The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will meet during Week 13 of the 2012-13 NFL season on December 2, 2012. The game will be played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. These are some picks against the spread for that contest.
The Vikings have a 6-5 record. They’ve lost four of their last six games. The Packers have a 7-4 record. They’re coming off a 38-10 loss to the New York Giants. Since 2010, the Packers have won the last four meetings. The last time these teams played was on November 14, 2011. The Packers won 45-7. They’ve scored at least 23 points in each of the last 10 meetings.
The early spread is Packers (-9.5). The over-under total is 46.5. As of November 29, all odds are from Yahoo! Sports.
Week 12 Results
Green Bay Packers 10 at New York Giants 38
Minnesota Vikings 10 at Chicago Bears 28
Key Injuries: Green Bay Packers (As of November 29)
RB Cedric Benson (Out), DB Charles Woodson (Out), LB Clay Matthews, DL Ryan Pickett, OT Marshall Newhouse, CB Sam Shields, DL C.J. Wilson.
Key Injuries: Minnesota Vikings (As of November 29)
WR Percy Harvin (Doubtful), S Harrison Smith (Cleared for Concussion), CB Antoine Winfield, TE Kyle Rudolph (Cleared for Concussion)
Keys To The Game
Packers’ Run-Defense vs. Adrian Peterson
Vikings’ Offense without Percy Harvin
Jared Allen vs. Marshall Newhouse or T.J. Lang
Aaron Rodgers vs. Vikings’ Secondary
Christian Ponder: Protecting the Football
Confidence of Mason Crosby
Time of Possession
Summary
The Packers are coming off their worst game since they lost 51-29 to the New Orleans Saints in 2008. That was during Aaron Rodgers’ first season as a starting quarterback. He’ll look to have some bounce-back performances against three straight NFC North opponents. Greg Jennings should return from his groin injury. Can he stay healthy?
If the Vikings have any chance for an upset, then Adrian Peterson must have a huge game. That’s not impossible. The Packers’ front seven has been decimated with injuries. Three linebackers are out because of injury. That includes Clay Matthews. C.J. Wilson and Ryan Pickett could also miss this game. That doesn’t include starters Charles Woodson and Sam Shields.They’ve officially been ruled inactive.
The Vikings must pressure Rodgers. While the Vikings have 27 sacks in 11 games, they’ve forced a measly six interceptions. They’ve also allowed 18 passing touchdowns and an opponent completion percentage of 64.4. The defense has done well to prevent passing plays of 20-plus yards. If Rodgers gets greedy or Mike McCarthy calls too many long-developing pass plays, they could struggle.
Second-year quarterback Christian Ponder has been somewhat effective as a game manager. He’ll need to do a little more than that in this game. The Packers have an opportunistic defense that has forced 12 interceptions. Rookie cornerback Casey Hayward has five of them. Since Percy Harvin is doubtful, it puts even more pressure on Peterson and the defense.
This shouldn’t end up as another 45-7 type of game. A close game is a possibility. Regardless, it’s hard to see the Vikings winning at Lambeau Field. Not without Harvin. Not against an angry team in their home stadium.
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-9.5): The Pick
Against The Spread: Green Bay Packers (-9.5)
Straight: Green Bay Packers 27, Minnesota Vikings 17
Joshua Huffman graduated from Middle Tennessee State University as a marketing major in 2009. He’s been a Middle Tennessee resident from 1986-88 and 2001-present. He lived in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin from 1988-01 and for approximately eight months in 2009-10 as he completed a 20-game volunteer position with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. His favorite sports organizations include the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. He can be found on Twitter HERE.
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