What positions do the Vikings have an edge at against the Packers?

The Minnesota Vikings need to win on Sunday to stay in the playoff hunt, but they will have to do so as 6.5-point underdogs when they play the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Last season's Week 4 matchup in Green Bay saw the Vikings build a 28-0 first-half lead before the Packers mounted a second-half rally. The Vikings held on to win 31-29, but it was too close for comfort.

When the teams met again in Week 17 at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings led 20-3 and 27-10 in the second half. Again, the Packers rallied late, but the Vikings held on to win 27-25.

This year's Vikings squad is 4-6, and a three- or four-score lead feels unattainable. If they are going to pull off the upset, it will be because they held onto the ball and converted manageable third-down conversions.

Here are the positions the Vikings hold an edge at on Sunday.

What positions do the Vikings have an edge at against the Packers?

Quarterback: Packers

Jordan Love has completed 67.7% of his passes this season for 2,421 yards, 15 touchdowns, and three interceptions. J.J. McCarthy has completed 52.9% of his passes for 842 yards, six touchdowns, and eight picks. You don't need to go into this one any further.

Running back: Vikings

We'll give the Vikings the slight edge here. Josh Jacobs (648 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) is the best running back on either team, but the Vikings' 1-2 punch of Aaron Jones (363 scrimmage yards in six games) and Jordan Mason (489 rushing yards, five touchdowns) is really good (when they're used).

Wide receiver: Vikings

It's been a trying season for the Vikings' receiver group, who have dealt with McCarthy and Carson Wentz. Justin Jefferson has 747 yards (7th in the NFL) on 56 receptions, but he only has two touchdowns. Jordan Addison has 28 catches for 412 yards and three touchdowns, while Jalen Nailor's stat line (20 receptions, 318 yards) doesn't reflect just how wide open he has gotten this season. The Packers have an underrated corps, but their lack of a true WR1 gives the Vikings a clear advantage here.

Tight end: Vikings

This would have been an advantage for the Packers had Tucker Kraft (his 489 receiving yards still trail only Romeo Doubs) not torn his ACL in Week 9. It's hard to know just how much T.J. Hockenson has slowed down since his own ACL tear, but his 34 catches for 280 yards feel underwhelming even with the inconsistency at quarterback.

Offensive line: Vikings

I'm trying to be objective, but somehow have given the Vikings advantages at four of the five offensive position groups. The offensive line could feature its projected starting five players for the first time all season with Ryan Kelly potentially returning to the starting lineup. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill are one of the best pairs of tackles in the league, and Donovan Jackson has played well as a rookie (62.0 PFF grade, 38th/80 guards).

The Packers' interior line is a little suspect, but tackles Rasheed Walker (66.9 grade, 39th/77 tackles) and Zach Tom (82.0, 7th among tackles) have allowed only three combined pressures this season.

Defensive line: Packers

This is a tighter one, but Micah Parsons (56 pressures, per PFF, eight sacks) is a game-wrecker for the Packers, and Green Bay has better depth all along the line than the Vikings do. Rashan Gary (33 pressures, 7.5 sacks) doesn't have Parsons' star power, but can be a problem when he's on top of his game. The Vikings should have Jonathan Greenard back for this one, but until we get consistent interior play from guys not named Jalen Redmond, it's hard to say that the Vikings' defensive front is an automatic advantage.

Linebacker: Packers

Blake Cashman's 64.3 grade ranks 38th among all linebackers this season, suggesting that he may not be at full strength after a hamstring injury forced him to miss four games. Eric Wilson is solid (59.0 grade, 47th among linebackers), but the Packers have some of the better off-ball linebackers in the league. Edgerrin Cooper (72.9 grade, 18th among linebackers) hasn't allowed a touchdown in 57 coverage snaps, the second-most snaps without allowing a touchdown among linebackers this season.

Secondary: Packers

It's hard to say that the Vikings can hold an advantage here in any way. The secondary has intercepted only three passes all season, and players like Josh Metellus and Byron Murphy, Jr. feel like a few of the more disappointing players on the entire roster. Meanwhile, the Packers boast Xavier McKinney (76.9 grade, 9th among safeties) and Carrington Valentine (76.0 grade, 5th among cornerbacks). Green Bay actually only has four interceptions this season, but they have allowed an explosive-play rate of 10.3% on passes, the second-lowest mark in the league.

Special teams: Vikings

This feels dirty to write after the Vikings allowed the Bears to return a kickoff 56 yards to set up a short game-winning drive last week. But the Packers have been dealing with injuries and inconsistency at kicker, with Brandon McManus making only 11 of 16 field goals and missing an extra point this year. A quad injury forced him to miss last week's game against the Giants, but backup Lucas Havrisik missed two extra points in the win. Famous last words, but the Vikings have stability at kicker (Will Reichard has made 19 of 21 field goals).

Coaching: Vikings

These are two of the better-coached teams in the league, no matter what their fan bases think at times. But we'll give the Vikings the advantage here because they have won three of the past four matchups despite all the familiarity between the rosters and coaches. Can coaching help the Vikings pull off the upset? Or will it sink with a roster and push our gaze towards the offseason before Thanksgiving has even arrived?

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: What positions do the Vikings have an edge at in Week 12?