Packers-Vikings

Every game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers is a must win game for both teams. It's a division game and a nearly sixty year border rivalry. One of the two has won the division title for the last several years. Last night's game in Minnesota was a little more of a must-win for both teams than most. Each team was teetering on the edge of the playoff picture with six games to go. The Vikings took over the game in the second half and held on for a 24-17 win. The importance of the game can be seen in the current playoff percentages (if one is to believe in such a thing) of both teams. With the win, the Vikings now have a 73% chance of making the playoffs. With the loss, the Packers now have a 3% chance of making the playoffs. The Vikings basically control their path to the postseason. A whole lot of things have to go right for the Packers over the next month if they are to play in January. Personally, I don't ever think that my team is out of the playoffs until they are. The "impossible" happens in sports as a matter of routine.

Each team had a sputtering start to the game. The Vikings went three-and-out on their first two possessions. The Packers did the same on their first possession. Three total possessions. Three total yards. Then the game looked like it was going to turn into a Chiefs-Rams game. Four consecutive touchdowns. Two for each team. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made things look easy and running back Aaron Jones gained yards in chunks on the ground. The Packers scored consecutive, efficient touchdowns. The Vikings answered each with touchdowns of their own. 14-14. Then the Vikings took over the game.

Packers possessions after the Vikings tied the game at 14-14 with 11:00 to play in the first half:

1. Punt-3 plays, 4 yards
2. Punt-3 plays, 21 yards
3. Punt-7 plays, 28 yards
4. Downs-4 plays, 9 yards
5. Punt-3 plays, -12 yards
6. Punt-3 plays, 12 yards
7. Field Goal-9 plays, 73 yards

On six possessions between scores (about half of the game) the Packers ran 23 offensive plays for 62 yards. That was the difference in the game.

With his prime time record and leading an inconsistent offense, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins entered the game swimming in criticism. He played great. His numbers spell part of the story.

29 completions
38 attempts
76.3%
342 yards
3 TDs

He was the better quarterback on the field last night.

Other than sputtering starts to both halves, the Vikings offense moved the ball throughout the game.

416 total yards
325 passing yards
91 rushing yards
34:37 time of possession

The Vikings pass catchers did their thing.

Adam Thielen: 8 catches, 125 yards, 1 TD
Stefon Diggs: 8 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD
Kyle Rudolph: 7 catches, 63 yards
Dalvin Cook: 3 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD

It was great to see Rudolph so involved in the passing game.

The only real issues with the Vikings offense were their those sputtering starts to the halves and the points that they left on the field. There were two missed field goals and a turnover on downs at the Packers seven-yard line. In a game in which the Vikings had to recover an onside kick to secure the win they could've used some of those missed points.

Running the football continues to be a struggle for the Vikings (3.1 yards/carry). This game was a little better in that they gained some critical yards, moved the chains, and ate some time at the end of the game. So there's some hope that the running game is moving in the right direction but it isn't pretty. Running backs Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray are getting hit in the backfield way too often.

The Vikings offensive line did a better job of protecting Cousins. He was sacked twice and hit a few times but far more often than not he had a clean pocket. This might have been the offensive line's best game.

Other than the Packers' two efficient touchdown drives, the Vikings defense was great.

254 total yards
172 passing yards
82 rushing yards
4 sacks

A Rodgers-led offense with only 172 yards.

It was very much a team-led defense but one player that deserves to be singled out here is defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. He was the significant offseason addition that wasn't a quarterback. He's played well all season without putting up showy (sacks) statistics. So, he wasn't playing very much under the radar. Richardson put up showy statistics last night with two sacks and seven tackles. His first sack (late in the third quarter) felt like the point at which the Vikings, in particular the defense, took over the game.

A couple Packer players that can't be ignored.
Running back Aaron Jones.
He's a fun player to watch. It isn't fun watching him run against the Vikings but he's a terrific football player. The Packers seemed to lose some of their offensive momentum when he was given a breather late in the first half. Jamaal Williams got a series of work and there wasn't the same presence on the field. The Packers never got it back the rest of the game.

Cornerback Jaire Alexander.
I really liked Alexander in last spring's draft. I had high NFL expectations for him and he's exceeded them in his rookie season. He put a quick end to the Vikings second possession when he blew up a screen pass to Diggs. Thielen was blocking for Diggs but Alexander had none of it. He slammed into Thielen so hard that he was knocked into Diggs and sent Diggs to the ground. It ended up being a ten-yard loss. It was an incredible defensive play. Describing it does it no justice.

The Vikings are now 6-4-1 and very much in the thick of the playoff chase. The Packers are 4-6-1 and on the outside looking in.

I can't believe that there are only five games left in the regular season.