Vikings vs. Packers NFL Week 17 Preview, TV Schedule, Prediction

TV Schedule: Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC

Stadium: Lambeau Field-Green Bay, WI

Current Line: Green Bay (-3)
Over/Under: 46.5

Last Meeting: Packers 30, Vikings 13-Week 11

The final game of the 2015 NFL regular season is also the NFC North championship game, as the Minnesota Vikings (10-5) will travel to take on the Green Bay Packers (10-5). Both teams are coming off one-sided results in Week 16, as the Vikings dominated the New York Giants 49-17 and the Packers were beaten soundly 38-8 by the Arizona Cardinals.

The Vikings have won their last two games by a combined score of 87-34, and better play from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater over the last three games has been notable. Minnesota’s offense is still built around running back Adrian Peterson, who leads the league in rushing with 1,418 yards during his age-30 season, but Bridgewater is the key player as the team eyes a division title and a possible playoff run.

The Vikings welcomed three key defensive starters back last week, and safety Harrison Smith provided a turning point with an interception return for a touchdown that widened Minnesota’s lead late in the first half. Smith, linebacker Anthony Barr and defensive tackle Linval Joseph make the Viking’s defense whole at all three levels, which will be important against Green Bay.

Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked eight times by Arizona last week, as an injury-plagued and over-matched offensive line gave up nine total sacks along with 12 quarterback hits. Getting the running game on track would surely help keep heat off Rodgers and a group of pass catchers he’s struggled to find continuity with, and Eddie Lacy did have one of his three 100-yard games this year in the Week 11 win over Minnesota. If Lacy sees 20 or more carries Sunday night, leaving all other concerns about him aside, the game is probably going well for the Packers.

The Vikings and Packers are trending opposite directions right now, which on the surface makes a prediction seem easy. But with something big at stake in a rivalry game, this one becomes tough to predict.

Score Prediction: Vikings 27, Packers 24

Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.