Packers lose to Vikings; wild-card game to air on FOX6

MINNEAPOLIS - J.J. McCarthy had a productive first half before he was injured again, fullback C.J. Ham rushed for a short touchdown, and the Minnesota Vikings finished a frustrating season by beating the resting Green Bay Packers 16-3 on Sunday.

Green Bay (9-7-1) was locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs and had nothing to play for.

McCarthy, who went 14 for 23 for 182 yards passing, pulled himself out after his first throw of the third quarter so the athletic training staff could examine his right hand and did not return. Backup Max Brosmer took it from there, helping Justin Jefferson reach the 100-yard mark for the first time in 12 games as the Vikings (9-8) coasted to their fifth consecutive victory.

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Jefferson had already secured his sixth straight 1,000-yard season, only the third receiver in NFL history to accomplish that feat.

With Jordan Love safely watching on the sideline and Malik Willis recovering from injuries, the Packers gave Clayton Tune his second career start at quarterback and netted minus-7 passing yards. Dallas Turner had two of Minnesota's four sacks that racked up 41 lost yards for Green Bay.

Tune went 6 for 11 for 34 yards with Packers coach Matt LaFleur holding out almost every available starter and sending Daniel Whelan out to punt on Green Gay's first eight possessions, excluding a kneel-down to end the first half. LaFleur called timeout with 1 second left from the 5-yard line so Brandon McManus could spoil the shutout with a short field goal.

Up next

The Packers play in the wild-card round next weekend at the No. 2 seed in Chicago. The postseason matchup will take place at Soldier Field on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. on FOX6, as well as Prime Video.

The Vikings will have a busy offseason, needing to clear plenty of space under the salary cap and improve their depth at quarterback, on the offensive line and at cornerback. They'll pick in the first round somewhere between 16th and 18th.

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Scoring summary (from FOX Sports)

1st quarter

• At 10:31, Minnesota's W. Reichard 43-yard field goal attempt is good. Vikings take a 3-0 lead over the Packers.

2nd quarter

• At 3:05, Minnesota's W.Reichard 25-yard field goal attempt is good. Vikings take a 6-0 lead over the Packers.
• At 0:25, Minnesota's C. Ham rushed up the middle for 1 yard. TOUCHDOWN. Vikings take 13-0 lead over Packers. 

HALFTIME: Minnesota 13, Green Bay 0

3rd quarter

• No additional scoring; Vikings hold 13-0 lead over Packers.

4th quarter

• At 4:14, Minnesota's W.Reichard 37 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-A.DePaola, Holder-R.Wright. Vikings 16, Packers 0
• At :01, Packers' B.McManus 24 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-M.Orzech, Holder-D.Whelan. Vikings 16, Packers 3

Farewell moment?

Ham, the two-time Pro Bowl pick who has played all 10 seasons in the NFL for his home-state team, received several ovations from the crowd with the possibility this was his final game. Another potential farewell was for 14th-year safety Harrison Smith, who was feted multiple times throughout the afternoon.

Injury report

Packers: WR Bo Melton (knee) limped off after covering a punt in the second quarter, forcing Jayden Reed into some action in three-receiver sets with Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) inactive and Savion Williams (foot) on injured reserve. The Packers otherwise preferred to keep their three starting WRs — Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Reed — on the sideline with every other key player. ... One of the few starters who saw on action on defense, nickel back Javon Bullard, limped off in the fourth quarter with a knee injury.

Vikings: TE Josh Oliver hurt his ankle in the second quarter after moving the chains with a 7-yard reception and did not return. ... RB Aaron Jones (hip) and TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) were inactive, among five starters missing from the original lineup at the beginning of the season.

Division rivalry

What we know:

According to Packers.com, Green Bay leads the regular-season series, while the two teams split the postseason, 1-1. The Packers’ 66 regular-season wins over Minnesota were the most by any team against the Vikings.

Green Bay scored 30-plus points in three of the last five road games against Minnesota prior to Sunday, including 33 in a win in 2023.

Green Bay’s seven wins over Minnesota since 2019 were the most in the NFL (Detroit ranks No. 2 with six wins). The Packers won the first meeting this season, 23-6, in Week 12. 

In 2024, both games were decided by two points. It was the first time in series history that Green Bay and Minnesota played in consecutive games decided by fewer than three points (STATS).

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