The Green Bay Packers hold a 55-48-2 advantage in the all-time series against the Minnesota Vikings. They have typically had the edge lately in what has always been a competitive series, but the last game at Lambeau Field ended in a 26 all tie. That is an embarrassment for the Green Bay Packers, but at the same time they were without the services of their franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The last time that Minnesota won at Lambeau Field though is back in 2009, when a fellow named Brett Favre came in and threw 4 touchdown passes, all of which to players that are no longer Minnesota Vikings (Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shiancoe, and Jeff Dugan). Jared Allen had 3 sacks against Rodgers in that game as well. So, obviously it's been a long time. Has Minnesota finally put together a game plan and a roster to beat the Packers on the road? Can the Vikings challenge the Packers secondary at all? These questions and many more are up in the air before Thursday's game.
First things first, the Vikings are going to give the ball to Teddy Bridgewater for his first career road start. Right now he is completing 62% of his passes for a grand total of 467 yards. He has yet to throw an NFL touchdown or interception through 1.5 games. Bridgewater can actually run with the ball as well, which might be exactly what is going to challenge the Packers defense. In those two games he has 54 total rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown. Everyone knows the Packers have struggled with running quarterbacks in the past few seasons. The Packers have done better so far this season though, only giving up 29 rushing yards to Russell Wilson in week 1, and 26 rushing yards to Geno Smith in week 2. Definitely it will be up to Bridgewater and Matt Asiata rushing the ball for the Vikings offense to have a chance to keep up with the high flying Packers offense.
That is exactly the problem the Packers offense has been having. They have yet to tally a 100 yard rushing game this year. But Jordy Nelson is having the best season of his career. If he keeps up the pace that he has started, he will finish the year with 132 receptions for 1,836 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. His single season highs for his career are 85 catches (2013), 1,314 receiving yards (2013), and 15 touchdowns (2011). On pace to destroy several of those, which would be excellent for the receiver known as "White Lightning." Odds are that he will be paired up against either Xavier Rhodes or Josh Robinson of the Vikings. Randall Cobb also just had his best game of the year last week against the Bears. Cobb has also been Rodgers best touchdown target, throwing 5 his way in this early 2014 season.
This is one game that is always exciting, a divisional game between two fierce opponents. The result is likely to go the way that it is expected, with the Packers favored to win this one by 9. The final score prediction from this writer is Green Bay Packers 41, Minnesota Vikings 13.