Packers: Lombardi Ave staff predict Week 12 game vs. Vikings

The Lombardi Ave staff have made their predictions for the Green Bay Packers’ Week 12 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Will the Green Bay Packers win their first road game of the season and keep themselves in the NFC playoff race?

In tonight’s showdown with the Minnesota Vikings, both teams need the win.

Ahead of the game, the Lombardi Ave staff have made their predictions.

Kyle Hoffenbecker: There is no way around it, the Packers NEED to win Sunday night if they want any shot at the playoffs this season.

However, they have to do something they haven’t done so far: win a game on the road. The Packers are 0-5 away from Lambeau this season. They have to go to U.S. Bank Stadium, a venue they haven’t won in yet.

However, if you know anything about Packers football, especially in the last few years, it’s that they are a historically second-half team. With their backs against the wall, the Packers know how to show up and play in the most desperate of times. Sunday night will be no different. Everyone knows that a loss practically ends their season.

With numerous starters hurt, especially on defense, the task becomes much greater. Going to Minnesota is a lot tougher than people think. The Vikings are in a similar situation as well. A loss for them would basically eliminate them from any playoff contention.

Ultimately, I think the Vikings are a better team than the Packers are now. We may have Aaron Rodgers, but the Vikings are much healthier, and that’s going to be the deciding factor.

It will be another close game that the Packers ultimately find a way to lose. It has been the story of the season, and it continues in Minnesota. Minnesota 27, Green Bay 21

Jesse Fry: I’m picking the Packers in this game simply because they need to win and can’t afford to fall behind any further.

The Packers are banged up and injured, but Aaron Rodgers is getting healthy and we will need a heroic Rodgers effort.

I think Mike Pettine confuses Kirk Cousins and the defense gets a key sack and turnover from an unexpected source. Green Bay 31, Minnesota 28

Brad Miller: If there was ever a good time to go into in Minneapolis and play the Vikings, I believe it would be now.

The Vikings, and the rest of the league, are realizing that they are not as formidable as some have predicted. They have looked as lackluster as the Packers have this season.

Dalvin Cook has not been the presence they were hoping for and their defense has shown signs of not being as elite as they have in the past.

Can the Packers find a way in front of a nationwide audience to pull out a win? Yes. Will they be able to get the Vikings off the field enough to allow Aaron Rodgers to take over the game? That is the big question here.

The Packers defense is still finding it’s identity with the loss of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and they need to force promising rookies Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson into starting or full-time play roles.

Throw in the season-ending injury to starting linebacker Jake Ryan and the fact that they are all learning a new system under first-year defensive coach Mike Pettine, and this all leads to some growing pains.

I see Green Bay starting fast but hitting a lull in the second or third quarter, which allows Kirk Cousins and his offense to take over the lead. The Packers always play hard in Minneapolis but have a history of having a tough time pulling out the close ones. Minnesota 27, Green Bay 24