GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw a landing move and ran for a rating, and the Inexperienced Bay Packers continued their unbelievable playoff push by beating Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings in a sweep by 41-17 on Sunday.
Keisean Nixon scored on a 105-yard kickoff return and Darnell Savage had a 75-yard pick-6 from Kirk Cousins — one in every of 4 Vikings QB fumbles — to assist Inexperienced Bay construct a 27-Three halftime lead. Aaron Jones rushed for 111 yards on 14 carries and AJ Dillon had a 2-yard landing run because the Packers received their fourth straight.
Inexperienced Bay (Eight-Eight) will make the playoffs if it defeats division rival Detroit at residence within the common season finale. A fourth straight postseason berth appeared out of the query after a 1-7 stretch dropped the Packers to Four-Eight, however they have not misplaced since and have loved favorable outcomes throughout the league.
Inexperienced Bay’s final little bit of luck got here earlier Sunday when Washington fell 24-10 at residence to Cleveland.placing the Packers in charge of their postseason future.
The Packers then took care of enterprise by making life depressing for Cousins and Jefferson, the NFL’s main receiver, who was held to at least one catch for 15 yards. Jefferson had 9 receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-7 season-opening win over the Packers.
Savage, Adrian Amos and Rudy Ford every intercepted Cousins passes, whereas Kenny Clark recovered a fumble on a strip sack. The Packers turned every of Cousins’ turnovers into touchdowns.
Cousins went 18-of-31 for 205 yards for the NFC North champion Vikings (12-Four). His solely landing move got here in rubbish time, a 47-yarder to Jalen Nailor that lower Inexperienced Bay’s result in 41-10.
The Vikings’ Dalvin Cook dinner was held to 27 yards on 9 carries.
Rodgers went 15-of-24 for 159 yards with a 21-yard landing move to Robert Tonyan. Rodgers additionally scored Inexperienced Bay’s ultimate landing on a 2-yard scramble.
After a blocked area objective by Josh Metellus gave Minnesota a first-and-goal on the 1 to assist the Vikings take an early Three-Zero lead, the Packers scored the following 41 factors.
That burst began with huge performs from Nixon and Savage. This marked the primary time the Packers scored on an interception return and a punt return in the identical sport since a 31–23 victory over St. Louis Cardinals on October 30, 1967.
Nixon’s landing was the Packers’ first punt return since Randall Cobb’s franchise-record 108-yarder towards New Orleans in 2011. Nixon had a 94-yard punt return in a 26-20 victory on the day on Christmas Day in Miami, however left that sport. with a groin harm that prevented him from coaching for many of the week.
Inexperienced Bay additionally received a stable sport from veteran kicker Mason Crosby, who went 2-for-2 on area objective makes an attempt, together with a 56-yarder that hit the crossbar earlier than diving in to shut out the primary half.
harm
The Vikings misplaced two of their beginning offensive linemen to calf accidents within the first quarter: Austin Schlottmann middle Brian O’Neill. Schlottmann was beginning instead of Garrett Bradbury, who missed a fourth straight sport with a again harm.
Chris Reed, who hasn’t performed an offensive snap all season, took over for Schlottmann at middle. Olisaemeka Udoh accomplished at proper deal with.
IT FOLLOWS
The Vikings go to Chicago and the Packers host the Lions subsequent weekend.
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