Packers take early lead on Vikings with blocked punt touchdown

The Green Bay Packers could not score on offense on their first drive of Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, but the special teams was undeterred on the Vikings’ first punt of the game. Following a three-and-out forced by the Packers’ defense — which featured a pair of big plays from rookie cornerback Jaire Alexander — the Vikings were forced to punt the ball from deep in their own territory.

Geronimo Allison was not letting that punt get off cleanly, however. Allison broke through the line and laid out fully, getting a hand on the ball and popping it straight up in the air. The ball dropped perfectly into the arms of rookie Josh Jackson at the goal line, and he hauled it in for the first score of the game and his first touchdown in the NFL.

Jackson, who was known as a defensive ballhawk in college at Iowa, probably expected that his first Lambeau Leap might have come after an interception return for a touchdown, but this will be a perfectly acceptable substitute.

The Packers’ kickoff coverage unit allowed a long return to Mike Hughes and the defense gave up a touchdown to Minnesota on the ensuing drive, and the game is currently tied at seven.