THINGS THE VIKINGS LOST THIS WEEK: The game (41-17 to the Packers, and it wasn't that close), our Pro Bowl RT Brian O'Neill, our backup C Austin Schlottmann, the #2 seed in the NFC, our FOOTING (thanks for preparing the right cleats), and finally, our dignity. Aaron Rodgers wasn't even good, and we lost to the dirty Cheese Packers. Who are now a win away from the playoffs. Ugh.
It started with a couple three-and-outs, but then Josh Metellus blocked his second punt in as many weeks, and the Vikings had the ball, 1st and Goal, at the Green Bay one. Couple bad plays, a Schlottmann broken tibia, and one more futile run up the middle, and the Vikings settled for Greg Joseph's only made FG of the game.
Of course THAT was followed by a Keisean Nixon 105-yard kickoff return TD. TJ Hockenson's hands turned into bricks when we needed him most, and a tipped 4th and 3 pass to Hock floated to Darnell Savage, who returned the pick 75 yards for the score - one of four Kirk Cousins turnovers. Savage, Adrian Amos and Rudy Ford each intercepted passes by Cousins, while Kenny Clark recovered a fumble on a strip sack. The Packers converted each of Cousins’ turnovers into touchdowns.
Green Bay and the Lambeau turf held Jefferson, the NFL's leading receiver, to one catch for 15 yards. Jefferson had nine receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening 23-7 victory over the Packers. Dalvin Cook was held to 27 yards on nine carries.
Cousins went 18 of 31 for 205 yards for the NFC North champion Vikings (12-4). His only touchdown pass came in garbage time, a 47-yarder to Jalen Nailor that cut Green Bay's lead to 41-10.
“I just didn’t play well enough tonight," Cousins said. “Just need to play better, that’s the bottom line.”
I guess we're still division champs? Sigh.
#minnesotavikings #greenbaypackers #nfl
3 янв 2023
