The Vikings defeated Green Bay 20-13 at Lambeau Field to win their first NFC North championship since 2009, ending the Packers’ streak of four straight division titles. The Vikings are in the playoffs for the first time since 2012, when they lost in the wild card round. “I just went and scooped up the ball”.
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With the loss, the Packers (10-6) will travel to Washington to face the NFC East Division Champion Redskins next Sunday.
It’s a rematch of their Week 13 game in which the Seahawks blew out the Vikings 38-7 in front of Minnesota’s home crowd.
“This isn’t a surprise”.
Just two years after finishing 5-10-1, Minnesota is back in the playoffs under second-year coach Mike Zimmer, perhaps a bit ahead of schedule. “We knew we just had to step up as a defense”. Cincinnati matched the best record in franchise history – they also won 12 games during the 1981 and 1988 seasons when they reached the Super Bowl. A 25-yard completion to Jones was the big play, but Griffen sacked Rodgers on third-and-3 to kill the drive. That’s less than the two we’ve kind of been averaging the last six or seven games.
However, quarterback Aaron Rodgers soon threw an interception on fourth and goal from the 13 to Minnesota cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
Griffen had two sacks, and the Vikings held on at the end after being left out of breath defending the Packers’ late no-huddle attack. But it was a total defensive performance and one this unit deserves for their hard work.
49ERS 19, RAMS 16 OT: In Santa Clara, California, Phil Dawson kicked a 23-yard field goal 11:33 into overtime for his fourth of the game to lift San Francisco.
Eddie Lacy had a strong start, but finished with only 34 yards on 13 carries. Thielen collected 41 of those yards on a fake punt in the first quarter, while Peterson solidified his rushing title by carrying the ball 18 times. But Peterson, who constantly grinds for ever yard, tweaking something in his back.
But I think the Redskins will be ready for this challenge. “Now I’ve just got to get up early tomorrow morning, I’m not looking forward to it, and I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do to get ready for Sunday”.
Teddy Bridgewater was playing in his first game at historic Lambeau Field, and for the second-year quarterback it was likely a nerve-wracking experience.
“It definitely was a big moment, and it helped put my team over the top”, Munnerlyn said.
The Viking scored the game’s first touchdown with 10:32 left in the third quarter. “It makes it more fun to come to the game for sure”, said Hanson. The Vikings were unable to do anything on offense, and the Seahawks will be as healthy on defense this week as they’ve been all season. The Vikings were looking good and it was shame to give up the ball-clearly Zimmer thought so, as well. The speedy second-year running back streaked past Ryan but Bridgewater sailed the deep ball over his head or McKinnon likely would have taken it 69 yards to the end zone.
The first quarter was defined by long, grinding drives that ultimately ended in field goals. Seattle looks like one of the league’s best teams, having won eight of its last 10 games.
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Then again, he did have to leave in the second half with a back injury, which is an old guy problem to have. Though he hasn’t named names, one of the players on the way out will be defensive end Mario Williams, who has publicly criticized Ryan’s defense on several occasions. They certainly will miss him next week if he can’t go.
