A dominant defensive effort and a pair of Dave Rayner field goals powered the Packers to a 6-0 lead at halftime against the Minnesota Vikings on a rainy Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
The Packers allowed just one first down in six Vikings' possessions in the first half. Minnesota had only 38 total yards, and Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman recorded two sacks, giving him 14 1/2 on the season.
The Packers' first score came via a 38-yard field goal by Rayner.
Completions of 19 yards to Bubba Franks and 13 yards to Donald Driver followed by a 13-yard run by Ahman Green gave Green Bay a first-and-goal on the 8. But Minnesota linebacker Ben Leber was left unblocked on a first-down blitz, and he sacked Brett Favre for a 12-yard loss, leading to the field goal attempt.
The Packers looked like they would add to the lead right away, driving again into scoring range with the help of a 19-yard completion to Driver and a 20-yarder to Ruvell Martin. But on third-and-10 from the 20, Favre's pass to Bubba Franks was on target but broken up by Dwight Smith, and then Rayner's field goal attempt was blocked when his plant foot slipped on the wet Lambeau Field turf.
Another botched field goal cost the Packers another chance to extend their lead. After a 22-yard pass to Driver got Green Bay into the red zone, the drive stalled at the 16. A 34-yard attempt by Rayner hit the left upright and bounced straight back, keeping the score 3-0 with 11:24 left in the half.
On their final possession of the half, the Packers took over with good field position thanks to Kampman's second sack, which forced the Vikings to punt from inside their own 10.
Taking over at the Minnesota 45, the Packers drove 19 yards, and Rayner booted a 44-yard field goal on the final play of the half.
