What was the biggest contributing factor in the loss to Green Bay – poor execution or too many penalties? When the Vikings switched to man-to-man coverage, the Packers’ wide receivers were not making those plays.
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“It’s big for all of us”, Rodgers said.
With the myth of their invincibility shattered by the toughest three-game stretch of coach Mike McCarthy’s tenure, the Packers came to a sobering realization in the week leading up to their day of reckoning against the NFC North Division-leading Minnesota Vikings.
“Everybody wants Teddy to throw for 250, 270 yards, ” Zimmer said.
Lockett caught a 24-yard TD pass in the first quarter and carried a San Francisco defender into the end zone on an 11-yard grab later in the first half.
Another third-and-short situation faced the Packers once again, and for the second straight drive, the Vikings made a stop when they needed to.
The first-down handoff went to Adrian Peterson, and Clay Matthews came to meet him for a 3-yard loss. That is never a good sign for your offense.
Adrian Peterson did not follow up his 203-yard performance of last week. Mike Wallace has 28 catches for 318 yards and a touchdown.
Peterson passed the 1,000-yard mark for the season, but had only 45 yards on 13 carries. They actually gave him a few substantial playing time this week. “I thought he threw the ball well”. After the game, Rudolph reportedly told Bridgewater that he could name the restaurant-dinner was on Rudy-to make amends.
While the Vikings were playing well the Packers had been sputtering coming into this matchup.
“Maybe we’ll get you guys off our back for a couple days”, Rodgers said.
The problems with this team are not really changing much. At 7-3, the Vikings play their next three games against Atlanta, Seattle and Arizona.
The Packers defense this year is allowing 12.2 yards-per-reception, the third-worst average in the NFL. “They did a great job of containing us as a group”, Peterson said. The Vikings were channeling their own Darrelle Revis on the Packers.
The defending division champs got healthy in a dominating 30-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Terence Newman earned defensive player of the week honors this week after his two-interception performance against the Raiders.
Lacy broke a 27-yard run to the Minnesota 29-yard line in the second quarter to set up a field goal as the Packers took a 9-6 lead.
“It was a big game”, nose tackle B.J. Raji said.
Matt Kalil missed a lot of practice this week with an injured toe. He was questionable on the Friday injury report, yet started the game.
Vikings offensive linemen have a motto when it comes to protecting their quarterback: Keep Teddy clean. Five-for-five on field goals with a long of 52.
The Packers scored first with an early field goal by their kicker, Mason Crosby. Bridgewater would head to the locker room, replaced by Shaun Hill for the rest of the half.
Minnesota, which entered the day as the least penalized team in the National Football League, committed three penalties on the drive including a 50-yard pass interference penalty on 3rd-and-15 on the third play of the drive.
The struggles of the offense continued for the majority of the first half.
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The Green Bay Packers were in a funk, booed by their loyal fans the week before and passed by the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. They now have a 96-percent chance of getting one of the two byes. The hands to the face on Bridgewater on the play that knocked him out of the game was the most egregious. The Packers were on a three-game losing streak. Just when you give up on Rodgers, the guy comes back firing, telling us to R-E-L-A-X, and putting the NFC North on notice.
