Image courtesy of vikings.com
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.
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The defense won this game. I still don't understand the prevent defense? They had the Peckers on the ropes and then backed off. Luckily Zim turned the heat back up.
The prevent defense wins games... For the trailing team.
True dat Skol. It happens all the time. When are they gonna learn?
johnny, you are so right. TB and AD had very few yards and we still won, because of our defense. thank you, mike zimmer. this is a sustainable approach to winning. one or two guys get slowed down or stopped, or hurt, or decline and retire, but zim can keep the D going
if they don't score, we can't lose
Nice synopsis, Carl. This game was an aberration. The Vikings won without an offensive touch by Zach Line.
Another trifecta NFL weekend - Vikes win, Packers and Cowbabys lose. Anybody seen Rodgers do his title belt demonstration lately? Me neither. Not so many Lambeau leaps these days either. (Looks like my petty side came to the surface with this win.)