Let's be real...

[YikesVikes]

I think the Bears are a tough matchup for the Vikings. I won't be at all surprised to drop that game.

Anyone know if it is possible, or even likely that game doesn't matter if we lose to the Pack?

Could Sean Mannion get his first start?

From my understanding, If rams lose Sat, we automatically clinch.

[VikingLord]

Okay - good replies so far. I'm going to put myself out there with a prediction. 1-1 the rest of the season.

Either we lose against the Packers Monday night - proving we are simply an okay team (better record than meets the eye), but can't beat the winning teams when the chips are down and it's time to put up or shut up. Then respond by beating the Bears at home without issue.

OR...

We'll play out of our mind Monday night, beat the Packers, and be on a similar high as the Minneapolis Miracle against the Saints. But then not be able to regain focus, come out flat against the Bears after all the hype, and lose.

Of the two opponents, I think the Bears are the tougher matchup, mostly because up to this point they've been the better team at disrupting Cousins while limiting the Vikings run game. They aren't as explosive on offense as Green Bay, but they've been very good at keeping the Vikings out of the endzone the last 3 times the teams have met and, if that continues, they will likely make that a 4th time to finish this season. I'm not predicting that will happen as I don't think the Bears defense is nearly as dominant this season as it was last season and I don't think they've been very good at getting pressure on the QB since their win over the Vikings earlier this season, but I see them as the more dangerous opponent.

I think if the Vikings can blunt the Packers offense in the first half, they're very likely to win that game. I don't think the Packer defense can stop the Vikings even without Cook. As long as the Vikings don't turn it over, they should be able to move and score on the Packer defense as well as control the clock.

[J. Kapp 11]

Yes, and we all know that this is a much better Vikings team and a much better Kirk Cousins playing quarterback than in Week 2 who will make Green Bay pay in play action.

Well, most of us know.

Cousins is definitely playing better. He would almost have to be.

The rest of the team? Oline is playing better in the passing game, but the run game hasn't been as good lately. The defense held Rodgers to 200 yards and 6.1 YPA after two bad drives. They give up 200 yards to David Blough now.

Agree about the running game. I started a thread regarding concerns about the running game, and it got no traction. But you're right ... we've not been as good on the ground in the second half of the season as we have the first.

Some of that, I think, is because Adam Thielen has been missing. Teams have been loading up to stop the run, and it's harder to make them pay when Thielen isn't out there burning single coverage. Last week, Thielen returned, and we were better with 125 yards on the ground. I suspect LAC's run defense is better than Green Bay's.

There is absolutely no reason we can't win the last two and finish 12-4. I think we're better than Green Bay, especially at home, and we're certainly better than Chicago. It's up to the team and the coaching staff to get the guys playing to their potential.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Anyone know if it is possible, or even likely that game doesn't matter if we lose to the Pack?

Could Sean Mannion get his first start?

From my understanding, If rams lose Sat, we automatically clinch.

Yeah if the rams lose, which is very possible, we’re in. I think after that the only thing that matters is there could be a shift in seeding.

But we have to be careful. If the rams win and we lose, our backs are against the wall come week 17 because the rams have Arizona at home which should be a win. We would have to beat Chicago which makes me nervous because no matter how good or bad they are we always struggle with them

[CharVike]

The Minnesota Vikings running back will reportedly sit out the team’s Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers due to his shoulder injury. That's Cook's status. Matti didn't practice so I guess he probably won't go either.

[halfgiz]

Sounds like we will have beat the Packers without Cook & Mattison.
We should still be able to run on them with Boone.

[StumpHunter]

Sounds like we will have beat the Packers without Cook & Mattison.
We should still be able to run on them with Boone.

I might be wrong about this, but there is very little chance these games matter in the seeding, right?

Let's get those guys healthy for the games that matter and hope we get the Pack in the first round.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Sounds like we will have beat the Packers without Cook & Mattison.
We should still be able to run on them with Boone.

I might be wrong about this, but there is very little chance these games matter in the seeding, right?

Let's get those guys healthy for the games that matter and hope we get the Pack in the first round.

We still have a legit shot to get the 5 seed. To win the division at this point is far fetched because GB isnt losing to Detroit. But given there is slight chance I dont think we should lay down by any means. It just sucks right when we gain Thielen back we lose Cook and Mattison. They will have to get creative. We could see Boone have some legit success because they arent scheming for him like they would Cook. They are going to be preparing for Cousins, Thielen and Diggs.

[CharVike]

Sounds like we will have beat the Packers without Cook & Mattison.
We should still be able to run on them with Boone.

I might be wrong about this, but there is very little chance these games matter in the seeding, right?

Let's get those guys healthy for the games that matter and hope we get the Pack in the first round.

IMO I don't want to go into the frozen tundra. I'd rather go to NO or SEA or wherever and take the weather out of it. I've seen games up there late and it's not even football at that point. It's a matter of hoping you can do basic things like kick a FG or punt the ball.

[VikingLord]

I might be wrong about this, but there is very little chance these games matter in the seeding, right?

