5 Reasons why the Packers will beat the Vikings (and 1 reason why they might not)

There is no more annoying noise in sports than the *expletive deleted* Minnesota Vikings’ horn. I swear the Vikings started using that horn not because they thought it was a good idea, but because they realized their team is a farce and they’d rather just annoy everyone by blowing a *expletive deleted* horn instead of trying to actually win games.

*Expletive deleted* that horn. And *expletive deleted* the Vikings.

I get that a lot of in-stadium gimmicks, chants or sounds are cheesy and a little annoying. But most of them are at least somewhat fun, catchy or ironically cool. The horn is not. The Vikings could play a sound clip of a baby crying and it would be a thousand times better than the horn.

Nickelback cranked to 11 is less annoying than the *expletive deleted* horn.

Just thinking about that *expletive deleted* horn drives me crazy. So crazy, I can’t even write about it any more.

So, let’s cut to the chase: Here are five reasons why the Packers will silence that *expletive deleted* horn later today and beat the Vikings.

Home-field advantage
TCF Bank Stadium is going to be filled with Packers fans. Vikings fans don’t want anything to do with outdoor football. I thought they’d embrace their two years playing outside at TCF, but all they do is whine and moan about it. They’re counting down the days until the new Ziggy Dome is finished so they can move back inside and listen to fake crowd noise being pumped through the speakers while their team goes 7-9. Check out secondary market prices on tickets for today’s game. Their cheap, and me thinks Packers fans are gobbling up the seats, ready to make a whole lotta noise. “Go Pack Go” chants typically drowned out the horn at the Metrodome. Here’s hoping the same thing happens at TCF.

Healthier inside
Guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang have toughed it out through injuries the last two weeks. Both probably won’t be 100 percent (especially Sitton) but they should keep improving week to week.

Keep on rolling
It’s unrealistic to think the Packers will roll up 50 points every game the rest of the season, but now is not a good time to be playing Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers is locked in, the offensive line is in top form and the defense is even showing signs of life. I’m not a believer in week-to-week momentum in sports, but I still wouldn’t want to get in the Packers’ way at this time.

Eddie Lacy
Just like last season, Lacy is heating up now that the weather is turning cold. He’s not running the ball as effectively as last season, but he’s become a pass-catching threat and someone defenses don’t want anything to do with as he’s rumbling through the secondary. Lacy’s best game on the ground came against the Vikings earlier this season. Let’s see if he can top 100 yards again.

Teddy checkdown
I like Teddy Bridgewater. I think he’s going to be a good quarterback and I hate that he’s probably going to help the Vikings win a fair share of games in the coming years. But right now he’s not much of a downfield threat. He checks down often, and when he does go deep, accuracy is an issues. The Packers’ will gladly let Teddy checkdown all game and bank on drives stalling, and eventually, forcing turnovers.

If that *expletive deleted* horn blows early and often, and, God forbid, the Vikings win, here’s how it might happen:

Power running
No, Adrian Peterson won’t be coming out of the tunnel for the Vikings, and both Vikings running backs are a little nicked up, but this should still be a good test to see if the Packers can stop a power running attacked. With big back Matt Asiata out due to a concussion, look for the Vikings to use the slashing Jerrick McKinnon on misdirection runs and newly acquired Ben Tate for power against the Packers’ small defensive line. Also, keep in mind that this is the Vikings’ Super Bowl. They don’t have much to play for besides throwing a wrench into the Packers’ postseason plans.