NFL Lines: Christian Ponder Gets First Start as Vikings Host Packers
Sunday, October 23, 2011
by Bodog Sportsbook
As if the Green Bay Packers, the NFL’s lone unbeaten team that is generating buzz about going 16-0, needed any help, they get to torment a rookie quarterback making his first start on Sunday in the Vikings’ Christian Ponder as Minnesota host Green Bay, which is a 10-point favorite on Bodog Sportsbook’s NFL lines.
Ponder, the 12th overall pick in this year’s draft out of Florida State (many draft experts had him pegged as a second-round pick), replaced Donovan McNabb for the Vikings. And with Minnesota at 1-5 following last week’s 39-10 beatdown at Chicago, it was probably time for a change.
McNabb ranked 29th in the league in touchdowns, 26th in yards passing and 19th in completion percentage. After he struggled against the Bears and the game out of hand, Vikes coach Leslie Frazier inserted Ponder. He went 9-for-17 for 99 yards. Frazier already has said the Ponder is his starter for the remainder of the season – might McNabb’s career be over? Green Bay has been vulnerable against the pass, ranking 31st with 299.7 yards allowed per game.
The Packers sleepwalked past the Rams 24-3 last week. You could tell that Green Bay wasn’t all that motivated as the Pack, averaging an NFL-best 32.8 points, didn't score in the second half and allowed the winless Rams to pile up 424 yards. Green Bay is 6-0 for the first time since 1965 and won its 12th straight game to match a franchise record set in 1961-62. With all due respect to Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers is the NFL MVP right now. He leads the league with 17 touchdowns, a 70.2 completion percentage and a 122.5 passer rating. He is the first quarterback in NFL history to post a rating of at least 110.0 in each of his first six games.
In Rodgers’ last game against the Vikings on Nov. 21 of last year, Rodgers passed for 301 yards and four touchdowns (141.3 rating) in a 31-3 win at the Metrodome. The Pack swept the series last year. The lone bright spot for Minnesota was that Adrian Peterson rushed for 203 yards with a touchdown in those losses (combined). Green Bay has won seven of the past 10 in this series overall.
Get your NFL football lines at Bodog Sportsbook!
Related Articles
- Week 15 NFL Picks: Dome Happy Saints Travel To Minnesota Vikings
- NFL Football Picks and Tips: Oakland To Meet Vikings In Minnesota
- NFL Free Picks: Should be a doddle As Packers Travel To Minnesota
- Meaning Bout On Tap For Chicago Bears And Minnesota Vikings
- Bodog Monday Night Football Odds and Lines: Vikings vs Packers
Category
Tags
aaron rodgers - adrian peterson - christian ponder - donovan mcnabb - green bay packers - leslie frazier - tom brady
