Vikings vs. Packers 2017: Time, TV schedule for Saturday night football

Two teams who have had to rely on backup quarterbacks for much of the 2017 season — one much more successfully than the other -- will come face-to-face in the second-to-last regular season matchup of the year. The Green Bay Packers will play host to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC (live stream).

Green Bay’s savior was finally cleared after breaking his collarbone earlier this season and was right back in the lineup in last week’s nailbiter of a loss to the Panthers. Despite Aaron Rodgers’ return, the Packers weren’t able to complete their often-successful come-from-behind win, and fell to Carolina, 31-24.

Rodgers’ return to the field was, however, short-lived. As the team’s playoff hopes were dashed after the Week 15 slate, the Packers decided not to rush the quarterback’s rehab, and for the second time this season, placed Aaron Rodgers on injured reserve. Green Bay subsequently signed Joe Callahan to the active roster, and will once again place their fate in the hands of Brett Hundley.

Green Bay has a lot of film to review ahead of the Vikings matchup. The embarrassing loss to the Panthers included Panthers quarterback Cam Newton making Clay Matthews look silly by calling his shot, the Packers giving up a touchdown thanks to a butt cheek, and a hotly debated catch and fumble.

The Packers weren’t the only team to welcome back a franchise quarterback last weekend — after a very extended recovery time, Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater finally got back on the field — during garbage time against the Bengals. For the first time since Jan. 2016, Bridgewater was back under center calling plays for the Vikings, and the crowd could not contain their excitement. The game was already over before the former starter made his way into the game, but the team finished its Week 15 matchup having clinched the NFC North title.

With only two games left to play in the regular season, both teams already know their postseason fate. With the Falcons’ win last Monday, the Packers are officially out of contention, marking just the second time in Rodgers’ career as a starter that the team won’t be making a postseason appearance. The Vikings on the other hand, are still playing for a first-round bye.

Playing against good quarterbacks is a problem for most teams. That’s why they’re good quarterbacks. But a good defense has to be able to make a mediocre or bad quarterback look like one. Green Bay’s can’t and in fact goes the other way, allowing just OK players to be good, and decent players to be great.

He’s started in all but two games this season, where he has a 9-3 record with over 3,100 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Many expected (and if you’re a Vikings fan, wished) that he would be a formidable game manager. With a defense that’s one of the best in the NFL, the Vikings have just needed Keenum to not turn the ball over, and find the end zone a couple of times a game. He’s proven on multiple occasions that he can do more than that.

With the postseason in their grasp, and more quarterbacks than they know what to do with, the Vikings get a much coveted win at Lambeau Field. The Packers will keep things close in the first half but ultimately fall short late in the game. That’s about what our experts see as well. Six of eight took the Vikings in their Week 16 picks. OddsShark’s computer sees Minnesota winning, as well.