Vikings Out-Class The Packers, Set Up Box Office Week 18 Clash Against The Lions For The NFC North And The 1 Seed Throughout The Playoffs
Brace Hemmelgarn. Getty Images.Alright that sucked. In what was basically a carbon copy of their earlier meeting in the season, the Vikings worked the Packers and came up with another close victory. In the same way as the Week 4 clash, the final score doesn't dictate that gap in play between the two sides. They're the better team as things stand today.
Once again, the offense didn't get going until it was too late. The defense did not limit big plays nor sustain any sort of consistent pass rush on Sam Darnold. It was ugly from the jump. Sure Green Bay found the end-zone twice in the 4th quarter to cut the lead to two, but Minnesota was good enough in their final drive to lock things up. What a snag by Akers on 3rd.
A positive? The Packers' touchdown to cut it to two didn't come against a prevent defense and actually saw Love face blitz after blitz from Flores. That should give the unit some confidence if they face each other for a third time next month, but again it all came too late. Who really cares?
Some other ways to spin this positively? As a football fan at heart, this result means we're getting an incredible Week 18 Sunday Night Football matchup between the Lions and Vikings. The winner gets the NFC North division title as well as the overall number one seed throughout the playoffs. The loser goes on the road during round one in January. This is basically a playoff game on its own.
For all intents and purposes, this game meant nothing to the Packers outside of potential seeding which you really can't worry about at this point. We know they're going on the road in the playoffs, whether it be to LA, Philly, Tampa, or Atlanta. While I guarantee they played to win this game and are going to be pretty pissed about the effort, it doesn't mean the world to lose the game as much as it did for Minnesota to win if that makes sense.
You want concerns? Despite 11 wins, a very good DVOA ranking and an at-times electric offense, Green Bay lacks a signature, statement W. At the Rams without Puka or Kupp? The Texans without Nico? The Niners without anybody? Is Thanksgiving night in the cold against Tua their best win? In Seattle with Geno missing plenty of the game? Not exactly the strongest resume to make you feel like they can hang with the league's best. Twice Minnesota out-classed them. Same with the Lions, although their most recent matchup was a high-scoring shootout where whoever had it last was going to win. They played well in Brazil against Philly, but again not well enough to win. They're more than talented enough to beat anybody in my opinion, but at some point you gotta play great football against a top tier team. Maybe they're saving it all for the playoffs? Jaire getting healthy if that's even possible would be huge, the offense was without Watson today, but they just don't click against the best competition and it's noticeable.
P.S. I wasn't going to complain about this phantom offsides that gifted the Vikings three points in the 1st half, but now that Green Bay only lost by two I'm going to bring it up. Bullshit. Sure Minnesota had a few calls themselves go against them, but this is my narrative and that penalty was garbage.
