The winner of this game takes the NFC North division title, the #3 seed in the NFC playoffs, and gets a home game in the first round. The loser has to travel in the first week.
The Minnesota Vikings learned some lessons against Seattle two weeks ago. The biggest lesson of all was don't try to score too fast to take a lead at the end of a game. They also learned that they should use the clock better, and use their running game to better advantage at the end of a game.
Against the Lions, the Vikes put those lessons to good use and found that their running game is an effective weapon at the end of a game. But they also found that the running game can score too fast, too, and the Lions were left with enough time to get into the end zone. Only a botched extra point prevented OT.
The Packers struggled against Jacksonville and as a result they let the game slip away. And now they are in danger of losing the division title to Minnesota. Green Bay has shown a tendency to play poorly early, then coming storming back. It worked against Detroit, but failed against the Jags. If they start slow against the Vikings, they may find themselves too far behind to catch up.
Brett Favre and the Packers usually don't play well at the Metrodome, and both defenses struggle against the pass. This game will be a shootout, and it will probably come down to the final two minutes. If that is the case, neither team can afford to let the other team have the ball after the two-minute warning with a chance to drive for the winning score.
I think the Vikings will pull out a close one, but if the Pack starts strong, the Vikings could be in for a very Scrooged-like Christmas.
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