Summary
The Minnesota Vikings seek to win at Green Bay for a third consecutive season when they face the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Vikings won 31-29 at Lambeau Field last season and 24-10 in 2023. The Vikings swept their two regular-season meetings with the Packers in 2023. Minnesota has lost four of its past five games as first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggles with inconsistency. The Packers are a half-game behind the Chicago Bears in the NFC North.
Story
Minnesota (4-6) at Green Bay (6-3-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox.
BetMGM line: Packers by 7.
Against the spread: Vikings 4-6; Packers 3-6-1.
Series record: Packers lead 66-60-3.
Last meeting: Vikings won 27-25 in Minneapolis on Dec. 29, 2024.
Last week: Vikings lost 19-17 at home to Chicago Bears; Packers beat New York Giants 27-20 on the road.
Vikings offense: overall (27), rush (25), pass (23), scoring (22).
Vikings defense: overall (10T), rush (22), pass (7), scoring (17).
Packers offense: overall (12), rush (19), pass (11), scoring (13).
Packers defense: overall (6), rush (7), pass (10), scoring (7).
Turnover differential: Packers plus-1; Vikings minus-9.
Vikings player to watch
WR Justin Jefferson. Feeling the impact of QB J.J. McCarthy’s growing pains, after a five-game run with backup Carson Wentz while McCarthy recovered from a sprained ankle, Jefferson is carrying career lows in yards per catch and yards per game despite being one of the league’s top and double-covered receivers in his prime. The sixth-year star hasn’t had a 100-yard game in seven weeks and is overdue for a breakout game-breaking performance.
Packers player to watch
WR Christian Watson. In three games since returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Watson has emerged as Jordan Love's most reliable option while helping Green Bay withstand the loss of star TE Tucker Kraft to another torn ACL. Watson caught two touchdown passes against the Giants, including the game-winner with 4:02 remaining.
Key matchup
Vikings RBs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason vs. Packers run defense: Although the Vikings rank 25th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (103.4), they're eighth in yards per carry (4.7). Jones and Mason combined for 115 yards on 22 carries against the Bears. Now they face a Green Bay defense that has given up an average of 138.7 yards rushing over its past three games. If Jones and Mason can gain consistent yardage, it could take some pressure off struggling Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Key injuries
Vikings: OLB Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) missed his first game in two seasons last week. C Ryan Kelly (concussion) has returned as a full participant in practice after a precautionary six-game absence accounting for his concussion history. Both are listed as questionable.
Packers: CB Nate Hobbs (knee) will miss a third straight game. WR Jayden Reed (foot/shoulder) also has been ruled out, though his 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve opened Friday. DL Lukas Van Ness (foot) has missed five straight games and is questionable for Sunday. WR Matthew Golden (shoulder/wrist) didn't play against the Giants and is questionable for this game. K Brandon McManus (quadriceps) is expected to play Sunday after missing the Giants game. LB Quay Walker (neck) left the Giants game and is considered doubtful. RB Josh Jacobs (knee bruise) left the Giants game with a bruised knee and is questionable for Sunday. Also questionable are DL Karl Brooks (ankle), WR Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and WR Savion Williams (foot).
Series notes
The Vikings are seeking their first three-game road winning streak in the series since 1991-93 and their first three-game winning streak overall against the Packers since 2008-09. … Last season was the first time in the 64-year history of the rivalry that consecutive games were decided by two points or fewer.
Stats and stuff
With seven games to go, the Vikings already have twice as many losses as they did during the 2024 regular season. … McCarthy was the first Vikings QB to complete a game last week without being sacked in more than two years, since Kirk Cousins beat San Francisco on Oct. 23, 2023. The Vikings have gone sack-free only four times overall in 63 games, including the playoffs, under coach Kevin O’Connell. … McCarthy, who is 0-3 at home and 2-0 on the road, has the worst completion rate (52.9%) of any QB in the NFL this season to start at least one game. … Jones had a season-high 16 carries last week and is averaging 5.7 yards per touch, including carries and catches, for his best mark since his Pro Bowl season in 2020 with the Packers. … Vikings LB Blake Cashman has four straight games with 10-plus tackles, currently the longest active streak in the league and the longest by a Vikings player since Eric Kendricks in 2021. … Vikings LB Eric Wilson, who spent the previous three seasons with the Packers after playing his first four seasons in the league with the Vikings, leads the team with 63 tackles and two forced fumbles. Wilson is second on the team in tackles for loss (9) and sacks (3½). …The Vikings defense has allowed 2.05 yards per play inside the 20-yard line, the second-best red zone allowance in the league behind Denver. … The Vikings have forced 36 rushing plays for lost yardage this season, the second most in the NFL behind Cleveland. ... The Packers have allowed 24 points or fewer in each of their past 12 home games. ... Jacobs has 11 TD runs to rank second in the NFL, behind Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor (15). ... McManus and Lucas Havrisik have missed four field-goal attempts and two extra points over Green Bay's past four games. ... Packers DE Micah Parsons has an NFL-leading 57 quarterback pressures this season, according to Next Gen Stats. ... Packers WR Romeo Doubs leads Green Bay in catches (39) and yards receiving (499). ... Packers QB Jordan Love set career highs in pass completions (32), pass attempts (54) and passing yards (389) and matched career highs in TD passes (four) and interceptions (three) in Green Bay's home loss to the Vikings last season. ... Packers CB Keisean Nixon has 14 passes defended to match Cincinnati's D.J. Turner for the NFL lead.
Fantasy tip
If Packers RB Emanuel Wilson is still available on your fantasy league's waiver wire, he's worth adding to your roster just in case Jacobs' injury keeps him from playing. Wilson filled in for Jacobs against the Giants and rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
