Packers Dominance Over Vikings in Late-Season Matchups
Jayden Reed scored two touchdowns in a Week 17 win over the Vikings last season.
On Sunday afternoon, it will be the 15th matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 or later since the 1996 season. In the previous 14 games, the Packers hold a 10-4 edge over its rivals from the west.
Currently, the Packers hold a one-game lead in the NFC Wild Card race over the Washington Commanders for the 6th and 7th seeds. There is also a chance for the Packers to jump up to the 5 seed if the Vikings were to lose both of their final two games, against the Packers and Lions.
The recent history between these two rivalries does favor the Packers. Of those previous 14 late-season meetings, six of them were in Minnesota. The Packers are 4-2 in games in Minnesota played in Week 16 or 17.
Those wins were in 2000 (33-28), 2004 (34-31), 2019 (23-10) and 2023 (33-10). The two losses were in 1999 (24-20), 2012 (37-34).
Jordan Love ➡️ Jayden Reed for six‼️
(via @packers)pic.twitter.com/1IKpI0T4jW
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 1, 2024
All of those games had playoff implications, with the Packers clinching the division twice (‘04, ‘19) and keeping its wild-card hopes alive twice (‘00, ‘23).
“It is one of the toughest buildings to play in the league,” Matt LaFleur said Tuesday about the upcoming game in Minnesota. “It is going to be a great challenge for us and one that, quite frankly, I think we need, because we’re going to be on the road in the playoffs. This is going to be a playoff atmosphere. A playoff game.”
Today in 2004: Ryan Longwell's 29-yard field goal as time expires lifts Packers to 34-31 division-clinching win over Vikings. Both teams combine for nearly 900 yards of total offense, including Brett Favre and Daunte Culpepper totaling 650 pass yards and 6 TDs. pic.twitter.com/tmsmRy9ui3
— Packers History (@HistoricPackers) December 24, 2021
Twenty years ago on Christmas Eve, one of the more memorable games between the Packers and Vikings took place in Week 16 of the 2004 season. In what was essentially a winner-take-all matchup in the Metrodome, Brett Favre led a 4th quarter comeback for arguably the biggest road win in the history of the rivalry. Ryan Longwell’s walk-off field goal clinched a 34-31 win and a NFC North division title.
20th Anniversary of the Packers winning the NFC North in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/6vZ56ppMrU
— MMcLaugh (@McLaughlinMitch) December 24, 2024
The stakes are a little lower this weekend, but if the 2024 version of the Packers are to get where they want to, they probably do not want to go into the postseason with a 0-4 record against the Lions and Vikings, and another loss to a potential playoff opponent.
On Sunday, Jordan Love will look to continue the success he’s had in the last six games (66.43%, 1315 yards, 9 touchdowns, 1 interception, 113.8 rating). It will be a much different version of Love than the Vikings faced back in September. Love was coming off missing two games because of his knee injury, and it was evident he was coming back from an injury. Love threw two first-half interceptions, which led to the Vikings having a 28-0 in the second quarter.
Stunning how emphatically signing a veteran kicker fixed biggest weakness on this #Packers roster:
Anders Carlson: 27-33 FGs, 34-39 XP
Brayden Narveson: 12-17 FGs, 16-16 XP
Brandon McManus: 15-16, 26-26 XP.— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 24, 2024
The Packers also are much more stable at kicker compared to the first meeting three months ago. Brayden Narveson missed more field goals in the first half (2) than current kicker Brandon McManus has missed all season (1). In a game where the Packers eventually lost by just two points, not having a reliable kicker was a big factor.
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Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
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Comments (8)
splitpea1
December 24, 2024 at 08:09 pm
The only problem with 2004 was that we followed it up with a home loss to the purple two weeks later in the first round of the playoffs. Our lousy defense surrendered 17 points in the first quarter. You could see the writing on the wall next season for the Sherman regime.
Expect the Vikings to be highly motivated for this one. If they win, they have a shot to play Detroit for the #1 seed the following week.
It's going to be tough with a patchwork secondary. Maybe we'll get Jaire back, but I don't know about Williams or Bullard.
PhantomII
December 24, 2024 at 08:18 pm
I like the way the Pack is running the ball and controlling the game. The one problem with it is a lesser focus on the pass game and the pass game being cold nearly always. I believe more focus on plays designed for Reed / Doubs / Kraft / Jacobs. Getting the ball to these players should heat up the offense more and allow for sprinkling in Wicks / Watson , etc. I know we will need the pass game more in the playoffs and it would be nice to be able to execute the pass game like the run game has been going. That's why I'm looking forward to the Vikings game and see how we can execute a game plan against a playoff team that may come down to a big air game to win it. GPG
gregmorse
December 24, 2024 at 09:14 pm
Going into a patchwork secondary will be difficult. I'm not sure about Williams or Bullard, but perhaps we'll get Jaire back.
Minniman
December 25, 2024 at 04:41 am
The 2024 Vikings are a team that you dismiss at your own peril.
That said, given that both teams have already punched their post season tickets, outside of momentum maintenance, I’m not sure how invested either team gets in this game.
Sure, the winner gets the confidence of besting a contender at the business end of a season…….. but they both play in 2 weeks time irrespectively….. so whether it’s in Filly, Tampa or LA, I back the full strength Packers to go wherever on the road and Get.It.Done.
….. no one’s beaten the healthy packers by more than field goals (either walk off or missed by the Packers) - and they’ve sorted that out, so bring it on.
GregC
December 25, 2024 at 08:00 am
I think both teams will play all-out, and it will be a playoff atmosphere. Losing this game would be a big momentum killer for either team, while a win would be a big boost. Vikings are in the running for a division title, which would mean a first round home playoff game, and possibly even a first round bye in the playoffs. Packers are playing for playoff seeding and don't want to go 0-4 against the Lions and Vikings this year.
porupack
December 25, 2024 at 06:23 am
So, how does the coach play the strategy when considering the playoffs? What you play gets on tape. You show your creativity? Insert unexpected plays so that they are on tape? Do you play vanilla; line em up and just let man beat man? Or do you throw in some wacky stuff on 3rd downs, so that you do opposite in playoffs and play with their minds? I think most everyone says to play the game to win, but whether you strategize this game to include all possible exploits, that it is a priority over the one you really need to win in a month....that is for the coaches to think through after they open presents, eat their dinners and play with their toys.
ricky
December 25, 2024 at 03:16 pm
It doesn't matter who has dominated the series in the past. What matters is the game on Sunday. What the Vikings have shown this year is that they find ways to win. Like the Chiefs, there are not a lot of lopsided wins. Most of the time, they win by a TD or less. The Packers, on the other hand, have shown the last few games that they seem to be hitting their stride at the right time.
But, in that house of horrors in Minnesota (I hate that stupid horn with a passion!), the Packers are going to be facing a hostile crowd, a team that is overachieving with a good defense and an effective passing game. They've gotten used to winning, and will be hungry to win the division and get that coveted bye week.
Still, I have a feeling this could be the time when the team decides to let Love show what he can do. And with the receivers the Packers have, they could alternate between running, screens, play action and longer passes. It may be time to open up the passing game more, and keep the Vikes on their heels defensively.
thomasfrank
December 26, 2024 at 03:00 am
How important is Jordan Love's performance in the upcoming game against the Vikings for the Packers' playoff chances, considering his recent success? https://slope-game.org