NFL Football BETTING PREVIEW - Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings

NFL Football

2026-01-04 - Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
United States : NFL Week 18
Sunday 4th January 2025 - Scheduled 1pm
6pm (British Time)

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Preview

A big home loss in Week 17 has locked the Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) into the Number 7 Seed in the NFC Playoff Bracket and so the focus in Week 18 is simply getting healthier. That means a host of starters will be missing for this final game of the regular season and the Packers have already chosen third string Quarter Back Clayton Tune to begin this game.

A surprising decision by the Dallas Cowboys to cut Trevon Diggs may have worked for the Packers who picked him up to improve the Secondary, which has been struggling without the pass rush pressure up front.

He is another who may be worked out during the week to get ready for the Wild Card Round and there are a host of Green Bay players who just need a bit of time to see if they can recover physically and mentally for a post-season run.

Clayton Tune is in an unenviable position when facing the Minnesota Vikings (8-8) who will be keen to finish the season with a winning record, even if the year is not one that they will remember too fondly.

A third string, inexperienced Quarter Back facing a Brian Flores Vikings Defensive unit feels like a huge mismatch, especially as the Packers may struggle to run the ball very well. This all means the pressure is on Clayton Tune to keep things moving, but he could be lured into a couple of mistakes by the Vikings if he is throwing out of pressurised spots on the field.

JJ McCarthy is set to take the field for the Vikings, which is important as they look to end the season with one more win and give the Quarter Back a little more experience. He should be facing a number of Packers backups and McCarthy is still surrounded by a couple of Receivers who have the capabilities of a big bounce-back year in 2026.

Minnesota's Offensive Line should set the table up front and JJ McCarthy is unlikely to be under any immense pressure.

This should mean the Vikings are in a position to comfortably move the chains up and down the field and Minnesota can do enough to cover what is a big line.

Overall it has been a difficult season for the Vikings as injuries and inexperience hit them hard, but they should be able to finish with a flourish against this rival.

Prediction

Lay the points with the home team.

The Pick :

Minnesota Vikings 24-10 Green Bay Packers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Minnesota Vikings - 10.5 Points at -105 with Bookmaker.eu