Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers: Preview, Keys to Victory and Prediction

Nov 23, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson (92) during the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Packers defeated the Vikings 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a really fun time being a Minnesota Vikings fan right now.

It’s Packer week, meaning the Green Bay Packers are coming to town. Over the past few years, the Packers have come into each game as the superior team when playing the Vikings and, frankly, it’s showed on the field. In the past five years, the Vikings have only beaten the Packers once in ten games. These results over the past few seasons have led to me always feeling a little pessimistic during Packer week.

However, this week has a completely different feel to it, as I wrote earlier in the week. The Vikings are on a five-game winning streak, while the reeling Packers are on a three-game losing streak. Moreover, the Vikings are LEADING the NFC North at 7-2, a game ahead of the 6-3 Packers. Put that in your cheese and eat it (I’m trying to make a joke about Packers fans and cheese here, if you didn’t catch that).

The first two losses of Green Bay’s losing streak were actually pretty respectable losses. They were both against undefeated teams on the road in the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. Then, THEN, they lost AT HOME against the Detroit Lions. The Detroit freaking Lions. The Lions hadn’t won at Lambeau since I was -4 years old before Sunday.

It wasn’t just the Packers losing to the Lions, either. It was the WAY they lost. Detroit, unsurprisingly, played crappy. That part isn’t a big surprise. What IS a big surprise is how absolutely horrendous the Packers played. It was laughable. The Lions tried their absolute best to give that game to Green Bay, but the Packers said “Nah”.

Anyway, enough about the Packers and their abundance of issues (although it’s fun to talk about them). There’s a game to be played on Sunday. An important game. I’ll attempt to give some analysis and make a final prediction at the end.

Next: Vikings vs. Packers: Game Info