Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Graff: Analyzing the importance of Vikings-Packers
The 119th edition of the Border Battle is less than a week away, as the Vikings and Packers will meet on Monday Night Football in Week 16 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota is 10-4 and would clinch a playoff spot with a win, which would also keep the Vikings alive in the NFC North race.
Green Bay is 11-3 and has clinched a playoff spot, but the Packers can secure the division with a win on Monday night.
Chad Graff of The Athletic broke down the matchup based on the level of importance for each team, and argued that Green Bay might be the more desperate team.
Graff wrote:
It is weird that this game doesn’t have more on the line. At the beginning of the season, this seemed like the no-doubt biggest game on the schedule. And while both teams can certainly help themselves with a win, it doesn’t carry nearly the weight many expected.
In terms of who has more on the line, I’d actually make the argument that the Packers do.
Getting a bye makes such a difference in the NFL playoffs whereas the Vikings would still have only a slim chance of winning the division even if they do beat Green Bay Monday, needing the Packers to then stumble against the free-falling Lions in the final week.
I also think this one could matter even more from a mental standpoint with these teams possibly meeting in the playoffs. I think it would go a long way for the Vikings’ locker room if they beat the Packers soundly before potentially heading to Green Bay two weeks later.
There is much to be determined in the final two weeks of the 2019 season.
Both the Vikings and Packers are still in play for a first-round bye, while either team could also be the No. 6 seed and have to go on the road for the entirety of the playoffs.