Longtime division rivals will look to remain in the playoff chase when the Minnesota Vikings welcome the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night in Minneapolis.
Minnesota (7-8) and Green Bay (7-8) have endured up-and-down seasons and, in the case of the Vikings, tumult at quarterback. The NFC North division title is out of reach after the Detroit Lions clinched it last week. Yet a wild-card playoff berth remains possible barring a loss Sunday.
The Vikings would boost their playoff chances to 49 percent with a win this weekend, according to playoff probability metrics. The playoff chances for the Vikings plummet to 4 percent with a loss.
The gap is even greater for Green Bay, which would boost its playoff chances to 55 percent with a win and see its chances crater to 1 percent with a loss.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love said players are embracing the stakes in what is shaping up to be a virtual playoff-elimination game.
“We all know what’s in front of us, and we know what we’re capable of,” Love said. “We’re just going to go finish this thing off.”
The Packers are coming off a 33-30 road win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 16 courtesy of a last-second field goal. Love threw for two touchdowns and ran for another one in the victory, and Aaron Jones rushed for 127 yards.
Green Bay’s success on offense was tempered by its defensive woes. The Packers gave up 30-plus points for the third time this season and struggled to contain Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
Now, the Packers defense will face additional adversity after the organization suspended starting cornerback Jaire Alexander on Wednesday for conduct detrimental to the team. In a bizarre incident, Alexander walked onto the field for the pregame coin toss in his native Charlotte, N.C., even though he was not a captain, and he nearly botched the call after Green Bay won the toss.
“Unfortunately, Jaire’s actions prior to the game in Carolina led us to take this step,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said in a statement. “As an organization, we have an expectation that everyone puts the team first.”
Alexander’s suspension could cause additional problems for the Packers secondary as it looks to contain the Vikings’ receivers, led by Pro Bowl wideout Justin Jefferson. He had six catches for 141 yards and a touchdown last week, but it was not enough to prevent the Vikings from losing 30-24 against the Lions.
Jefferson has 51 catches for 823 yards and four touchdowns despite missing seven games due to injury this season. Rookie teammate Jordan Addison has 63 catches for 826 yards and nine touchdowns while playing in all 15 games.
Minnesota has started four quarterbacks this season, and coach Kevin O’Connell waited until Thursday afternoon to name rookie Jaren Hall as his starter for the primetime rivalry game.
Nick Mullens had started the past two games but is coming off a four-interception game against Detroit. Josh Dobbs started four games before that but lost the job to Mullens after continued struggles.
Hall, a fifth-round draft pick, has not played since sustaining a concussion in his first NFL start in Week 9 at Atlanta.
Minnesota is hoping to sweep the season series with the Packers. The Vikings won at Green Bay on Oct. 29, but quarterback Kirk Cousins ruptured his Achilles tendon in the contest.
“Since we’ve kind of lost Kirk, we’re trying to work through what we feel gives us the best chance to be explosive like we were moving the football the other day … but we have to find a way to possess the football and not set our team back,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said.
The Vikings ruled out four players for Sunday: defensive backs Byron Murphy (knee) and Theo Jackson (toe), defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (ankle) and wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion). Wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle), cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder/illness) and linebacker Troy Dye (wrist) were listed as questionable as of Friday.
Four Packers were considered doubtful as of Friday: linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (neck), tight end Luke Musgrave (kidney), offensive tackle Luke Tenuta (ankle) and running back Emanuel Wilson (shoulder). Four others were listed as questionable: wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (chest/ankle), defensive tackle Tedarrell Slaton (knee/foot), safety Darnell Savage (shoulder) and cornerback Robert Rochell (neck).
–Field Level Media
