Green Bay Packers head to the road again to take on defending NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings. This is one of the better rivalries in the National Football League currently even though it’s been more lopsided than you think. Green Bay is 10-2-1 since 2010 versus Minnesota. Vikings are looking for consecutive wins against the Packers for the first time since 2009.

Start Time/Spread
7:30 pm with the Packers favored by 2.5

Storylines to watch this week.
Aaron Rodgers versus the Minnesota front seven – Don’t think Rodgers heard all week about this vaunted defense. People wondered if they could be like the Broncos of last season along with other things. Rodgers is going to come out with that chip on his shoulder. He wants to avenge last year’s loss at Lambeau and put his first mark on the new stadium. Even with the rush, I love Rodgers to have a big game.

Does Adrian Peterson become a ghost again? – While people continue to talk about the Vikings defense, Adrian Peterson is getting pass for how poorly he played against a mediocre Titans run defense. Peterson only gained 1.9 yards per carry. He’s had some big games against Green Bay in the past, but the Packers kept him in check last year with under 100 yards in both games. If Peterson continues to struggle, it might be a sign of bigger trouble.

Sam Bradford’s debut – Even if Mike Zimmer doesn’t tell us, Sam Bradford is the quarterback on Sunday. Bradford will be appearing for the first time in Viking purple Is he ready to lead this game though? I’m unsure. Norv Turner has a pretty big playbook, and I do think if this wasn’t the Packers on Sunday Football, Shaun Hill might be starting on Sunday. He’s going to take some time. Biggest thing for Bradford is to not turn the football over. He has a tendency to do that, and Rodgers with short field is a bad idea.

Corner trouble for Green Bay – Packers are terribly banged up at corner with Sam Shields with a concussion, Josh Hawkins and Chris Banjo with hamstring injuries. Packers are a little light back there. If Shields can’t go, it means Quinton Rollins gets the big stage. Jacksonville picked on him, and I would expect Minnesota to attack him as well. Rollins is a good player and will turn it around sometime soon. I’m not too concerned with the lack of corners given it’s Bradford.

Opening of a new stadium – It will be fun to see what U.S. Bank Stadium looks like on HD. I’m guessing it’s going to be very loud there.

Prediction: I feel like this is the kind of game Rodgers thrives off of with everyone talking about Minnesota’s defense, Vikings raising the NFC North banner, the new stadium’s debut. He loves that kind of shit. Jordy Nelson killed Minnesota in the past, and we see glimpses of his greatness tonight. Their defense stands tall and looks great versus both Bradford and Peterson. GB 28-17

Charlie.