MNF: Vikings vs Packers Game Thread

How did it get so late so soon? This will be the last prime time NFL game in the 2019 regular season. Thursday Night and Sunday Night Football are already done for the year, and next week it’s just a slate of early afternoon and late afternoon Sunday games to close out the season. For the 2019 Monday Night Football finale tonight the 10-4 Minnesota Vikings host the 11-3 Green Bay Packers.

The Packers come into this game winners of three straight and eight out of ten, but it’s a bit of a mystery how that’s been accomplished. Green Bay has fielded an average-ish offense and defense this year, but the one thing that has made them elite is turnovers. The Packers don’t turn the ball over much on offense and they do generate a lot of turnovers on defense, and that has made a world of difference. Aaron Rodgers, once arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, is not the same superstar he once was. This year, Rodgers’ 63.3 completion percentage ranks 18th in the NFL, while his 6.34 net yards per attempt ranks 15th. Rodgers hasn’t had a 300 yard game since Week 8. Rodgers is still dangerous, but he is no longer the enormous edge at quarterback the Packers once enjoyed. A win tonight against the Vikings will clinch the NFC North title for the Packers.

The Vikings come into this game winners of two straight and eight of ten. The Vikings are lead by quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is enjoying an excellent year, with career bests in passer rating, yards per attempt, interception percentage, completion percentage and touchdown percentage. Cousins has, deservedly or not, had the reputation of not being able to win the big game over the years. With first place in the NFC North on the line in the next to last week of the season, winning this game would go a long way towards changing that narrative.

It’s the Vikings and the Packers in a game that has major playoff implications for both teams, tonight on Monday Night Football.

Enjoy the game everybody.