By shutting out the Green Bay Packers 16-0 at frigid Lambeau Field the Minnesota Vikings moved a step closer to a first round playoff bye. It was the Vikings first shutout since a 13-0 win at Detroit on December 5 1993. It was the their shutout of the Packers since a 3-0 win in Minnesota on November 14, 1971. It was the first time they had ever shutout the Packers at Lambeau. Frigid, or otherwise. It's been a while since the Vikings have kept a team off the scoreboard. Packers, or otherwise.
As the score suggests this game was decided by the defense. The Vikings offense was ragged. They managed a 49-yard field goal on their first drive of the game. As it turned out it was all the scoring that they would need. The best thing that quarterback Case Keenum did was not make any mistakes. The game was a one- or two-score game throughout so one mistake would've gotten the pesky Packers back in the game. Keenum was 14/25 for 139 yards and a four-yard touchdown toss to Stefon Diggs. That lone touchdown was set up by a 39-yard pass interference penalty on the Packers. That penalty was easily the Vikings biggest offensive gain of the game. The night game was played in single digit temperatures throughout on a slippery, spongy field. They seemed to be tough conditions for seamless quarterback-receiver connections. Keenum just missed Diggs and Adam Thielen running free on at least three deep throws. Connect on those and this is a whole other game. Yea, I'm going with the temperature and field conditions as the reason for the Vikings ragged offensive performance. The ragged offense did generate four scoring drives and zero turnovers. That's more than enough offense when the defense did what it did.
The defense. The Vikings defense was terrific. That's hardly a surprise as the defense has been good-to-great all season. They've been playing their best as the season's gotten older. They will be hitting the playoffs on a roll. The Packers offense rarely threatened. Their possessions were brief.
5 plays, 17 yards-Punt
3 plays, 4 yards-Punt
3 plays, 7 yards-Punt
6 plays, 17 yards-Punt
3 plays, 8 yards-Punt
8 plays, 62 yards-Interception
2 plays-end of half
11 plays, 49 yards-Downs
3 plays, -3 yards-Punt
7 plays, 40 yards-Downs
10 plays, 9 yards-Downs
4 plays, 9 yards-Interception
The Packers offense threatened the end zone twice. Harrison Smith intercepted Brett Hundley in the red zone to end the first threat. The Vikings defense stopped the Packers offense on downs in the red zone to end the second threat.
Speaking of Harrison Smith. It's a crime against football that he isn't one of the Pro Bowl safeties. He's been the best safety in the league all season. He was the best player on the field last night.
8 tackles (6 solo)
1 tackle for loss
2 interceptions
2 passes defensed
Even on plays in which he doesn't register a stat he impacts what the offense wants to do. He'll get All-Pro honors and not get the Pro Bowl. He'll be helping the Vikings play in a bigger game.
The Packers most effective offensive plays weren't scripted. They were scrambles by Hundley. He had five carries for 48 yards. His scrambles became such a concern for the Vikings, since it was probably their only concern, that their pass rush in the second half often looked like kick coverage. The pass rushers didn't even appear to be working to get to the quarterback. They simply stayed in their rush lanes and contained Hundley in the pocket. A Packers weapon that was effective in the first half was taken away in the second half.
The game wasn't all fun and celebrations for the Vikings. Left guard Nick Easton fractured his ankle. His season's over. This was the first game in which all five starting offensive linemen were together. It will be the last. Jeremiah Sirles replaced Easton in the game and he'll likely be the left guard moving forward. Rookie Danny Isidora might be a consideration as well.
Perhaps more concerning than the loss of Easton is the potential long term loss of long snapper Kevin McDermott. He suffered a dislocated shoulder just before halftime. Tight end David Morgan handled the long snapping in the second half. He got the job done on three punts and two field goals. His solid, emergency long-snapping and a nifty 23-yard catch and run on 3rd-and-13 earned him a game ball from head coach Mike Zimmer.
There's no avoiding that the Packers team that the Vikings shutout last night was a depleted Packers team. Aaron Rodgers didn't play. That's huge. Davante Adams, an offensive lineman or three, Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, a couple corners missed the game. Jordy Nelson, Richard Rodgers, and Jason Spriggs left the game with injuries. They were eliminated from the playoffs last week so they we were playing out a season without playoffs for the first time since 2008. As a Vikings fan it's tough to have any sympathy for a team that's controlled the division for nearly the entirety of this century. More often than not it's been the Vikings playing out the season without playoff dreams. The Packers have led a favorable existence with delightful Hall of Fame quarterbacks for more than a quarter century. So it was with very happy eyes and ears to see and hear the Skol Chant at Lambeau.
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