The Green Bay Packers are back at home today for what is just their second divisional game of the 2025 season, taking on the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field at 12 PM CST. It's strange to say in late November that this is only the second divisional matchup the Packers have had, but it's the reality that the schedule makers have bestowed upon us. Last week, the 6-3-1 Packers were victorious over the New York Giants in what ended up being a more competitive game than anticipated. The 4-6 Vikings are coming off a 19-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, where they nearly came away with a win, if not for a final-second field goal propelling the Bears to victory. The Packers are looking to start a winning streak, and the Vikings are hoping to keep their season alive.  

The last time these two teams met was December 29, 2024, in Minnesota, when the Vikings were victorious with a final score of 27-25. The Packers' offense was fairly limited in the first half, only putting up three points to Minnesota's 13. A second-half surge with three touchdowns was an improvement, but with the Vikings putting up two more touchdowns themselves in the 3rd quarter, the deficit was just too much to overcome. 

Last week, many called the matchup against the Giants a "get right" game for the Packers. That may have been the case in a way, coming off two straight losses at home, the Packers sorely needed a good win to get back on track. The problem is, no matter what the opposing team's record says, they're not going just to be your "practice game." They're going to go out there and make you earn the victory. The Giants seemed to take advantage of Green Bay's offensive line issues, making it difficult for anything to run consistently on that side of the ball. The defense also struggled, giving up a decent game to the Giants' running backs, which is very uncharacteristic of that squad so far in 2025. A few sloppy drops by receivers didn't help either, but the Packers will be looking to bounce back. 

In the first of five divisional games to wind out the final seven games of the season, the Packers are looking to start strong. 

What to See on Offense

Minnesota loves to blitz the QB. So far this season, they've blitzed on around half of all passing plays they've faced. The Packers' offensive line is going to need to be at its best today to pick up those blitzes and prevent them from being a problem. Last week, the Packers faced a Giants front that hadn't gotten to the QB often, but they had the talent t,o and I was talking about ensuring they didn't find their stride against us. They did a good job of doing so. Minnesota is tied for 11th in the league when it comes to sack totals, with DT Jalen Redmond leading the way with four.  That's not a large sack total for the team leader, but that's what happens when 12 other players are on the stat sheet with at least a half sack. Anyone can get home. The Vikings don't have All-Pro pass rushers, but they can still give you trouble if you don't take them seriously. 

If we can contain the pass rush, Minnesota's secondary can be exploited by our receivers.  When it comes to takeaways, Minnesota's secondary is even ranked behind the Packers'. However, Minnesota does hold the seventh-fewest passing yards per game in the NFL. Packers receivers have been rather hit or miss lately, but Christian Watson certainly found his stride last week, getting in the endzone twice against the Giants' secondary. Jayden Reed started his 21-day window for coming back from IR on Friday. Don't expect him today, as he is listed as OUT for today's game, but possibly in a few days, on Thanksgiving. Matthew Golden and Savion Williams may play a larger role today, being further removed from injury, but the biggest test will be seeing who holds on to the football. The Packers' receivers were plagued by drops last week, reminding everyone of the 2024 season. Hopefully, today we can put those drops behind us. 

Will Josh Jacobs play? If you ask him, he'd probably say he'll be out there today. But the medical staff may have other ideas. He's considered a true game-time decision. Just in case, the Packers have elevated Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad. The Vikings currently rank 22nd in the NFL with 122 rushing yards per game. If Josh Jacobs is a go today without being hindered by a snap count, the rushing attack could have a relatively decent day. Now that's not to say that if Josh Jacobs is out, the rushing attack is null and void. Emanuel Wilson has been a formidable runner in relief of Jacobs, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt on 53 carries.  Wilson isn't Jacobs, but I'd be intrigued to see what he can do in a starting role. If Jacobs can't go, could we see Wilson have a breakout game? It'll be interesting to see if Chris Brooks plays more of an RB2 role or if Pierre Strong takes that role. We haven't seen much of Brooks this season other than as a blocker or receiving target. It will be intriguing to see how he is used today, if needed as RB2. 

