Border Battle
Familiar rivals meet once more as the Green Bay Packers travel to the Minnesota Vikings to open the NFL season.
While the Packers are coming off another NFC North title, the Vikings finished second in the division. The teams head into this season as favorites to compete for that top spot in the division.
In addition to winning the NFC North, Green Bay finished the 2021 season with a record of 13-4, ultimately falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers followed up his 2020 MVP campaign with another in 2021, winning the award in back-to-back seasons.
Minnesota, after ending the 2021 season with a record of 8-9, missed the playoffs for the second season in a row. Following the season, the Vikings fired general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer.
The Packers concluded the preseason with a 1-2 record while the Vikings went 0-3, and both teams will now look to begin the regular season with a strong start.
As Green Bay is coming off its third NFC North title in a row, the NFL odds list the Packers (-175) as having the best chances to win it once more. Minnesota gives Green Bay the biggest test with the second-best odds (+225).
Let’s check the latest NFL picks, stats, injury reports and NFL odds for Packers vs Vikings. We’ve plenty of NFL predictions for you to consider.
Packers Load Up on Defense
While the Packers wide receiver room and Davante Adams leaving took up a large portion of offseason talk, the team was busy strengthening a defense that finished in the top 10 last season.
Green Bay ranked ninth in 2021 in total yards, allowing 328.2 yards a game, and eighth in takeaways, finishing with 26 combined interceptions and fumble recoveries.
The Packers solidified their secondary by re-signing cornerback Rasul Douglas, who led the team with five interceptions a season ago, with two being returned for a touchdown.
Green Bay will also get top corner Jaire Alexander back after he was out much of last season with a shoulder injury. Alexander, who led the team with 13 passes defended in 2020, returns fresh off signing a four-year contract extension in the offseason.
The Packers held onto pieces in their front seven as well, re-signing linebacker De’Vondre Campbell to a five-year deal and linebacker Preston Smith to a four-year extension. Campbell led the team in total tackles last season with 146, also recording two sacks and two interceptions, while Smith was second on the team in sacks with nine.
Green Bay also made new additions to its defense, adding linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt in the draft.
With the Packers retaining so many important pieces on its defense, Green Bay should be able to rely on a top-10 unit once more.
New Era in Minnesota
While Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has settled in nicely in Green Bay, putting together 13-win seasons in his first three seasons, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell will be looking to replicate some of that same success in his first season in Minnesota.
O’Connell is fresh off two seasons as the Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator, including one where he helped lead them to a Super Bowl win. He will be looking to help the Vikings improve upon their offensive performance.
Minnesota finished 12th in total offense last season, recording 362.8 yards per game, and 14th in points with 25 points a game.
Although the Vikings will have a new coaching staff, many of their main offensive performers will return, headed by quarterback Kirk Cousins, wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Dalvin Cook.
Cousins finished last season 372 of 561 for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions while Jefferson led receivers with 108 receptions for 1,616 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cook led running backs with 249 rushes for 1,159 yards and six touchdowns.
With Minnesota getting an offensive0minded coach in O’Connell and the team also returning many of its top starters, the Vikings should see an improvement on offense.
Packers vs Vikings Injury Report
Offensive tackles David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, wide receivers Allen Lazard and Christian Watson, tight end Robert Tonyan, safety Darnell Savage and linebacker Tipa Galeai are questionable for the Packers.
For the Minnesota Vikings, defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard is questionable.
Packers vs Vikings Head-to-Head
The Green Bay Packers and Vikings have played each 123 times, including twice in the postseason, with Green Bay leading the series 64-56-3.
The teams split their meetings last season, with each team winning their home game. The Vikings defeated the Packers 34-31 in November before Green Bay avenged the loss in January 2022, winning 37-10 in a game that eliminated Minnesota from playoff contention and gave Green Bay the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Packers vs Vikings Game Information
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 11
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
- How to watch Packers vs Vikings?
Packers vs Vikings Live stream: NFL Game Pass
Packers vs Vikings Betting Lines
Packers vs Vikings Prediction
The rivalry game between the Packers and Vikings will be a close one, with Green Bay entering the game as a slight favorite according to the sportsbook.
Although the Vikings will have a new head coach, the Packers may struggle as well while adapting to the loss of their top receiver in Adams.
Green Bay has also historically struggled at U.S. Bank Stadium, holding a record of 2-4 at the venue. With the first game of the season in Minnesota, the Vikings should cover and win.
“The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.”
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