Packers: Season on the line against Vikings in Week 12
The Green Bay Packers’ season is on the line this week against the Minnesota Vikings.
Aaron Rodgers said the Packers need “one galvanizing moment”.
From this point on, they need nothing but wins. That starts on Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Chicago Bears’ victory over the Vikings in Week 11 all but ended Green Bay’s hopes of regaining the NFC North title. Chicago is 7-3 with six to play. Four wins from those six would ensure the Packers can’t win the division.
But a wild-card berth is still very much in play.
Minnesota is currently the NFC’s sixth seed at 5-4-1.
With a win against the Vikings, along with a couple of results going their way, the Packers could move into a playoff position this week.
But a loss to Minnesota?
That could be the season. Green Bay would fall two games behind the Vikings with five games to play, and would most likely continue to drop in the NFC standings.
To make the postseason you have to be able to win on the road, something Green Bay has failed to do all year long. After another frustrating road defeat last Thursday night in Seattle, the Packers are 0-5 away from Lambeau Field.
This would be a great time for the Packers to post their first victory at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Run the table 2.0?
Just two years ago the Packers made a similarly poor start to the season. They were 4-6 entering Week 12 and almost certainly needed to win out to make the playoffs.
As it turned out, they secured a playoff berth with a game to spare and won the NFC North a week later by completing a sixth consecutive victory.
If the Packers run the table again, it would give them a great chance of making the playoffs. It’s also their only realistic hope of still winning the division.
But there is no more margin for error, just like in 2016. That galvanizing moment must come on Sunday against a Vikings team also needing to get back on track with a victory.
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Two years ago it was an excellent road victory at Philadelphia. It gave the team the confidence it needed to put a four-game losing run behind them and win their remaining six.
A win at Minnesota could give this team the spark it desperately needs.