Friday, January 4, 2013

Preview: Vikings vs Packers - NFC Wild Card



Ponder vs Rodgers, part III:
  • So far this in the regular season match-ups, it's Ponder 1, Rodgers 1. This is by no way comparing both QB's to one another, but it is to say that in their Week 17 match, Ponder made one more play than Rodgers and thus won the game. The real question, can Ponder somehow play up to or outplay Rodgers in this game? That will be the most important task for the young QB who answered some critics concerns last week in his "career-defining" game. As for Rodgers, well the task is simple: Continue to be the best QB in the league and the Packers should win. Well that could be somewhat difficult if the Vikings D continue to be successful on their blitzing, as they were last week. Can Ponder continue to play mistake-free football, as he has the last 4 weeks of the season or will the greatness of Rodgers be too much for the young QB to match-up with?
Vikings Passing Game vs Packers Rushing Attack:
  • Here's the facts on these two: Vikes passing offense is ranked 31st while the Packers are 20th in rushing. The winner of this battle within the battle, will mostly lead their team to victory.
Turnover Battle:
  • The Week 13 match-up: Vikings - 2, Packers - 1. The Week 17 match: Packers -1, Vikings - 0. Team that can force the most turnovers, will pretty much win this game. The Packers would love to force young Christian Ponder into a few INT's in this game. There chances of doing this will improve when CB Charles Woodson returns to the lineup after sitting out most of the season with a collarbone injury. The Vikings would love to somehow force Rodgers into a few picks or a strip sack or two.
Vikings CB's vs Packers WR's:
  • This will be the most important match-up of the game. If the Vikes secondary can keep the Packers WR's at bay, then they defense will have a great chance at getting to Rodgers. Keep in mind that the Vikings will need Veteran CB Antonie Winfield to play in this game. He's very important to a Vikings Secondary that is very different without his presence in the lineup. The Packers will have leading WR Randall Cobb back for this game (he missed last Sunday's game with an ankle injury). In the 3rd Quarter of last Sunday's game, Winfield missed the 2nd half due to that injured hand. Rodgers got hot..very hot and began torching the Vikes younger CB's. 

X-Factors: Vikings WR's vs Packers Run Defense

  • Can the Vikings WR's get 150 yards or more collectively or can the Packers Run Defense hold AP to under 150 rushing?

Confidence Pick: Vikings (17) vs Packers (7)

  • QB: Ponder (7) vs Rodgers (1)
  • Def: Vikings (4) vs Packers (3)
  • Coach: Frazier (6) vs McCarthy (3)

Prediction: Vikings 27, Packers 24

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