Vikings Win NFC North Title Over Packers
Everson Griffen forced an Aaron Rodgers fumble and Captain Munnerlyn scooped it up and returned it 55-yards for the touchdown as the Vikings held on to beat the Green Bay Packers 20-13 Sunday night at Lambeau Field.
The Vikings defense withstood a fourth quarter rally by the Packers to claim their first NFC North title since 2009. Munnerlyn’s score gave the Vikings a 20-3 lead with 4:28 to play in the third quarter, but 10 unanswered points by the Packers in the fourth quarter turned the game into a nail-biter. The Vikings defense needed dramatic stops on the final two possessions to secure the victory. With just over two minutes to play, Xavier Rhodes intercepted Rodgers in the end zone as the Packers threatened to tie the score on fourth-and-goal from the 13 yard line.
After forcing the Vikings to punt, the Packer got one final possession with 58 seconds on the clock. Starting at their own 42 yard line, the Packers eight play drive stalled at the Vikings 38 when Rodgers’ deep pass to the end zone fell incomplete on fourth-and-two.
Adrian Peterson won the NFL rushing title with 67 yards rushing and a touchdown on 19 carries. Teddy Bridgewater was just 10-of-19 for 99 yards and an interception as the Vikings won despite a lack luster offensive performance. The defense set the tone sacking Rodgers five times forcing a fumble and an interception. Griffen had two sacks and 6 combined tackles to go with a good defensive effort from the secondary led by Andrew Sendejo’s 13 total tackles.
The Vikings improve to 11-5 and will host the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs next weekend.