quarterback Kirk Cousins ruptured his Achilles tendon in the contest.
–Field Level Media