Matchup Preview: Vikings vs Packers

The Situation:  Coming into Week 7, both the Packers and Vikings have had their fair share of issues this season.  These teams still are considered as contenders to win the entire NFC, but injuries have hampered their success.  Green Bay is 3-3 coming off  a 23-20 overtime loss to Miami.  The Vikings picked up their second win of the year against a struggling Cowboys squad.  Supremacy of the NFC North is at stake.

The main story every time Favre suits up against the Packers will always be just that.  This will be Favre’s second time returning to Lambeua as a Viking.  Old wounds of betrayal have only partially healed because of the success of Aaron Rodgers.  He has thrown 10 TD passes this season compared to Favre’s 6 in one less game.

The Packers have been hobbled by injury.  Starting running back Ryan Grant, tight end Jermichael Finley, linebacker Nick Barnett, and rookie safety Morgan Burnett are all done for the season (just to name a few).  Outside linebacker Clay Matthews is questionable for the game nursing a hamstring injury and Woodson is another defender of the Vikings that may not play this game.  Starting safety Atari Bigby won’t be returning from the physically unable to play list until next week at the earliest.

The Packers are banged up and the Vikings aren’t 100% either.  They await the return of star wide receiver Sidney Rice off the PUP list.  Vikings leading receiver Percy Harvin is probable for the game.  Rice, if nothing else adds an extra element of depth to assist the big play skills of Randy Moss.

The Outcome: The running game will be a determining factor.  With that being said, the Vikings have the leagues leading rusher Adrian Peterson and the Packers are depending on career backup Brandon Jackson to keep the Vikings defense honest.  Obviously, advantage Vikings.

The Vikings have to use the momentum from the Dallas game to turn their season around and put it back on track.  I still see both of these teams making the playoffs, but whoever wins this game will be in control of the division (for the time being).  This will be a close and well played Sunday Night Football game and I’ll take the Vikings 27-23.