What to See on Defense

This was supposed to be the year that the Vikings showed off their new franchise quarterback returning from injury in his rookie season, and set the league ablaze. Well, JJ McCarthy has only played in five games this season, and in those five games, he hasn't exactly been stellar. He's turned the ball over eight times in those five games with a QB rating of 61.7. He's also been sacked 15 times, which is just one less than Jordan Love in twice as many games played. This is a product of McCarthy having a tendency to hold on to the ball for too long. You'd better believe that the Packers' pass rushers, Parsons, Gary, and Wyatt, are going to be dialed in to make him pay if he keeps up those mistakes this week. This week marks another chance for Lukas Van Ness to return from injury, and he, too, can factor into that pass rush. 

If McCarthy can get the ball out of his hands, he has some stellar targets in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, and TJ Hockenson. McCarthy's chemistry with Jefferson has yet to be unlocked, and today is not the day for it to happen. The Packers' secondary showed a bit of improvement last week, and they're going to need to keep it up this week in the event the pass rush doesn't get home quickly. If McCarthy does get the ball out, they need to be ready for any mistakes made. The Packers dropped four INT chances last week against Jameis Winston. McCarthy tends to turn the ball over as well, so they need to take advantage of it this time.

Against the Panthers and Giants, the Packers' opponents have done what they can on the ground to keep the Green Bay offense off the field as well as keep the pass rushers honest. Minnesota may try something similar this week, running the football with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. With Jones missing four games this season, Mason has been the lead back with 489 yards on 108 carries with five TDs, but Jones isn't far behind with 256 on 52 carries and a touchdown. The Packers' run defense has done well this season, but has had a few questionable games as of late. Heading into the colder months of the season, now is not the time for the run defense to slow down. 

Quay Walker is doubtful for today's game, and the Packers did elevate LB Jamon Johnson from the practice squad, so it's a good bet Walker will be OUT today. Isaiah McDuffie will likely fill Walker's role on defense, with Johnson mainly taking over McDuffie's special teams duties. 

Minnesota will likely run the ball as much as they can and get the ball out of McCarthy's hands quickly when passing. The Packers have seen this often already this season and will need to find a way to halt Minnesota's offense quickly or force turnovers.  

Extra Notes

I don't want to talk about kickers this week; you can't make me. Okay, fine, I guess it's kind of my job here. Brandon McManus was inactive last week again after apparently re-aggravating his quad, so Lucas Havrisik took over as everyone wanted. But then Havrisik missed two extra points that can be partially blamed on wind and a poor snap/hold. We just can't have nice things. McManus was back as a full participant this week at practice, so he should be a go today. I'm going to be honest and say that at this point, I don't even care if a 76-year-old Chester Marcol runs onto the field to kick this week, just make the darn kicks. 

Minnesota's Will Reichard has only missed two field goals this season (must be nice), and their punter, Ryan Wright, is 10th in the league with a 48.1 average to Green Bay's Daniel Whelan, who ranks second with 50.8. 

Myles Price is Minnesota's main kick returner, averaging 25.9 yards on 38 attempts with a long of 61 on kickoffs and a 10.7-yard average on punts with a long of 43. Green Bay hasn't been gashed too badly on returns this season, outside of a few penalties extending field position, so hopefully this should not be an issue today if they stay disciplined. 

On the other side, last week Minnesota gave up a 56-yard kickoff return to Chicago's Devin Duvernay, which set up a walk-off field goal. Duvernay has had a lower return average than the Packers' Savion Williams so far this season, so even though Williams hasn't looked that terribly explosive in the return game, Minnesota could be prone to another big return. 

In the End

Today marks the beginning of a huge three-game stretch on the Packers' schedule. With as close as the NFC North is currently, these three games could make or break the season. It's very important that we get off to a good start with home-field advantage today. 

In just four days, we're back at it for some Thanksgiving football in Detroit. Let's head into it on a positive note. Go Pack Go.