Blinksportsnews247The Green Bay Packers defeat the Minnesota Vikings 33-10; Aaron Jones ran for 120 yards and Jordan Love threw for three touchdowns; If the Packers defeat the Chicago Bears in their final regular season game, they will guarantee a spot in the playoffs.
The Packers advanced to 8-8 and ahead of the Seattle Seahawks in the battle for the final NFC wildcard position as Aaron Jones ran for 120 yards and Jordan Love threw for three touchdowns.
Love went 24 for 33 for 256 yards in what was surely the finest game of his first year as the starter in the post-Aaron Rodgers era.
Rodgers and the Packers were eliminated from the playoffs the previous year after losing a win-and-in game at home against Detroit. “It’s an awesome vibe in the locker room, but at the same time everyone’s focused on what we’ve got in front of us,” Love stated.
After the Packers scored touchdowns on an interception and a fumble by Jaren Hall in the first half, the Vikings (7-9) benched another quarterback who was prone to mistakes. The Vikings have changed quarterbacks five times since Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon during the fourth quarter of a 24-10 victory at Green Bay on October 29. Nick Mullens replaced Hall for the second half of the game.
Mullens stated, “That’s the life we live.” “In the NFL, quarterbacks put in a lot of work. Things will happen on this lengthy journey. You attempt to give the squad your best both on the field and on the field.”
When these border-state rivals play in prime time, the stadium is always energized.
Cousins got the party off to a rowdy start when he – wearing a thick gold chain around his neck – and his son ripped off their shirts to lead the crowd in the “Skol!” chant and blow the Gjallarhorn. The “Go Pack Go!” serenades quickly joined the soundtrack, though, and this became quite the New Year’s Eve blowout.
Hall’s off-target throw in the first quarter glanced off Johnny Mundt – in an elevated role after the season-ending knee injury to Pro Bowl tight end TJ Hockenson – into the hands of Corey Ballentine for an interception. Love’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Reed came two plays later.
With 26 seconds remaining before halftime, Preston Smith successfully strip-bagged Hall to seal the victory. Karl Brooks recovered at the Minnesota 37, and three plays later, the Love-to-Reed connection put Green Bay in the end zone for a 23-3 advantage.
Reed should have both of his goals on the season’s highlight film. With the first one, Love did the heavy lifting, hitting Reed in stride on a post route with the most beautiful pass of the game. On the second, Reed carried most of the weight as he ran a crossing pattern, dragged a defender into the end zone, and avoided two tacklers after the grab.
Preston Smith’s strip-sack of Hall with 26 seconds left before halftime sealed the deal. Karl Brooks recovered at the Minnesota 37, and the Love-to-Reed connection got Green Bay in the end zone three plays after that for a 23-3 lead.
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