The Minnesota Vikings just continue to win football games. Their preseason win total was set at 6.5 by most oddsmakers, but that number has already been doubled by one of the most entertaining Vikings teams in years: a team with a great coach, likable players, and many different ways to win on Sundays.
Vikings vs. Packers: 3 Bold Predictions
This Sunday, the Vikings host their annual game against the Green Bay Packers in an attempt to sweep the green rivals for the first time since 2017. It’s one of the closest rivalries in the league, as most season series end 1-1.
Here are three bold predictions for the 16th game of the season.
1. The T.J. Hockenson Touchdown
Quarterback Sam Darnold has already thrown 32 touchdowns in his 15 games wearing the purple colors, but none of those has gone to T.J. Hockenson. Granted, the tight end missed the first seven games of the 2024 season, recovering from his devastating knee injury.
However, he’s played in eight games (although a couple of them in a limited role), tabulating 34 receptions for 375 yards. He has also looked pretty much like he did prior to his injury. The one missing piece? A touchdown.
He had two touchdown droughts each spanning eight games earlier in his career but has never reached nine. Hockenson is due to get a target in the red zone.
Tight ends have had success against Green Bay this season.
2. Aaron Jones Will Out-Rush Josh Jacobs
Josh Jacobs has gotten extremely hot in the second half of the season, with ten rushing touchdowns in the last six games. In the 2024 season, Jacobs has rushed for 1,216 yards and 13 scores.
However, Aaron Jones, the guy he replaced, has had some success, too. After his release, he headed to the Vikings and upgraded the running back situation. In the last game, he proudly surpassed the 1,000 rushing yards.
On Sunday, two excellent defensive fronts will face each other, but Minnesota’s rushing defense will hold Jacobs in check, and Jones will outplay the engine of Green Bay’s offense in efficiency statistics and total yards.
3. Return TD
Let’s get really bold. The Vikings haven’t had a return touchdown on special teams in ages. The last kickoff was taken back to the opposing endzone by Kene Nwangwu on Thanksgiving in 2022 to beat the Patriots.
The punt return drought has exceeded eight years, with Marcus Sherels recording the last one in 2016.
Two Vikings come into focus: Ty Chandler and Brandon Powell. The latter is a reliable punt returner who’s generally getting the available yards while limiting his fumble risk, but he has yet to take one to the house. However, he scored a punt return against the Vikings in 2021 when Kevin O’Connell and Powell were on the opposing Rams.
Kick returner Chandler has returned six kicks for 157. It’s time to break one.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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