Previewing This Week’s Vikings Game: Week 17 vs. the Green Bay Packers
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings are in the middle of a stretch of NFC North games to finish their season.
After falling to the Detroit Lions last weekend, the Vikings are now preparing for a rematch against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. As the weekend approaches, here is a look at everything you need to know heading into this week’s Vikings game.
How to Watch This Week’s Vikings Game
The Minnesota Vikings will play host to the final NFL game of the 2023 calendar year as they host the Packers at 7:20 PM Central inside U.S. Bank Stadium on New Year’s Eve. The game will be broadcast on NBC and can also be streamed on NFL+ or NFL Sunday Ticket via YouTube TV.
Packers/Vikings History
The Packers and Vikings have one of the strongest rivalries in the NFL. Since the start of the Vikings franchise, the two teams have met 126 times in their history, including a pair of playoff matchups. Currently, Green Bay leads the all-time series with a record of 65-58-3 against their division rivals.
Kevin O’Connell’s first game as Vikings head coach came in a 23-7 win over these Packers, but Green Bay got their revenge by stomping Minnesota with a 41-17 victory in Week 17 at Lambeau Field.
Most recently, Minnesota defeated Green Bay by a score of 24-10 back in Week 8. The Vikings are hoping to sweep the season series for the first time since 2017.
Vikings Spotlight Player: QB Jaren Hall
On Thursday afternoon, the Vikings announced that rookie QB Jaren Hall would be their starter in Week 17 against Green Bay. Hall was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Vikings and was seen as a developmental piece that could potentially turn into a starter in the future.
However, the Vikings have had to turn to Hall much sooner than expected because of Kirk Cousins’ injury as well as some turnover troubles for Josh Dobbs and Nick Mullens. Hall made his first NFL start back in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons, and he completed five of his six passes for 78 yards before suffering a concussion.
He has been a backup or the emergency QB3 ever since then, but now, the Vikings are hoping he can lead them to a victory in a must-win game on Sunday Night Football.
Packers Spotlight Player: TE Tucker Kraft
Tucker Kraft played just 19 offensive snaps in the first meeting between Green Bay and Minnesota this season, but in recent weeks, the rookie tight end has put together an explosion of production. The South Dakota State product has caught four passes in three consecutive weeks, which have gone for a total of 181 yards and a touchdown.
This outburst has come at the perfect time after Luke Musgrave was placed on IR with a lacerated kidney following Green Bay’s Week 11 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Musgrave could be set to return in Week 17 after being designated to return from IR last week, and if that happens, Minnesota will have to try and slow down both productive tight ends.
Vikings Announce QB Decision for Week 17
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.