Packers Look to Sink the Vikings and Clinch NFC North Glory on MNF

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

The Packers were able to take care of business at home and knock out the hated rival Bears with a score of 21-13 and clinching a spot in January. Nothing feels better than sending those assholes into hibernation after the off-season of trash we had to endure. "The Packers are on the downward spiral," Trubisky is better than Rodgers," and "Rodgers is a coach/locker room kill." All of that is dead much like their playoff hopes. Hope you enjoyed the one division title which resulted in an iconic Bears moment, granted, not for the right reasons. Bear Down, Chicago Bears!!!!

But speaking of division title's, we have a MNF showdown with the Minnesota Viqueens which has major NFC North implications. Now, the Packers can still win the division if they lose to the Viqueens, either a Win over the Lions or win be the Bears in week 17 thanks to the Packers having no division loses and the Viqueens having 2. That being said, this game is ultra important for the playoff seeding and the Packers quest for the first-round bye.

So currently Green Bay is holding onto the #2 seed and a first-round bye. However, there are 3 other teams currently sitting at 11-3 including the San Fran 49ers whom hold a tie-breaker over the Pack. The reason this is important is the Seahawks and San Fran still play once more this season. If somehow the 9ers lose out or the Seahawks can beat San Fran and lose the other game Green Bay would have the driver's seat for the #1 seed. So the game this Monday is no doubt massive not only for the division but also to keep the Pack from traveling to the Superdome or the Bay. Let's take a look at what it will take for the Packers to knock off the skinny boners AKA Kirk Cousin's Viqueens.

Key Injuries:

Packers:

Different week same story for the Matt LaFleur Packers. HEALTHY. Man does it feel good to have all the bullets in the chamber especially when you look at the Vikings. The only injury worth note is Big Dog Marcedes Lewis who has been huge in the run block game. I'd expect him to be ready to go for Monday and the Packers to be at full strength.

Vikings:

Yikes. HUGE loss for the Vikings this week. Dalvin Cook, their Pro Bowl RB is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a shoulder injury. Dalvin Cook absolutely shredded the Packers in Week 2 for 154 yards including a 70 yard TD run. The key to the game came with how well the Vikings ran the ball to open up the deep game. Speaking of the run game, Mattison is also expected to miss this game as well. He has been a really good RB2 for the Vikings offense, this is a huge hit for the Vikings as the Packers should be able to bring the kitchen sink at Cousins.

KEYS to the GAME:

Make Kirk Cousins Make Mistakes

The biggest knock on Kirk Cousins as a QB is his questionable decision making and that fact definitely reared its head in Week 2. The Packers offense, like most weeks got off to a really fast start and early lead. The Vikings were able to establish the run game and gash the Packers D which caused a lot of 1-on-1 match-ups and big plays. Even on the plays that missed, the WRs were able to get open consistently. However, the Packers were able to get pressure on Kirk he broke, throwing 2 INTs (one was a game-killer with the Vikings 1st and goal) and fumbling in his own end of the field. The Packers have to constantly put Cousins under duress and make him break.

Play Action and Consistency on Offense

Look it's no secret the Packers struggle when they get off script on offense. They are one of the best 1st drive/quarter offenses in the NFL and one of the worst late game offenses in the league. When you take a look back at the game, Green Bay did an awesome job running the ball early on and being able to utilize the play action to look off the Vikings LBs (whom are some of the best in the league). This created voids down the field, and created some great pace for Rodgers (which is where Rodgers is the best). When the Vikings were able to slow down the run, the Packers were in trouble. When you look at the numbers, the Vikings are one of the best sack teams in the NFL and lowest amount of blitzing defenses. Let Stitty Wap break this down for ya, the key is keeping the Vikings LBs off balance. When the Vikings drop them back in coverage the boys up front will create havoc (basically what happened in the 2nd half). The Packers didn't help themselves with the numerous turnovers and drops (WRs outside of Adams were AWFUL). The offense needs to be up tempo, move the chains, and make the simple plays in front of them.

Prediction/Expert Analysis/Bet:

Packers: 24

Vikings: 21

#GoPackGo #GoPackGo

Packers +5. Listen Kirk Cousins has been playing really good lately, some would say Pro Bowl level. It's seems after being the Beta he is and apologizing to Thielen and Diggs for how bad he was playing to start the season (soft), the offense came together. He will have to apologize to the state of Minnetoba or however you say it when he chokes away another big game. This game will be a nail biter, both teams have a ton on the line. However, 5 points is a huge line in a game I actually like Green Bay straight up. The Packers will attack Cousins early and often and I think this will be a low-scoring 2-3 point game. Hammer that +5 and then send me that 20% commission.