Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings Predictions, Odds & Picks

• This classic NFC North rivalry is an exciting must-see every time it happens
• QB Aaron Rodgers and head coach Matt LaFleur continue to meld superpowers
• The Vikings must win without receiver Stefon Diggs making defenses nervous

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Packers vs Vikings Predictions and Picks

Regardless of which of these teams wins, it will most likely be a close one in the end, so old school logic says to take the home team, though with this new crowd-free format that may no longer be a true advantage.

If you can’t watch this one live, record it and enjoy it at a later date, but Packers vs Vikings is always a matchup worth tuning into, and this Week 1 showdown in Minnesota is certainly no exception to that rule.

The Packers are hoping to ride the momentum their roster built last season when they went 13-3 and came within a win of getting back to the Super Bowl, with the 49ers able to hold them to just 20 points in that unfortunate loss.

That’s one thing the Vikings and the Pack have in common – both postseasons were snuffed by San Fran last year, so expect Minnesota to come out swinging and give the Packers a good run for their money in front of whatever Homefield crowd they’re allowed to have.

Our Pick:

Vikings -2.5 -110

How to Watch Packers vs Vikings

Can Packers Veteran QB Aaron Rodgers Stay Effective?

Last season, Packers future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers proved that he still has what it takes to not only get his Packers to the postseason but also to be a factor all the way through January.

How many more miles does the ‘old-timer’ has on his engine? Ask him and he’ll say an infinite amount, but the NFL is notorious for being tough on anyone over thirty-five, so it will take everything the 36-year old has physically to continue to compete at such a high level.

Fortunately, he has a head coach, Matt LaFleur, who understands how to maximize the effectiveness of an older player like Rodgers by game-planning quick releases and a limited amount of scrambling, both key factors for a QB with the injury history that Rodgers has.

Can the Vikings Survive the Post-Stefon Diggs Era?

It was a big blow for the Minnesota Vikings to lose star receiver Stefon Diggs in the offseason, but now they must move on like he was never there, not an easy task given he was one of the premier deep threat receivers last season.

Star receiver Adam Thielen will have to not only stay healthy but also provide veteran guidance to the two young receivers that it looks like the Vikings will give a lot of playing time to, Olabisi Johnson and Justin Jefferson.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins is excellent at utilizing whatever talent that surrounds him, so count on him to continue balancing running back Dalvin Cook against his youthful receiving corps to get the most effectiveness out of his offense in 2020.

Packers Key Player: (RB) Aaron Jones

Last year, Packers running back Aaron Jones put on a clinic, rushing the ball 236 times for a total of 1084 yards and a league-leading 16 touchdowns, plus he posted 49 catches for another 474 yards through the air and 3 more touchdowns to his total.

This is an excellent weapon that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett must use to the team’s advantage and offset their youthful receiver corps with the threat of Jones on the ground or as a receiver out of the backfield.

But Jones must stay healthy for the postseason, so the temptation to overuse him this early in the season must be resisted.

Vikings Key Player: (RB) Dalvin Cook

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook ran the ball 250 times for 1135 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, plus he recorded 53 receptions for another 519 yards.

Cook is the key to the Vikings offense success in the post-Diggs era, especially given his soft hands and ability to run the ball after the catch.

Look for Cook to be a huge factor in this first one at home.

For the Bills to continue their upward trend, Brown will have to become a constant threat, both deep and over the middle, taking full advantage of he and Cole Beasley becoming less of a defensive concern compared to the proven playmaker Diggs.