2021-22 NFL Week 17: Packers vs. Vikings Preview and Prediction

Since the last time the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings met (a win by MN), the Pack's defense has seen its excellent performances leading into that game drop off, allowing for some finishes of late that were a bit too close for comfort. Tonight's game at Lambeau Field, however, should — in theory — be one with a little breathing room when all is said and done.

That's due in large measure to the Covid-19-related absence of ViQueens starting QB Kirk Cousins. He was ruled out late in the week. Minnesota will now have backup QB Sean Mannion under center. He came out of Oregon State and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams (yeah, that's right, the St. Louis version of the Rams!) in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He's been with a few teams, has seen limited action, and has yet to throw a TD pass in his NFL career. This is why the line on this game went from about 6-1/2 points in favor of the Pack earlier in the week to one at the time of this writing being 12-1/2 points in the Packers' favor. In a game where the Packers could lock up the #1 seed (with a win and a Dallas loss), the lone first-round bye in the NFC, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, we appreciate the favor of this change at QB.

Thankfully, there will be no change at QB for the Pack. While he still is bothered by his broken pinkie toe, Aaron Rodgers will be ready to go. Yay!

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will once again lead his team

at Lambeau Field tonight against the Minnesota Vikings.

(Photo by Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The Preview

A couple things play into the game tonight.

First and foremost, the Packers are looking to lock up the #1 seed in the NFC, as noted above. With a win and a loss by the Cowboys, the Pack will have that secured. They'll know the outcome of that Dallas game before they take the field. That may change how they play the season finale at Detroit, but it won't change anything about the importance of tonight's game.

Secondly, without ViQueens QB Kirk Cousins at the helm, it would seem likely that Minnesota would ride the coattails of RB Dalvin Cook as much as possible. He's had some big games against the Pack. The defense will need to slow him down. They will also need to make sure WR Justin Jefferson doesn't go off on the secondary the way he did in the teams' last meeting in Minnesota. That seems less probable with Cousins out, but apparently Mannion, his replacement, has a strong arm that could stretch the defense if nothing else. He's also reportedly more of a pocket passer than a run-and-gun type of QB so if the Pack can contain Cook and get pressure on Mannion that will go a long way to skewing the game in Green Bay's favor. Make no mistake: Minnesota is still playing for a wildcard spot and need to win out in order to even stay alive in that hunt. There will be no let up by head coach Mike Zimmer's squad, that's for sure. The Packers need to come out ready to go because the ViQueens sure will.

Third, the Packers will have WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling available tonight which give Rodgers a downfield threat that he's come to rely on. TE Mercedes Lewis can also provide Rodgers with a security blanket in those short and mid-range situations that occur so often.

Finally, it's going to be cold ... single digits they say at game time. Brrrr. Especially brrrr for the skill-position players who need to keep hands, fingers and toes warm to do what they need to do. If the passing game becomes less reliable than usual due to the conditions, the Pack's thunder 'n' lightening running back duo of A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones will be relied upon to keep moving the chains ... and to hang on to the ball.

The Prediction

As noted earlier, this game went from 6-1/2 points in the Pack's favor to 12-1/2 once Cousins was ruled out. You'd like to think, if one were a betting person, the Pack could cover that spread. They haven't done so the last few weeks. But a double-digit spread is still a tough nut to crack.

So, yes, this would be a good time, ramping up to the playoffs, for the defense to resume its former productive ways. And for special teams to be, if not spectacularly special, at least reliable enough not to lose a game the Packers should win. In that regard, the Pack dodged a bullet with the activation off the Covid list of punter Corey Bojorquez for the game. (The Packers also got back linebackers Oren Burks and Ty Summers and made a number of other roster moves ahead of the game you can read about here.)

We're calling this game Packers 27 - ViQueens 17.

Go Pack Go!!!