Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings 2019: Prediction, Odds For NFC North Monday Night Game

The Green Bay Packers are likely going to win the NFC North, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best team in the division. That distinction belongs to the Minnesota Vikings, and they’ll prove it on “Monday Night Football” in Week 16.

Green Bay has a one-game lead over Minnesota atop the NFC North. Because they have a better division record than the Vikings, the Packers simply need to defeat the Detroit Lions in the season finale to secure a first-place finish.

Minnesota is in the 2019 NFL playoff picture. One Vikings’ win or a Los Angeles Rams’ loss in the final two weeks would guarantee Minnesota a wild-card berth at worst.

The oddsmakers seem to agree that the Vikings are better than the Packers, no matter what the standings might indicate. Minnesota is a 4.5-point home favorite, according to OddsShark. The total is 45.5.

The rivals met all the way back in Week 2 at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 21-16 in arguably Kirk Cousins’ worst game of the season. The quarterback was sacked six times two weeks later in a loss at Soldier Field, giving the Vikings a second loss within the NFC North.

Few teams in the entire NFL have played better than Minnesota since the end of September. The Vikings are 8-2 in their last 10 games, only suffering one-possession losses in Kansas City and Seattle. Five of those victories, including the last two, have been by more than 10 points.

Green Bay has also put together an 8-2 record during that span. The Packers beat two of their opponents by more than 10 points. They enter Monday’s matchup with a pair of close victories over the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears in the last two weeks.

The Packers have lost two of their last three road games. The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers outscored Green Bay 63-19.

U.S. Bank Stadium is quickly becoming one of the few venues that gives the home team a significant advantage. The Vikings are 6-0 in Minnesota. They have the only perfect home record in football. They’ve won those games by an average of 13.5 points.

The Vikings’ defense has been especially good at home. The unit’s overall numbers are down this season, but Minnesota has surrendered just 14.2 points per game in front of their fans.

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t thrown an interception on the road. He’s also got a 98.8 passer rating with an average of 209 passing yards per game away from Lambeau Field. The Packers have scored 11 points or fewer in half of their road games.

Cousins has had the best season of any NFC north quarterback. He leads the division’s signal callers with a 111.1 passing rating, 25 touchdowns, 3,481 passing yards and 70.5% completion rate.

Green Bay ranks 23rd in total defense and 24th in opponents’ yards per play. The unit has taken a step back since its first meeting with Minnesota.

Look for Cousins and the Vikings to get a measure of revenge, even if it’s not enough to get them a division title.

Prediction: Minnesota over Green Bay, 27-17