Let's get those guys healthy for the games that matter and hope we get the Pack in the first round.

We still have a legit shot to get the 5 seed. To win the division at this point is far fetched because GB isnt losing to Detroit. But given there is slight chance I dont think we should lay down by any means. It just sucks right when we gain Thielen back we lose Cook and Mattison. They will have to get creative. We could see Boone have some legit success because they arent scheming for him like they would Cook. They are going to be preparing for Cousins, Thielen and Diggs.

The Vikings are still mathematically alive to get the top seed, so nothing is written in stone yet as far as the significance or not of the Monday Night game. The outcome of the Rams against the 49ers will determine how significant it could be.

But...

Saying the Packers can't lose to the Lions in Detroit is not accurate. The Lions aren't that bad. They are at home. They also are a divisional foe. And the Packers aren't that great.

I'm not saying the Lions will beat the Packers, or even that it's likely they will. I'm just saying it's very possible, especially given how flawed the Packers are. If you just look at the Packers record you think they're very good, but that record is like makeup that covers up some serious ugly. Add in the booze of Rodger's reputation versus his actual play this year, and one could easily make the mistake of taking home the idea that the Packers are destined to win the North this year.

Of course, the Vikings have to take care of their business on Monday Night first. After that, it's out of their hands, but nobody is going to convince me the Packers are a team of destiny this year.

[StumpHunter]

We still have a legit shot to get the 5 seed. To win the division at this point is far fetched because GB isnt losing to Detroit. But given there is slight chance I dont think we should lay down by any means. It just sucks right when we gain Thielen back we lose Cook and Mattison. They will have to get creative. We could see Boone have some legit success because they arent scheming for him like they would Cook. They are going to be preparing for Cousins, Thielen and Diggs.

The Vikings are still mathematically alive to get the top seed, so nothing is written in stone yet as far as the significance or not of the Monday Night game. The outcome of the Rams against the 49ers will determine how significant it could be.

But...

Saying the Packers can't lose to the Lions in Detroit is not accurate. The Lions aren't that bad. They are at home. They also are a divisional foe. And the Packers aren't that great.

I'm not saying the Lions will beat the Packers, or even that it's likely they will. I'm just saying it's very possible, especially given how flawed the Packers are. If you just look at the Packers record you think they're very good, but that record is like makeup that covers up some serious ugly. Add in the booze of Rodger's reputation versus his actual play this year, and one could easily make the mistake of taking home the idea that the Packers are destined to win the North this year.

Of course, the Vikings have to take care of their business on Monday Night first. After that, it's out of their hands, but nobody is going to convince me the Packers are a team of destiny this year.

I think the odds of Cook not being healthy in the playoffs because he plays against the Packers and Bears are better than the odds of the Lions beating the Packers in week 17 with David Blough.

I am all for trying to beat the Packers and Bears, and it would say a lot about this team if they did. I just don't want to do that at the expense of having a healthy Cook in the playoffs. If he is good to go and playing won't make the injury worse, play him. If he needs a couple of weeks to heal...

[S197]

Sounds like we will have beat the Packers without Cook & Mattison.
We should still be able to run on them with Boone.

I might be wrong about this, but there is very little chance these games matter in the seeding, right?

Let's get those guys healthy for the games that matter and hope we get the Pack in the first round.

I think not giving GB home field advantage is the biggest thing. It's likely they'll get a wildcard game at home but right now they're still in the running for one of the top two seeds. Playing spoiler and potentially helping our position is the main reasons to win.

[Pondering Her Percy]

We still have a legit shot to get the 5 seed. To win the division at this point is far fetched because GB isnt losing to Detroit. But given there is slight chance I dont think we should lay down by any means. It just sucks right when we gain Thielen back we lose Cook and Mattison. They will have to get creative. We could see Boone have some legit success because they arent scheming for him like they would Cook. They are going to be preparing for Cousins, Thielen and Diggs.

The Vikings are still mathematically alive to get the top seed, so nothing is written in stone yet as far as the significance or not of the Monday Night game. The outcome of the Rams against the 49ers will determine how significant it could be.

But...

Saying the Packers can't lose to the Lions in Detroit is not accurate. The Lions aren't that bad. They are at home. They also are a divisional foe. And the Packers aren't that great.

I'm not saying the Lions will beat the Packers, or even that it's likely they will. I'm just saying it's very possible, especially given how flawed the Packers are. If you just look at the Packers record you think they're very good, but that record is like makeup that covers up some serious ugly. Add in the booze of Rodger's reputation versus his actual play this year, and one could easily make the mistake of taking home the idea that the Packers are destined to win the North this year.

Of course, the Vikings have to take care of their business on Monday Night first. After that, it's out of their hands, but nobody is going to convince me the Packers are a team of destiny this year.

I mean sure, anything is possible but I cant see the Packers losing to the Lions and David Blough. If Stafford was playing, I would say yeah they have a legit shot to beat GB but Detroit is terrible right now.

