It was sure nice to kick off Christmas Eve festivities knowing that the Packers are clicking and just won in one of their most dominating games in a while. The run game, offensive line, pass rush and overall defensive dominance all showed up on Monday. That effort will be needed again on Sunday, and then some. But we'll get to that. Toyotathon is here and it's time for Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers to ramp up into their best play of the season and get themselves ready for a major playoff run.

But enough of the Saints and last Monday. Sure, it was a nice win, but a much more challengbing test awaits us on the horizon. So let's raise up the Periscope and look at the past, present and future of the Packers and Vikings.

The Past

The Packers lead the all-time series with Minnesota 66-59-3. The Packers opened the series, which started on October 22, 1961, winning 9 of 10. Entering the post-Lombardi years, though, it was all Vikings with Green Bay winning only three times from 1970-1979. Of late, though, it's been a very competitive series. And, really has been since the Brett Favre years. Each team is 6-6 in the last 12 games dating back to 2019.

This week's look-back game takes place in Week 16 of 2000, when the 7-7 Packers, fighting for a playoff spot, visited the division-leading 11-3 Vikings. The Packers had won the prior meeting in overtime in the "He did WHAT!?" game 26-20. The season, though, would end in disappointment despite winning in Week 17 to finish at 9-7 - the St. Louis Rams won their finale to finish 10-6 and get the final spot.

But back to Minneapolis... the Packers would open the scoring on a Ryan Longwell field goal from 34 yards. Shortly thereafter, with the ball again, Brett Favre found Antonio Freeman from 18 yards out and 10-0 Packer lead. But on the VIkings' next try, Daunte Culpepper evaded Vonnie Holliday and bombed one down to a wide-open Randy Moss for a 78-yard touchdown cutting the lead to 10-7.

In the second, running back Ahman Green punched one in from  6 yards out on a pass from Favre. After another field goal from Longwell, it was 20-7 good guys. But just before half, Culpepper scrambled one in to make it 20-14 at the break.

Yet another Longwell kick pushed the lead to 23-14 Packers to open the third quarter. But Minnesota got back with 7 on a Culpepper to Johnny McWilliams (and this week's made-up guy of the week) from 22 yards to put the score at 23-21 Green Bay. 

The Packers would be able to put it away in the fourth, though, on a Bill Schroeder touchdown and subsequent Longwell field goal, making it 33-21. After a late Cris Carter touchdown, Ahman Green picked up a key first down to run out the clock and seal the season-saving victory.

The Present

Fresh off a key win in Seattle to keep their NFC North hopes alive, the Vikings have really rounded into form and solidified their position as one of the best teams in the NFL, keeping pace with the Detroit Lions at 13-2. Sam Darnold has completely resurrected his career with the Vikings, so much to the point folks are wondering if they'll extend him and maybe scrap the J.J. McCarthy plan at quarterback (which, in my humble opinion, they should ABSOLUTELY do.).

Aaron Jones has showed the league he's still got it and has been just durable enough. And Justin Jefferson is still very much Justin Jefferson, maybe the best receiver in football. And lest us not forget recurring Packer Killer, Jordan Addison. This Vikings offense packs a punch despite some advanced metrics indicating Darnold can put the ball in harm's way despite cleaning up the interceptions. This may be a key on Sunday - forcing a couple turnovers would go a long way for this Packers defense.

Defensively, Minnesota still ranks near the top in pretty much every key area led by Brian Flores. They chewed up the Packers in Week 4 for much of the game until Green Bay found their footing, but that was what feels like 100 years ago, Jordan Love was hurt and this team, frankly, was still very much finding its way. This is a very different animal in Green & Gold heading up to Minneapolis this weekend.

As for the Packers, we know what this team is now. They have the most firm identify they've had in what feels like years. Run the ball ad nauseam, dominate the trenches, and play aggressive defense. It's as solid as a team as many of us have seen in years, which is something to say.

The interesting quirk is that the Packers don't have all that much to play for. They're in the playoffs. Sure, they could overtake Minnesota for the 5 seed, but it seems that most likely they'll end up the 6 over Washington. But this team thrived under pressure last year, and I think they'll do their best to manufacture that and come out playing like much more is on the line on Sunday.

The Future

FLEX! From noon Lambeau time to 3:25 into the afternoon Game of the Week spot, live from the Great Bird Killer, U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. This is obviously a bigger game for Minnesota, as they aim to set up a winner-take-all Week 18 matchup in Detroit. But the Packers are clicking and looking to play complete football. It's honestly a very strange circumstance, with both teams having impressive records and one of the teams being totally out of the division running. 

With Vegas currently showing this game as a pick'em, I think that tells you an awful lot about how the public sees the Packers. I think Minnesota is still trying to - unfairly, in my opinion - shake off some "fraud" stigma while the Packers are looking more of the part. But make no mistake - this is going to be a chess match with two of the league's very best offensive minds and two of the league's best defensive units. It's as even as a matchup as we could have, and one where I hope to see more of that newfound Packer toughness.

We'll see these Packers playing with a fire. To avoid a season sweep of a rival, to try to improve playoff seeding and to keep the upward trend of their play heading into January.