The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are playing on the Thursday night football schedule for Week 5 from Lambeau Field and the game is on TV from CBS and the NFL Network starting at 8:25 pm ET and will be streaming live online as Aaron Rodgers and the Pack host the Vikes minus Adrian Peterson and this NFC North division matchup is big early in the season.
The Packers and Vikings each are coming into the game after nice wins, as Minnesota won handily over the Atlanta Falcons, while Green Bay took down the Chicago Bears on the road at Soldier Field. Aaron Rodgers comes in after another great game with four touchdowns against the Bears and now the Packers are looking to win two games in a row for the first time this season after flip flopping losses and wins to open things up.
The Packers had the Seahawks on the road in Week 1 and they have had three of their first four games on the road and now they are returning home to play the Vikings. The Packers have also had to deal with three divisional games in a row and now that is ending after this Week 5 matchup. The team next plays against the Dolphins and that will be on the road and the team will have a long week to prepare after this matchup.
Eddie Lacy has not yet been able to get going after he had nearly 1200 yards last season and Rodgers has challenged him to step up. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb each found the endzone last weekend and now they will be looking to get back into a groove on Thursday night. The Packers have a tough schedule leading into their bye week and this game is important because they don't play another divisional game until the second half of the season.
The Lions are 3-1 and are currently in control of the division, while the Packers, Bears and Vikings are all 2-2 and looking to stay in the mix. The Vikings already are close to half of the wins they had last season after going 5-10-1 and now they are looking to upset the Pack on the road at Lambeau. The Packers come into the game ranked 28th in rushing yards per game and they will try and get that up this week and they also are allowing the most yards on the ground per game.
The Vikings do not have Adrian Peterson anymore, but Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata have been solid in his absence. Those two players now have a prime matchup this week and McKinnon comes in after rushing for over 130 yards last week against the Falcons, while Asiata was in the endzone and was once again productive. Peterson reportedly inspired the team through text messages last week and he remains on the exempt list as he deals with his legal issues.
The Packers and Vikings always play tough games and now Aaron Rodgers will try and get another win for the Packers in Green Bay. The game is on TV from CBS and the NFL Network to start Week 5.
Check here for the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers live coverage.