Vikings VS Packers Wild Card Preview

This will be game 3 of the season between the two rivals. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson has ran for at least 160 yards when the 2 teams met in the regular season. QB Aaron Rodgers leads all NFL QB with a 108 passer raiting and Adrian Peterson leads all RB with 2,097 rushing yards. Rookie Kicker Blair Walsh set an NFL record by making 10 field goals of 50 plus-yards.

The Minnesota Vikings got off to a 4-1 start before losing 5 out of there next 7 games, before finishing off strong with 4 straight victories, to end the season at 10-6. RB Adrian Peterson has been the storyline of this team, but guys like DE's Jared Allen and Everson Griffin, K Blair Walsh and LT Matt Kalil have helped the Vikings get into the playoffs.

The Green Bay Packers had started the season on a low note, standing at 2-3 by week 6. Then they won there 9 out of there next 11 games to finish the season 11-5. Led Aaron Rodgers rocket arm his receiving crew, this Packers offense ranked 5th in scoring. The defense did allright without Clay Matthews, but there offense exploded opponents to win games.

Here are some of the keys to the game if the Vikings beat the Packers

• If Adrian Peterson runs for at least 150 yards, the Vikings take control
• LT Matt Kalil will have his hands full against Packers OLB Clay Matthews. If he powers his way through Matthews, Ponder will be protected.
• Center John Sullivan will need some help to block run stuffing NT B.J. Raji. IF Sullivan succseeds, this Vikings offense will pound the ball with A.P. and Toby Gerheart and go outside with Peterson to control the clock
• Christian Ponder will have to be very moble against a swarming 3-4 Green Bay defense. If the OL gives up no sacks, Ponder has more time in the pocket to find WR's Michael Jenkins, Jerome Simpson, Jarius Wright, and TE Kyle Rudolph.
• Everson Griffin, Jared Allen, and Brian Robinson should get pressure against a Packers OL that's ranked 2nd to last in the NFL, in sacks allowed. If Allen ,Griffin, and Robinson get after Rodgers, Rodgers is going to have a rough night
• The Vikings secondary has been prone to give up big plays, if CB Antonie Winfield is at 100% and CB's A.J. Jefferson and Chris Cook step up there game, the Vikings will hold Aaron Rodgers, forcing the Packers to run the ball

Here are some of the keys to the game if the Packers beat the Vikings

• This Packers OL has been prone to giving sacks this season, if this group steps up and gives Rodgers all the time he needs to find his guys, WATCH OUT!!
• The Depth of this Packers recieving corps is so deep. Randall Cobb, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Joines, Jermichael Finley should have a nice day against a sahaky Minnesota secondary.
• Adrian Peterson has put up 2 150 burners against the Pack, if Green Bay finds a way to stop Peterson, then the Vikings offense will sputter. This forces Ponder to throw more which he struggles at, especially the last time these two meet in Lambeau Field
• If Clay Matthews pushes LT Matt Kalil around, this forces Ponder to scramble more to the right side, which will help Green Bay's defense adjust. If Ponder scrambles to the right the Packers will use DE Contain or blitz to the right to cause chaos for the Vikings QB
• Rookie CB Casey Heyward has 5 INT this season, he could have a couple today if Ponder gets out of his rythem

My prediction is that the Packers will win 34-17 against the Vikings