I agree with your assessment on the Packers. It drives me insane watching NFL Network or ESPN right now because some of these clueless analysts talk up GB like they are the next coming of the Patriots. And talk up Rodgers like he's the best in the game still (which he's not even remotely close at this point). I also saw a crazy stat on the Packers this year. Do you know they've been called for 2 defensive pass interferences on the ENTIRE season? And opponents have been called for like 17 or something crazy like that. I swear refs, analysts and the media want GB to be relevant again SO BAD it's not even funny. Drives me insane

[CharVike]

The Vikings are still mathematically alive to get the top seed, so nothing is written in stone yet as far as the significance or not of the Monday Night game. The outcome of the Rams against the 49ers will determine how significant it could be.

But...

Saying the Packers can't lose to the Lions in Detroit is not accurate. The Lions aren't that bad. They are at home. They also are a divisional foe. And the Packers aren't that great.

I'm not saying the Lions will beat the Packers, or even that it's likely they will. I'm just saying it's very possible, especially given how flawed the Packers are. If you just look at the Packers record you think they're very good, but that record is like makeup that covers up some serious ugly. Add in the booze of Rodger's reputation versus his actual play this year, and one could easily make the mistake of taking home the idea that the Packers are destined to win the North this year.

Of course, the Vikings have to take care of their business on Monday Night first. After that, it's out of their hands, but nobody is going to convince me the Packers are a team of destiny this year.

I mean sure, anything is possible but I cant see the Packers losing to the Lions and David Blough. If Stafford was playing, I would say yeah they have a legit shot to beat GB but Detroit is terrible right now.

I agree with your assessment on the Packers. It drives me insane watching NFL Network or ESPN right now because some of these clueless analysts talk up GB like they are the next coming of the Patriots. And talk up Rodgers like he's the best in the game still (which he's not even remotely close at this point). I also saw a crazy stat on the Packers this year. Do you know they've been called for 2 defensive pass interferences on the ENTIRE season? And opponents have been called for like 17 or something crazy like that. I swear refs, analysts and the media want GB to be relevant again SO BAD it's not even funny. Drives me insane

This is nothing new. The Packers have been a media darling since the day's of Farve. I remember they had this QB called magic or magic man or something along those lines and they got big time ink then also. That PI stat is incredible. Only 2? Dallas is the same thing. Ton of media coverage. NFL media people think they are great. Dak gets all this ink. And yes he has great stats. How about wins against 500 or above teams? He might be one of the biggest losers ever. He couldn't beat the loser Rodgers. Or our guy who is also considered a loser. And he's considered one of the top dogs. That's just the way it is.

[Bowhunting Viking]

I mean sure, anything is possible but I cant see the Packers losing to the Lions and David Blough. If Stafford was playing, I would say yeah they have a legit shot to beat GB but Detroit is terrible right now.

I agree with your assessment on the Packers. It drives me insane watching NFL Network or ESPN right now because some of these clueless analysts talk up GB like they are the next coming of the Patriots. And talk up Rodgers like he's the best in the game still (which he's not even remotely close at this point). I also saw a crazy stat on the Packers this year. Do you know they've been called for 2 defensive pass interferences on the ENTIRE season? And opponents have been called for like 17 or something crazy like that. I swear refs, analysts and the media want GB to be relevant again SO BAD it's not even funny. Drives me insane

This is nothing new. The Packers have been a media darling since the day's of Farve. I remember they had this QB called magic or magic man or something along those lines and they got big time ink then also. That PI stat is incredible. Only 2? Dallas is the same thing. Ton of media coverage. NFL media people think they are great. Dak gets all this ink. And yes he has great stats. How about wins against 500 or above teams? He might be one of the biggest losers ever. He couldn't beat the loser Rodgers. Or our guy who is also considered a loser. And he's considered one of the top dogs. That's just the way it is.

The Magic Man was Majkowski.. spelling may be a little off. He was the darling of the lg then. Then he got injured, and that's when the Reign of Favre started. Then as we know the love affair with Erin and the media started.
As stated it's been that way for as long as I remember.
Like PHP it drives me nuts listening to the analysts and all the talking heads always gushing over Erin and the Pukers.
In the NFL network I like James Jones, until the Packers are brought up. I understand his loyalty for the team but man he just goes overboard sometimes. Every once in a while Terrell Davis or Michael Robinson will laugh at him saying What's this We stuff. You ain't out on the field with them anymore. I get a kick out of that.
Always loved Madden... until it came time for him to call a GB game and his Favre live fests.
The Packers are one of the media and NFL darlings. They want them to succeed and win. It gets sickening but it's the way it is.
Best revenge is to beat them Monday night and hope they get knocked out of the playoffs in the first game they play.
Like said, I don't want to have to play them in Lambeau at all. Not only do you have to deal with the refs giving them every benefit, but the weather can be brutal and be a huge factor.
Let's hope we only have to hear about them for their 1st playoff game, then see the sadness on the medias faces if they get knocked out right away.
My final thoughts ... I HATE THE PACKERS