Recreation of the week
Inexperienced Bay Packers (11-4) v Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
The scheduling gods have flexed their muscle tissues and pushed one other potential warm-up for the postseason into the selection late-afternoon slot. Now we have a late festive feast in Inexperienced Bay heading to Minnesota, in favor of a moist squib between Philadelphia and Dallas, for what may become the NFC Championship Recreation. The Packers are recent from locking their playoff place with a thrashing of the Saints whereas the Vikings are gunning for an unbelievable ninth win in succession. Sadly for Matt LaFleur’s group they can’t attain any increased than third within the NFC North because the Lions additionally sit on 13-2, however this presents an ideal probability to follow enjoying on the highway in opposition to a high-caliber rival. Minnesota in the meantime are neck and neck with Detroit for the No 1 seed and shall be aiming for a vital victory – ane that would arrange a shoot-out for the first-round bye subsequent week in opposition to the Lions.
What the Packers must do to win: Inexperienced Bay’s offensive line has to win within the trenches to maintain Josh Jacobs rumbling. After a gradual begin to the season, the operating again has grown right into a key pillar of the assault with 12 touchdowns in his previous 10 video games. But it surely might want to come from the massive males dominating as Jacobs alone will be unable to beat a Vikings protection that has given up solely seven speeding touchdowns all season – the fewest within the NFL – and the second-fewest whole yards at 1,306. Thankfully his linemen needs to be pumped as much as maintain lanes open after Jacobs, fourth within the NFL in whole speeding yards with 1,216, gave all of them customized diamond chains for Christmas. One good flip deserves one other.
What the Vikings must do to win: Brian Flores’ go rush has to strain Jordan Love. The Packers have struggled in opposition to the most effective the league has to supply, with their solely defeats in opposition to the Eagles, Vikings and Lions residence and away. And they’re going to want a classic show from their quarterback to keep away from getting swept away by Minnesota’s imply protection. The Vikings, who’ve the fifth-most sacks within the NFL with 44, have the go rush to power the second-year quarterback into pricey errors. Andrew Van Ginkel gained the NFC’s finest defensive participant award final week as he sacked Geno Smith twice. Below defensive coordinator Flores, Minnesota are one of the aggressive items in soccer. The protection leads the league in blitzing at 36.1%, is fifth in quarterback hits with 99 and third in hurry proportion at 9.3%. If the Vikings can knock Love off his spot with regularity then his reverse quantity, Sam Darnold, ought to have sufficient probabilities to run up the rating with the NFL’s second-best receiver in Justin Jefferson to destroy the Packers secondary.
Rising: Jayden Daniels
Washington’s season reached a brand new excessive in toppling the damage hit Philadelphia Eagles final week. The younger quarterback’s Commanders had been down two scores with 5 minutes to play as he dragged them from 27-14 all the way down to an exciting 36-33 victory. Daniels managed to beat a sloppy defensive efficiency and 5 turnovers, two of which had been interceptions as a part of his personal struggles within the first half. The results of such a mammoth effort shall be a strengthening of perception from Dan Quinn and the Commanders at giant that this group, in the event that they clear up the psychological errors, can maintain beating the chances and make a mark within the playoffs.
The NFC East title can nonetheless be claimed if Philadelphia lose out and Washington win out, whereas yet another win for the Commanders seals their place within the postseason regardless. Because it stands they’d have a pulse-racing collection decider in opposition to the Eagles within the first spherical, a match they’d absolutely fancy their probabilities in after Daniels’ heroics, however not earlier than the protection faces a critical take a look at in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr shall be set on following up his spectacular debut with one other sturdy exhibiting, so it’s as much as Washington’s head coach to encourage his males in opposition to the rookie. No group will need to face Washington if Quinn can get the group enjoying like they did within the ultimate 5 in opposition to the Eagles for your complete sport on Sunday.
Falling: Pittsburgh Steelers
The concept that the Pittsburgh offense is likely to be revived by George Pickens getting back from damage can formally be canned. The Steelers wanted a quick begin in opposition to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs however as an alternative slammed into reverse on the opening three drives. A porous offensive line put Russell Wilson beneath fixed strain as he refused to throw away the ball, main to 2 drive-ending sacks. Then so as to add insult to damage, when 13-0 down, Wilson threw a horrible decide with the Steelers within the purple zone. You can not make such primary errors, because the group and extra particularly Wilson has accomplished in every of their three successive defeats, and count on to get well irrespective of the manufacturing from Mike Tomlin’s stellar protection. The Ravens now solely need to knock over the limp Cleveland Browns to win the AFC North. A sixth playoff sport in succession with no win beckons on the highway, until Tomlin provides Justin Fields one other probability at quarterback.
Race for No 1 draft decide
The two-13 New York Giants have streaked right into a solo share for 2025’s high draft decide with two video games remaining in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts and Eagles. The previous nonetheless have a slim shot on the playoffs and the latter, even with out Jalen Hurts and any rested starters, ought to nonetheless cruise, so it feels protected to say the bumbling Giants have a franchise-resetting quarterback incoming for subsequent season.
Elsewhere the runners and riders for the second total decide are New England, Tennessee, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Las Vegas, however who will keep within the race for second-bottom? One positively rises as Tennessee and Jacksonville face off, then the Raiders is likely to be quietly assured of incomes a primary win in succession since Christmas Day final 12 months in opposition to the bereft New Orleans Saints. Cleveland ought to reside to lose one other day as they face a Miami group nonetheless with a faint probability of constructing the postseason, whereas the Los Angeles Chargers shall be hungry to construct some momentum for the playoffs with a dominant win over the New England Patriots.
