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It won’t be easy as Minnesota is at home in this matchup, and defending that turf will pull the Vikings and the Packers even at 4-2 apiece. This is a pivotal spot for both teams and it should be a close matchup. There is an avenue for each side to win this one and it could come down to turnovers and critical stops in big situations.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 6 game is set for Sunday, October 15, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Odds Analysis
There is no spread yet as the Vikings still have to play their Monday Night Football matchup in Week 5 against the Bears. The way they look there will help contribute to how the odds stack up.
Green Bay is slightly more talented but Minnesota plays at home, so expect this spread to be low one for one team or the other. The scoring total could be in the middle of the pack for an NFL game, as Green Bay has a solid offense but the Vikings defense is also talented.
Injury Report
Sam Bradford — The Vikings’ quarterback has been battling a bruised knee for the past several weeks. Bradford suffered the injury in Week 1 and did not return to practice until last week. Case Keenum did a decent job in Bradford’s absence, but Minnesota is happy to have its signal-caller back. This team has a lot of talent spread throughout the roster, and stability at quarterback would go a long way in making a playoff push.
Kevin King — The Packers rookie cornerback suffered a concussion during Sunday’s win over the Cowboys. He left the game in the first half and did not return. King was a second-round draft pick this year and has accumulated 13 tackles and two pass breakups so far this season. The 22-year-old will need to pass the league-mandated concussion protocol before returning to the field.
Matchup to Watch
Aaron Rodgers vs. Vikings defense — The Packers have the best player in this game, which is a big deal, but the Vikings have a really good defense. Rodgers has faced off with Minnesota a lot throughout his career. His success against the Vikings last season correlated with how the Packers did.
Rodgers was 28-of-38 for 347 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-25 Week 16 victory to help Green Bay claim the NFC North title. The results weren’t nearly as good when the teams played in Minnesota earlier in the season. Rodgers was just 20-of-36 for 213 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Week 2 as the Vikings scratched out a 17-14 win.
The Vikings have an improving offense so they don’t have to totally shut down Rodgers, but they can’t let him dominate.
Free ATS Pick
This is an intriguing showdown and one which could help clear up the division or muddle it further. Minnesota is more balanced but it might not matter if Rodgers gets into a rhythm and dices them up. The location of this game is important, and the Vikings’ crowd should be raucous.
While Minnesota doesn’t have a great record, it has the talent to make a playoff push. The Packers might have a tough time protecting Rodgers in this one, which could lead to a below average performance.
Take the Vikings to take care of business at home as long as Bradford is healthy and ready to go for this matchup. Minnesota is the choice to cover in a game that may be lower-scoring than expected.
NFL Odds: Vikings 23, Packers 20
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