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The Green Bay Packers didn't score 50 points for the third straight week, but they did pull out another victory on the road. Minnesota managed to keep their home matchup against the leaders of the NFC North close, but couldn't keep up down the stretch and stop a powerful Packers rushing attack at home. Eddie Lacy rumbled for a season-high 125 yards and scored two touchdowns in the team's 24-21 win.
In case you missed any of Sunday's action, we provide you with a game recap below:
First half
The opening drive for the Packers was different than usual: Green Bay sent a punt to Minnesota after Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams had a miscommunication on a third down route near the sideline. It was the first opening punt for Packers after scoring on the ones in their last five games. Both teams punted the ball on their first two possessions.
Rodgers delivered a dart on third and 10 to Randall Cobb that went for 29 yards and helped put Green Bay in field-goal range. Rodgers found tight end Andrew Quarless on a roll-out right after, putting the Packers closer to the goal line. On the very next play, Jordy Nelson had a potential touchdown broken up by safety Harrison Smith, but the officials ruled pass interference, giving Green Bay a fresh set of downs. Eddie Lacy jumped over the top inside to score his sixth touchdown of the season, putting the Packers up 7-0.
Mike Zimmer and the Vikings responded on the ensuing drive, tying the game up at seven. After Jerick Mckinnon bounced off Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on a fourth and short situation, Teddy Bridgewater found Charles Johnson for a 22-yard touchdown, as Johnson smoked cornerback Tramon Williams.
A third Packers punt pinned the Vikings on their own 12 yard line, but Micah Hyde intercepted his second pass of the season, with this one being a diving one near the sideline. Rodgers completed a pass on the left side down the seam to Quarless, who picked up some YAC to put the Packers near the goal line again. Rodgers rolled out to his right, felt pressure, and threw a one-yard touchdown pass the opposite side of the field to tight end Richard Rodgers, that put Green Bay back up 14-7.
Minnesota crunched 11 plays and went 42 yards just before the end of the first half to tack on a field goal, making the score 14-10 heading into halftime.
Second half
The Vikings continued to slow the Packers through the air, forcing another punt. Rookie Demetri Goodson was called for pass interference on the kick, giving Minnesota their best field position of the game. Bridgewater set up shop at the 50, and was able to help the Vikings register a field-goal. The receivers for the Vikings were able to get open down field near the sidelines and across the middle on the drive, but Bridgewater came up short on several throws like he did in the first half. Blair Walsh's 51-yard field goal cut Green Bay's lead to just one early in the third.
Mason Crosby answered with a kick of his own on the other end, increasing Green Bay's lead to four, 17-13, after the Packers went nine plays for 50 yards. Nelson and Cobb each hauled in two passes on the drive that helped set up the field goal.
With the Vikings coming up short to respond, Lacy helped the Packers score again and cap a 87-yard drive. He scored on a 10-yard shovel pass from Rodgers after running for 28 yards on five carries shortly before. The touchdown was Rodgers' 30th on the season, as the Packers increased their lead, 24-13.
Greg Jennings for the first time scored a touchdown against his former team after hauling in a floating pass from a back-peddling Bridgewater. The Vikings elected to go for two to cut the gap to just three, and succeed after running virtually the same play as Johnson broke out to the left side. With under three minutes to go, the Vikings made it just a three-point game, 24-21.
With Minnesota being forced to use all of their timeouts, the Packers pounding the football and ran out the clock to win the game, 24-21. Lacy finished with a season-high 125 yards rushing.
Next up
The Packers will return home next week, but will prepare to face Tom Brady and the hot New England Patriots next Sunday afternoon.