Green Bay Packers 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers drops back to pass against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half during the NFC Championship game at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 23: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers hands the ball off to Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 23, 2019, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

2. Home: Minnesota Vikings

While all the talk of Green Bay having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is great, they still have to win the NFC North before that is a possibility. The biggest obstacle for the Packers in their division remains the Minnesota Vikings, who also made the playoffs a year ago.

Green Bay swept Minnesota in 2019 and that proved to be the difference in the division race. The Vikings are not quite the same team as they were a year ago, but Minnesota remains a dangerous out in the NFC North.

The Vikings shifted their offensive focus from Kirk Cousins onto Dalvin Cook and the running game, an emphasis that should continue in 2020. The Packers’ worst performances came against teams who tried to run the football down their throats, so a heavy dose of Cook could be problematic for Green Bay.

The Packers’ most important job in this series is to defend their home field against Minnesota, which has gone 2-2-1 in their last five meetings at Lambeau Field. The Vikings have actually fared very well against the Packers of late, going 5-4-1 over the last 10 meetings dating back to 2015.

Finding a way to beat Minnesota is the key to winning the NFC North for Green Bay. A failure to do that would mean the Packers have to take the wild card route to the Super Bowl, which is never easy.

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