Justin Jefferson adds much-needed spice ahead of Vikings-Packers rivalry game
Vikings' Justin Jefferson underscored the value of the upcoming divisional rivalry against the Packers for his team ahead of Week 17 matchup.
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Justin Jefferson on Vikings-Packers rivalry game (Via Yahoo Sports/Zone Coverage)
The 2024 regular season has two games left and while fans can’t wait for the excitement of the postseason, there remains a thrilling rivalry to unfold between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, both of whom have already secured their playoff spots.
As the Packers prepare for the NFC North showdown with the momentum that earned them a playoff berth, Justin Jefferson underscored the value of the rivalry for his team. He made it clear that the Vikings are preparing for total dominance once they step on their home field at the U.S. Bank Stadium.
Just the competition in our division is definitely high. Especially with us still competing for the No. 1 spot. Detroit is still a dominant team. Green Bay is also still a dominant team as well as us. Just going up against Green Bay, everybody knows we hate them, and they hate us. The fans know. Just the whole rivalry in general is something to get juiced up about.
Justin Jefferson told the media
Justin Jefferson on the 13-2 #Vikings facing the 11-4 #GoPackGo on Sunday:
— Jeff Wald (@JeffWaldFox9) December 27, 2024
“This year is definitely crazy to see the talent we have on our side of the division. Everybody knows we hate them, and they hate us.” @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/gE2FnDmCcJ
As much as the Vikings are awaiting postseason dominance, the star wide receiver reflected that they are more poised for the upcoming divisional showdown against their long-time rivals. This is the first time in more than six decades that these two teams are encountering each other with 11 or more victories– making the Week 17 match even more historic as well.
Vikings prepare for high-stakes NFC North clash aiming for home-field advantage
Although the Vikings are leading with a better record of 13-2 compared to their rivals, the Packers at 11-4, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) has ranked the latter above the former as the third-best team while Minnesota ranks seventh. If the Packers succeed with a victory, they shall complete the season by surpassing the Vikings in the NFC North and complete the season as the No. 5 seed.
Thus, the upcoming Week 17 matchup is more than a divisional rivalry for the Vikings regardless of what they portray. Aiming for the divisional title and No. 1 seed, the Vikings are scheduled against their biggest divisional rivals in the coming two games. If they succeed with victories in both, they shall gain a home-field advantage for the first time since 1998 in the playoffs.
The stakes in this rivalry clash couldn’t be higher, as it could be a deciding factor for the Vikings in the race for the NFC North title. Jefferson is fully prepared for the challenges, as he thrives on the excitement of such high-stakes games.
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Pratyusha Srivastava
(2015 Articles Published)