The Green Bay Packers (6-3-1) will attempt to kick off a stretch of three games against the NFC North with a win over the visiting Minnesota Vikings -- who have lost back-to-back games and are last in the division -- on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.
The Packers opened the season with a win over the Detroit Lions but haven't faced a divisional opponent since. With games against the Vikings, Lions and Chicago Bears over the next three weeks, the Packers have a real chance to establish themselves as the top dogs in the NFC North entering the final stretch of 2025.
Can the Packers snap a two-game home losing streak, beat a rival with a struggling young quarterback and start an important stretch of division games with a big win?
Five things to watch and a prediction for the Packers' showdown with the Vikings in Week 12:
1. First time facing McCarthy
First-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy is struggling for the Vikings, and like all young quarterbacks going through growing pains, he'll be in the spotlight on Sunday. Through five starts, McCarthy is struggling to protect the football, throw accurately, avoid sacks under pressure and play efficiently from clean pockets. Not a great mix. McCarthy will get his first shot at Jeff Hafley and the Packers on Sunday, and the goal will be to make sure the young quarterback doesn't develop any in-game confidence or take any meaningful strides forward as a passer. The Vikings have a terrific supporting cast around McCarthy, so keeping the struggling quarterback down is vital. And after dropping four interceptions last week, the Packers need to make sure they catch the ball if McCarthy throws them a turnover opportunity or two (or three) on Sunday.
2. Beating the blitz
A big test awaits Jordan Love and the pass protection unit. Brian Flores remains one of the most aggressive playcallers in football, and while the Vikings have disruptive players along the defensive front, blitzes from any of the 11 players on the field are on the menu at all times. Can Love use his brain and his cadence to identify blitzes early and adjust protections? Can the offensive line pick through the chaos and consistently get people blocked? And can the running backs -- see: Chris Brooks -- provide the remedy when Flores blitzes linebackers and defensive backs? Love is just 1-3 against Flores as a starter, and he finished with a passer rating under 100.0 in all three losses. Keeping the Packers quarterback clean in the pocket will be vital to the passing game thriving on Sunday.
3. Cornerback test
The Packers will almost certainly be without Nate Hobbs for a third straight week, and both Javon Bullard and Bo Melton are dealing with injuries. While Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine are healthy, a big test awaits in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor, one of the best trios of receivers in football. The contrast in talent is stark compared to last week's matchup with the Giants, who didn't have Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton. Jefferson, Addison and Nailor are a big step up from Isaiah Hodgins, Wan'Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt. Will the cornerbacks be up to the task? Nixon has been up and down at times, but Valentine has shown lockdown ability on the perimeter in his third season.
4. Special teams test
The Packers could return veteran kicker Brandon McManus, who has struggled while bouncing in and out of the lineup since injuring his right quad over a month ago. The special teams need him to re-establish himself as a reliable option. Rich Bisaccia's group has plenty to worry about this week other than the kicking situation. Vikings rookie Myles Price is among the most productive kickoff and punt returners so far in 2025, and kicker Will Reichard (six makes over 50 yards) and punter Ryan Wright (44.4 net average) are both excellent specialists. Former Packer Eric Wilson also spearheads an excellent coverage group. The Vikings are the No. 1 graded special teams unit in the NFL at PFF.
5. Catch the ball
Between the offense and defense, the Packers dropped close to a dozen passes in New York last week. Had they caught a majority of the drops, the game wouldn't have been close. But had the opponent been better, the drops likely would have cost the Packers the game. It's time for a rebound in an important part of the game. Last week, the drops on offense ended three different drives, while the dropped interceptions could have prevented two different scoring drives. The Vikings also dropped a few passes thrown by J.J. McCarthy last week, and Minnesota's drop rate is high in 2025, so this is an issue for both sides.
Prediction: Packers 23, Vikings 12 (7-2-1)
This is a big spot for the Packers. Matt LaFleur's team has lost back-to-back home games, and Sunday starts a vital stretch of division matchups. It's officially go time for a team with title aspirations. The Vikings are talented but struggling, mostly because their young, inexperienced quarterback looks like the NFL's worst preferred starter after five starts. While I don't anticipate the Packers offense coming alive in a big way, the guess here is Jeff Hafley's defense makes McCarthy's life exceedingly difficult and powers a comfortable win. The turnover breakout should have arrived last week in New York, but McCarthy's recklessness offers a second chance. Creating a few short fields with turnovers and a few late stops will allow the Packers to win by two scores. Nothing in the NFL is ever easy, but the Packers have to beat a struggling quarterback at Lambeau Field.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Vikings: 5 things to watch and a prediction for Week 12
