Packers now 8-4 after 23-14 win over Minnesota Vikings
GREEN BAY -- The Green Bay Packers are now 8-4 after a win over division rivals the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 2nd. The final score of Sunday's matchup was 23-14.
On his birthday, Aaron Rodgers kicked off the game with a 32-yard touchdown pass to James Jones. Packers' kicker Mason Crosby successfully executed the kick for the extra point.
Later in the first quarter, Crosby kicked a field goal after a 12-play, 52-yard drive.
The Vikings were the dominant scorers in the second quarter. Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder threw a touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph to cap a 14-play, 71-yard drive.
Later in the second quarter, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson completed an 82-yard run for a touchdown. Vikings kicker Blair Walsh executed the extra point.
The Green Bay Packers' Crosby kicked a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter, following a 51-yard drive. Later in the third quarter, Packers running back James Starks completed a 22-yard run for a touchdown, and Crosby executed the extra point.
In the fourth quarter, Crosby executed a 31-yard field goal after 18 plays, and the Packers walked away with the victory.
Sunday's game kicked off a three-game stretch of NFC North games for the Packers. This game was the first meeting between Minnesota and Green Bay this season. The teams will also face off in Minnesota in the season finale.
Heading into Sunday's game, the Packers were coming off a 38-10 loss to the N.Y. Giants -- one that ended Green Bay’s five-game winning streak. The Giants led the Packers 31-10 at halftime, and ended up snapping the Packers’ five-game winning streak.
The Packers and Vikings last met on November 14th of last year at Lambeau Field, when the Packers won 45-7 in a Monday Night Football contest. QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 250 yards and four TDs on 23-of-30 passing (76.7%) for a 140.3 passer rating. WR Randall Cobb kicked off the scoring with an 80-yard punt return for a TD early in the first quarter. LB Clay Matthews led the defense with two sacks and CB Tramon Williams registered an interception as Green Bay limited the Vikings to 14 first downs and 266 total net yards on the night.
The Packers and Vikings have met over 100 times. The series began when the Vikings entered the league in 1961, and Vince Lombardi's Packers won nine of the first 10. Over the last 18 seasons these teams have accounted for 13 NFC Central/North division championships.
Packers QB Rodgers’ first career start and victory came vs. Minnesota on Sept. 8, 2008, and he has had a high level of productivity against the Vikings ever since.