NFL Analyst Predictions: Vikings Gear Up for Rivalry Showdown against Packers on Unusual Date
While NFL teams playing on holidays is a longstanding tradition, the Minnesota Vikings have had limited opportunities to play on New Year’s Eve or Day throughout their 63 seasons as a franchise. They’ve played on New Year’s Eve only four times and on New Year’s Day seven times. Playing on both holidays in the same calendar year has been even rarer, occurring only three times (1978, 2006, and 2017) and just once against the same team (2017 against Chicago).
The upcoming Sunday Night Football clash against the Packers will add to these totals. The last time they faced the Packers on New Year’s Eve, in the opening game of 2023, the Vikings lost 41-17 in Week 17 of the 2022 season. Both teams, currently with a 7-8 record, are vying for a Wild Card spot in a crowded playoff race, with 24 teams still in contention – tied for the second-most since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 with two weeks remaining.
The outcome of Sunday’s game is crucial for both teams’ playoff aspirations. According to Next Gen Stats, a win for either side would significantly improve their postseason chances (31% to 49% for Minnesota, 25% to 55% for Green Bay). Conversely, a loss would drop both teams’ playoff chances to less than 4%.
In their historical matchups, the Packers hold a 65-58-3 advantage over the Vikings in 126 meetings. The Vikings have won three of the past five matchups, including a 24-10 victory at Lambeau Field in Week 8. Notably, the Vikings have a strong record at home against the Packers since moving to U.S. Bank Stadium in 2016, winning all but two of their home games.
Predictions from various sources vary, with some foreseeing a close game and others predicting higher scores. The absence of key players like T.J. Hockenson for the Vikings and Jaire Alexander for the Packers adds an element of uncertainty to the outcome. The game is seen as pivotal for both teams, aiming to stay alive in the playoff race.
