Vikings vs. Packers 2021 NFL Week 17 Odds, Preview & Pick

By Hank Blaine • December 31, 2021

The Sunday night game in Week 17 of this NFL season is from the NFC North as the Green Bay Packers, who already have won the division title, host the Minnesota Vikings, who are facing an uphill climb to make the playoffs as a wild-card team.

In Week 11, the Vikings beat the Packers 34-31 – Green Bay hasn’t lost since. Greg Joseph made a 29-yard field goal as time expired. Kirk Cousins passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 169 yards and two scores. Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes, all on Green Bay’s final four full possessions, excluding a kneel-down to end the first half. All of those drives covered 74 yards or more. Rodgers finished 23 for 33 for a season-high 385 yards. He threw to Davante Adams twice for touchdowns, including an 18-yard strike on third-and-6 midway through the fourth quarter when he was trying to call timeout before the shotgun snap. Adams has 12 scoring receptions against the Vikings, the most by any opposing player.

This will be just the second January matchup for the Packers and Vikings during the regular season (2015). Each of the last three matchups between the two in Green Bay have been decided by six points or less, including a tie in 2018. The Packers have won three of the last four meetings. Green Bay has scored 22-plus points in 12 of the last 15 home games vs. Minnesota.

NitroBetting is ready to equip its bettors with all the latest previews and odds for Week 17 of the 2021 NFL season. This time, we look at the intriguing AFC matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Find out more about the teams and the key players, event information, the latest NFL odds, and of course, helpful betting trends and expert betting predictions.

Vikings vs. Packers Game Information

12-3

This marks the first time in franchise history that the #Packers have won 12-plus games in three straight seasons.#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/5FcbnH4oMk
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 26, 2021

When: Sunday, January 2, 2021, 8:20 PM ET
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
TV: NBC
Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM (Vikings) / WTMJ 620 AM (Packers)
Live Stream: CBS Sports
NFL Odds: Vikings (+7) / Packers (-7)

Why Bet on the Minnesota Vikings?

Minnesota (7-8) was beaten 30-23 at home by the Rams on Sunday. Cousins completed 27-of-38 passes for 315 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Cousins’ lone turnover was his first redzone interception of the 2021 season, entering Week 16 with 21 touchdowns and no picks inside the 20-yard line. It was also his fifth interception in as many games after tossing two through Minnesota’s first 10 contests. Cousins eclipsed 300-plus passing yards for the 20th time since joining the Vikings, surpassing Tommy Kramer and Daunte Culpepper for the most such games in franchise history. Jefferson caught 8-of-12 targets for 116 yards. His 2,851 receiving yards are the most by any player in his first two seasons.

However, the offense didn’t actually play that well without injured running back Dalvin Cook and Pro Bowl receiver Adam Thielen in and out of the lineup on an injured ankle. The Vikings went 2-of-12 on third down and were 2-of-5 inside the red zone, where they came away with only 10 points off three turnovers.

Minnesota’s special teams didn’t have a day to remember as the unit struggled with kickoff returns and allowed a 61-yard punt return for a score. The Vikes missed their fourth chance in 2021 to get above .500 this season. The Vikings, who haven’t been above .500 since the end of the 2019 season, also missed out chances to get there in Weeks 1, 8 and 12 earlier this season.

Why Bet on the Green Bay Packers?

The Packers (12-3) are currently the NFC’s top seed and on an extra day of rest as they beat Cleveland 24-22 on Christmas. Rodgers completed 24-of-34 passes for 202 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Rodgers found Allen Lazard in the first quarter for an 11-yard touchdown that gave him the Packers franchise record with 443 TD passes.

Adams caught 10-of-12 targets for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Adams caught a nine-yard TD in one on one coverage against a rookie cornerback. Rodgers then found Adams for a one-yard TD on an out route two drives later.

Cornerback Rasul Douglas had one of the Packers’ three interceptions in the first half that the offense converted into a touchdown. The former Arizona practice-squad player then played the hero again, getting the defense’s fourth pick of Browns QB Baker Mayfield with 43 seconds left in the game and the Browns less than 20 yards from a shot at the game-winning field goal. Douglas was just named a Pro Bowl alternate and now leads Green Bay’s defense with five interceptions on the season.

The performance not only gave Green Bay its 12th win of the season but also extended the team’s streak of having multiple takeaways to eight straight home games. The Packers also improved to 10-0 in the regular season under Head Coach Matt LaFleur when forcing three or more takeaways in a game.

Vikings vs. Packers Betting Trends

Vikings are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Vikings are 43-19 ATS in the last 62 games following a straight up loss.
The total went over in 5 of Minnesota’s last 6 games.
Packers are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games as a favorite.
Packers are 8-1 ATS in the last 9 vs. NFC.
The total went over in 4 of Green Bay’s last 5 games.

Vikings vs. Packers Expert Betting Predictions

Pick: Packers 30, Vikings 24

Check out our latest sports betting guides for the 2021 NFL Regular Season. Stay tuned for more Football previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Football betting odds at our online Bitcoin sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.