Week 16 scouting report: Vikings at Green Bay

December 22, 2016 at 5:08AM
Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) made a 60-yard reception to set up the game-winning field goal ahead of Bears cornerback Cre'von LeBlanc (22) in the fourth quarter Sunday.
Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) made a 60-yard reception to set up the game-winning field goal ahead of Bears cornerback Cre'von LeBlanc (22) in the fourth quarter Sunday. (Brian Wicker — Chicago Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Saturday: Noon at Lambeau Field (Ch. 9, 100.3-FM, 1130-AM)

ABOUT THE PACKERS

• The Packers (8-6) squeaked past the Bears 30-27 at Soldier Field on Sunday, thanks to a 32-yard, game-winning field goal by Mason Crosby as time expired.

• QB Aaron Rodgers delivered a 60-yard strike to WR Jordy Nelson in the final minute to set up the game-winner.

• Green Bay, winner of four consecutive, will win the NFC North if it defeats the Vikings on Saturday and Detroit on Jan. 1.

• The Packers defense is dealing with injuries to key players, including LB Clay Matthews (shoulder) and LB Nick Perry (hand).

• Both Green Bay (16) and second-year safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (5) rank second in the NFL in interceptions.

PLAYER SPEAK | WR JORDY NELSON

• A year after Nelson tore an ACL, his 12 touchdown catches lead all NFL receivers. He ranks eighth in the league with 1,037 receiving yards.

• Nelson caught five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 17-14 victory over the Packers in Week 2.

• On facing Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes, who missed the Week 2 matchup: "Those are the games you look forward to, going against some of the better guys in the league. I've got a lot of respect for the way he plays."

• On the 60-yard reception to set up the winning field goal in Chicago: "I was happy to get down there, catch it, secure it and let Mason do what he does."

COACH SPEAK | MIKE MCCARTHY

• McCarthy is in his 11th season as Packers head coach, with a 112-61-1 regular-season record and 8-7 mark in the playoffs.

• Green Bay ranks as a top-10 NFL offense for the eighth time under McCarthy.

• On the four-game winning streak: "Number one is just taking care of the football and generating takeaways. We're plus-10 just in the last two weeks, something we hadn't been very good at all year."

• On Adrian Peterson's return to the Vikings: "We have a lot of history with Adrian and have great respect for him and that respect won't change."

ANDREW KRAMMER

GREEN BAY, WI - CIRCA 2011: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 124120161
Rodgers (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Nelson (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
This is a 2012 photo of Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. This image reflects the Green Bay Packers active roster as of Wednesday, June 27, 2012 when this image was taken. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: NFLHS12
McCarthy (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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