Vikings-Packers Week 17 score predictions from the Vikings On SI staff

Sunday’s border clash between the Vikings and Packers in Minneapolis is one of the biggest in the rivalry’s history. What is at stake? For the Vikings, a win extends their winning streak to nine and means a shot at the No. 1 playoff spot in the final week of the regular season. For the Packers, an upset at US Bank Stadium would give them a chance to move up to No. 5 and knock the Vikings down to No. 6.

Minnesota is the slight home favorite by one point on Sunday. Will the streak reach nine? Our staff writers have made their selection.

The Vikings and Packers have split the season series each of the last four years. I think this trend will end in 2024. The Packers are a very good team, but their status as a one-point underdog on Sunday confuses me a bit. US Bank Stadium is a difficult venue, the Vikings have a legitimate record of 13-2 and led 28-0 the last time these teams met in Green Bay. Minnesota’s special year continues this week with a ninth straight victory, setting up a winner-take-all thriller in Detroit to close out the regular season.

The Packers are too banged up to beat the Vikings in Minneapolis. Without starters Jaire Alexander, Quay Walker, Evan Williams and Christian Watson, the Packers are in trouble. They won’t be able to handle Minnesota’s passing attack. I can see Jordan Love putting up some numbers, but one crucial element that’s being overlooked is the return of Vikings inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. He’s an important cog against the run and his presence will give life to Josh Jacobs make it even harder.

The Green Bay Packers have won nine of 11 games since their loss to the Vikings on September 29th – only the Detroit Lions have beaten them – and the Vikings enter this battle of red-hot division rivals having won eight straight games. Minnesota had a few close chances during the winning streak, but whenever the Vikings needed it, Sam Darnold delivered when it mattered most. Until he does, it’s impossible to bet against the Vikings, especially with the NFC title still in play and Minnesota able to win a game that will likely come down to the wire at US Bank Stadium.

This is perhaps one of the largest border battles in recent times. Both Sam Darnold and Jordan Love are playing at an extremely high level. The defense takes the ball away from everyone. Placement in the playoffs is at stake. Brian Flores has shown once before that he can completely shut down a QB if he gives him a second hit. To be fair, that was Caleb Williams and the dysfunctional Bears. We’ll see how the D performs against a better QB for the second time in a season. Darnold is playing much better than he did in the first game against the Packers. I put the Vikings in a thriller at the top of this film.

The Vikings and Packers are two of the hottest teams in the NFL and Sunday is expected to be one of the biggest games on the league’s calendar this season. Minnesota has only lost one game at US Bank Stadium this season and I think the home crowd will understand the magnitude of this game creating a loud atmosphere. The crowd will be the difference between two very evenly matched ballclubs, and I think the Vikings will make one more play and pick up a crucial win in the race for the No. 1 seed.

Here are last week’s predictions. Season records of our pickers:

*Joe: 13-2
* Testament: 11-4
*Jonathan: 11-4
*Nolan: 10-5
* Tony: 8-7