The offense’s inability to stay on the field led to the defense getting gassed late, sparking Green Bay’s comeback in the fourth quarter.
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The defense, on the field for the majority of the second half during perhaps its finest performance of the season, was needed all the way through the final play, when Anthony Barr batted down a desperation heave by Aaron Rodgers into the end zone. A Vikings win would send the Packers to Carolina, while a Seahawks win means they would play in Arizona. Defensive end Everson Griffen had two sacks, including the strip that was ruled a fumble that cornerback Captain Munnerlyn returned for the touchdown.
The Vikings earned the No. 3-seed in the NFC and will get a first-round home playoff rematch against the Seattle Seahawks, who devoured the Vikings 38-7 at TCF Bank Stadium on December 6.
The Packers (10-6) will travel to Washington to play the NFC East champion Redskins, also on Sunday.
Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes for the Chiefs, who head to Houston for the wild-card game next weekend; a fate that seemed highly unlikely when they started the season 1-5.
“Playoff season is here”.
“He’s been preaching to us since Day 1 the type of team that we have and the types of things that we can accomplish, and how much he believes in us”, wide receiver Mike Wallace said. But the Packers’ next drive ended with Rodgers being intercepted in the end zone by Xavier Rhodes. “Coach always says, ‘It’s not about the plays, it’s about the players.’ Whatever play is called, we have to make it happen”.
“It’s been since 2009 and that’s too long of a stretch”, Peterson said. “That drought is over”.
“Most people who play my position would love to have the numbers I have this year, but because of the way I’ve played this season, compared to the other seasons and even last year as MVP, obviously, it was a subpar year statistically”, said Rodgers, who finished 15th in the National Football League in passer rating, tied for 10th in touchdown passes and 17th in passing yards.
“We’ve just got to find a way to put it all together”, Rodgers said after the Vikings loss. “Veteran players understand that”, coach Mike McCarthy said. “Back when we went on a run in 2010, I don’t know if there was anybody in that locker room that knew that we could do that”.
Before the season started, Brian Billick picked the Vikes to win the division (Just like Me!), so Seifert circles back around and asks Billick about the “upcoming” game. The speedy pass rusher was able to knock the ball loose from Rodgers’ grip and force a fumble that appeared in real-time to be an incomplete pass.
Along with Peterson, Bridgewater is no slouch with running the ball (192 yards rushing and three touchdowns), while Jerick McKinnon has gained 271 yards on the ground. He gave the Vikings a scare after leaving midway through the third quarter with a lower back injury before returning late in the fourth. During Washington’s six home wins, quarterback Kirk Cousins was virtually unstoppable, completing 76.4 percent of passes while throwing 14 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
The Green Bay quarterback converted a fourth-and-10 with a 12-yard completion to tight end Richard Rodgers.
“It wasn’t fun, to be honest with you”.
“It’s playoffs”, Zimmer said, smiling.
Crosby’s 43-yard field goal then brought the Packers within 20-13 with 5:35 remaining but that was the closest they would get. The Packers’ rushing game is ranked 12th, compared to the 26th-ranked run defense of the Redskins.
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The Packers were three-point favorites coming into this game and failed to cover, obviously, in the losing effort. The defense needs to get a little better.
