Minnesota Vikings
vs.
Green Bay Packers
Week 16
NFL Pick
12/24/16
Things are not looking good for the Vikings, who were crushed in their last Game 34-6 by the Colts and at 7-7 they need to win their last 2 Games and get a lot of help to make the playoffs. They started the season on fire winning five in a row, but have dropped 7 of their last 9 Games. Adrian Peterson is back on the field, but only had 22 rushing yards in the last Game and he has not sparked the offense, which only ranks 25th in the NFL in points per Game. Their defense has been the strength of the team, but in the loss to the Colts they GAve up 411 total yards.
Several weeks back when the Packers lost their 4th in a row Aaron Rodgers stated his team could run the table and make the playoffs. Well, so far so good, as the Packers have won 4 in a row and are back in the playoff picture. They trail the Lions by a single Game in the NFC North and they face them in the last Game of the season on the road. He leads a team that ranks 6th in the league in scoring and the Vikings will have their hands full at LAmbeau this Saturday.
The Packers have covered the spread in 5 of their last 7 Games at home facing the Vikings.
The Vikings did not come near covering the spread in the 34-6 loss to the Colts in their last Game where they were favored by 5 points at home.
The Packers did beat the Bears in their last Game 30-27, but did not cover on the road as a 4.5-point favorite.
Minnesota QB Sam Bradford did pass for 291 yards in the bad loss to the Colts, but did not have a TD and on top of being picked off oNCe he was also sacked 5 times. Peterson did not help out and overall the Vikings only rushed for a grand total of 34 yards in the loss to Indianapolis.
Green Bay’s defense had been playing well in three straight Games, but not so much against the Bears giving up 27 points and 449 yards. They are the 10th ranked team in the league against the run, but only the 24th ranked one against the pass.
Rodgers passed for 252 yards with no picks against the Bears and while he did not throw a TD his 60-yard bomb late in the 4th quarter set up the field goal that would win the Game. Green Bay has not had the same rushing attack this season since Eddie LAcy has been out, but in the Chicago Game Ty Montgomery had a HUGE Game rushed for 162 yards with 2 TD.
Which Minnesota defense will show up in this Game? The one that ranks 8th in the league in opponents’ points allowed (3rd against the pass 18th against the run) or the one that was torched to the tune of 34 points in the loss to the Colts?
Minnesota is only 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Games on the road, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC, and in their last 32 Games they have an Under record of 22-9-1.
Green Bay is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Games following a ATS loss, 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Games after ACCumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous Game, and in their last 13 Games at home the posted total has gone Under 10 times.
Jason’s Pick: The Packers are hot the Vikings are not and this Game is in Green Bay in December. Yeah, easy pick in this one, as the Packers will win their 5th in a row and cover the spread in their house setting up their big showdown against the Lions in the season finale.