The Vikings knocked off the Packers with a walk-off field goal to end a wild ballgame, a 29-yarder for a 34-31 decision at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.
The Packers rallied from deficits of 16-3 and 23-10 to take a 24-23 lead in the fourth quarter, and then it went back-and-forth with scores. Minnesota scored and got a two-point conversion for a 31-24 lead, and the Packers answered with a 75-yard TD pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling to tie the score with just over two minutes left.
From there, Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins appeared to throw an interception, by S Darnell Savage did not hang onto the ball as he fell to the ground, and the Vikings kept possession. They used that drive to get down inside the 10-yard line, drain the clock, and kick the walk-off.
The Packers fell to 8-3 with the loss while the Vikings improved to 5-5. Green Bay also lost LT Elgton Jenkins to a knee injury in the fourth quarter.
For the game, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was 23-of-33 for 385 yards with four TDs and a 148.4 passer rating. RB AJ Dillon had 11 carries for 53 yards, while Valdes-Scantling finished with four catches for 123 yards and a score and WR Davante Adams had seven grabs for 115 yards and two TDs.
For the Vikings, Cousins was 24-of-35 for 341 yards with three TDs and a 128.4 passer rating. WR Justin Jefferson had eight catches for 168 yards and two TDs, while WR Adam Thielen had eight grabs for 82 yards and a score. RB Dalvin Cook had 22 carries for 86 yards and a TD, plus a two-point conversion.
Here's a recap of all the action:
Vikings lead Packers 9-3 after first quarter
Minnesota won the opening coin toss and deferred. Aaron Rodgers connected with Davante Adams on a crosser, which the Packers' All-Pro receiver turned into a 37-yard pickup to the Minnesota 38 after the blown coverage.
The Packers gained only two more yards, off an AJ Dillon run, and settled for a 54-yard Mason Crosby field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 13 minutes, 17 seconds left in the first quarter.
Minnesota countered with Kirk Cousins hitting Justin Jefferson on a crosser of his own on third-and-6, which Jefferson took 43 yards down to the Green Bay 28. After combining on a tackle for a loss of Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, Preston Smith dropped Cousins for a 10-yard sack on third-and-5.
Greg Joseph made a 51-yard field goal to tie the game at 3 with 9:14 remaining in the first quarter.
The Packers moved the ball to midfield with two check-down passes to Dillon for 17 yards before Rodgers was sacked for a 5-yard loss and Green Bay was forced to punt.
Jefferson continued to give the Packers problems on Minnesota's second series, catching a 56-yard pass from Cousins before being tackled a yard shy of the end zone.
Cook rushed in for a 1-yard touchdown on the next play to give the Vikings a 9-3 lead with 1:51 left in the first quarter. Joseph missed the extra point.
The first quarter ended with Rodgers converting a third down with a 5-yard pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on an out.
The Green Bay Packers faced the Minnesota Vikings in a Week 11 matchup on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021.
Vikings lead Packers 16-10 at halftime
Rodgers targeted Valdes-Scantling five times in the first 17 minutes, hitting the fourth-year receiver on a 39-yard pass to the Minnesota 25 on third-and-12.
Adams caught an 8-yard out for a first down to the Vikings' 15. The Packers didn't get any points off the drive after Crosby's 32-yard field goal attempt banged off the left upright with 11:15 remaining in the first half.
A 37-yard defensive pass interference penalty committed against Jefferson gave Minnesota the ball at the Green Bay 24. Kingsley Keke pressured Cousins into throwing an interception to Darnell Savage but drew an unnecessary roughness penalty for a helmet-to-helmet hit.
The Vikings scored on third-and-goal with Cousin's 10-yard touchdown pass to Thielen to make it 16-3 with 7:37 left in the first half.
Green Bay went three-and-out after a hold on first down. Corey Bojorquez booted a 59-yard punt, giving Minnesota the ball at its own 20.
The Packers' defense forced a three-and-out after Tyler Lancaster and Tipa Galeai combined to stop Cook for no gain on a third-and-1 carry.
Green Bay opened its next series with a 19-yard pass to Equanimeous St. Brown on a slant. Rodgers then hit Cobb across the middle for 15 yards on third-and-8 at the two-minute warning.
Dominique Dafney picked up a first down with an 8-yard pass from Rodgers, going out of bounds at the Minnesota 30 with 1:23 left. On third-and-5, Rodgers extended the play and connected with Josiah Deguara for a 25-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 16-10 at halftime.
Vikings lead Packers 23-17 after three
The Vikings opened the second half with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson on third-and-goal to extend Minnesota's lead to 23-10 with 8:26 left in the third quarter.
The Packers moved the ball back into Minnesota territory with a 13-yard pass to Dillon and then back-to-back strikes to Adams, totaling 29 yards, to the Vikings' 43. After Rodgers scrambled for 18, St. Brown moved Green Bay into goal-to-go with an 11-yard end around.
On first down, Rodgers had time to throw against the Vikings' three-man rush and hit Adams for the 10-yard TD to complete the seven-play, 75-yard drive. It was Adams' 11th career touchdown catch against Minnesota, the most by any NFL player against the Vikings. He previously was in a time with Jerry Rice, Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings.
Savage nearly picked off Cousins on the first play of the next series but couldn't hang on. Preston Smith sacked Cousins for a 10-yard loss and forced a fumble (that Minnesota recovered) on third-and-10 to end the third quarter.
Minnesota wins 34-31
Elgton Jenkins was injured on the third play of the fourth quarter, with Yosh Nijman replacing him at left tackle.
On third-and-6, Dillon picked up Anthony Barr's delayed blitz to give Rodgers time to find Adams in the middle of the field for 13 yards.
St. Brown caught a pass underneath from Rodgers on the next play and ran forward for 26 yards to the Minnesota 38. On third-and-1, the Packers ran a play where Cobb motioned in the backfield, took a hand-off and then pitched it to Dillon who ran for seven yards.
As the play clock ticked down on third-and-6, Rodgers tried to signal for a timeout but center Lucas Patrick snapped it before he could get it off. On that play, Rodgers found Adams for an 18-yard touchdown to take a 24-23 lead with 7:49 remaining.
The Vikings retook the lead with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson with 2:17 remaining. Cook gave Minnesota a 31-24 lead when he converted the two-point conversion.
The Packers came right back with a 75-yard touchdown deep post to Valdes-Scantling, tying the game at 31 with 2:08 left. It's the longest catch of his career.
Savage nearly picked off Cousins a second time but couldn't come up with the deep ball. Cousins then completed a 19-yard pass to Cook and then a 26-yarder to Thielen to get into scoring territory.
Joseph made a 29-yard field goal to win it.
