Vikings take NFC North, hold on to beat Packers 20-13

Spurred on by the betrayal of one of their own, the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 20-13 at Lambeau Field on Sunday night.

Green Bay outgained Minnesota 350-242.

The Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers both have yet to confirm their division titles, and have a lot to play for today; they need wins to guarantee themselves home postseason games. The Packers (10-6) will travel to Washington after watching their four-year reign atop the NFC North end. But since the comeback win over Tampa Bay, things have continued to look up for Washington football, and it wouldn’t be a shock if the Redskins could knock off the Packers in the Wildcard round.

The Vikings (11-5) will host the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday.

“It’s a little tight, but I’ll be OK”, Peterson said.

“I just told them that I was proud of them”, Robison said.

The Vikings began pulling away with 4 minutes, 42 seconds left in the third quarter when cornerback Captain Munnerlyn returned a Rodgers fumble 55 yards for a touchdown that made it 20-3.

“We didn’t come here to finish second”, Zimmer said.

He’s only the third player his age to win a rushing title, joining Curtis Martin in 2004 (31) and Marion Motley in 1950 (30) to lead the league at such a mature age.

It was the third straight loss for the Giants (6-10) and finished a third straight losing season and a fourth straight year out of the playoffs.

“It definitely makes it more fun to have Packers and Vikings fans come out at the same game”. “That drought is over”. The Vikings, who are playing much better they did a month ago, when they lost two straight homes to the Packers and Seahawks. “I know they’re excited about 8-8 and we’re excited they got us in”. “I don’t know, maybe”. But this time, with more at stake, Rodgers’ pass bounced harmlessly to the near-frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. But the Packers’ next drive ended with Rodgers being intercepted in the end zone by Xavier Rhodes (see full recap). In real time, some wondered whether Rodgers’ arm was moving forward when the ball fell out of his hands. Bridgewater has generally been mistake-free and certainly bone-head play-free for the Vikings this season-perhaps he was saving them all up for this one. Even when his receivers are making plays – which they actually did on Sunday night – it doesn’t matter.

But the Packers can take slight consolation from memories of their run to winning the Super Bowl in 2010, when they were the sixth seed.

A common thread in Vikings wins this season is that role players continue to step up and provide significant contributions to wins. Bridgewater moved the Vikings deep into Packers territory with completions to McKinnon and Thielen. On a second-and-10 snap at the Buffalo 14-yard line with the Bills leading 19-17, McKelvin intercepted a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass in the end zone to give Buffalo the ball with 10:53 to play. “It was nerve-racking”, Zimmer said.

After a Mason Crosby field goal cut the lead to just a TD, the Vikings’ explosive kick returner Corrdarrelle Patterson returned the ensuing kickoff 71 yards until Crosby himself made an unlikely play, stripping Patterson and giving Green Bay hope.

But a slow start doomed the Packers once again, as did a sluggish running game. He finished with 28 completions in 44 attempts for 291 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and though he did engineer 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to keep the game from dipping to blowout status, it wasn’t enough to take the day. Rodgers was sacked eight times with a ninth going to the backup, so when we watch Sunday Night Football live streaming or on TV tonight, the Vikings defense will be after Rodgers early and often. They also list offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga (ankle), defensive tackle Letroy Guion (foot), cornerback Casey Hayward (ankle), running back Eddie Lacy (rib), guard T.J. Lang (shoulder), center Corey Linsley (ankle), linebacker Clay Matthews (ankle), linebacker Nick Perry (shoulder) and guard Josh Sitton (back) as probable.