MINNEAPOLIS – The Vikings got a fourth-down stop in the red zone and tacked a touchdown onto their lead, heading into the fourth quarter up 17-7 over the Packers on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Packers went three-and-out to open the second half, as a holding penalty on TE Richard Rodgers made it third-and-long, and TE Jared Cook came up one yard short of the first down on a reception.
The Vikings got out to midfield thanks to a 10-yard pass to WR Stefon Diggs and a roughing-the-passer penalty on DT Mike Daniels tacked on. But LB Clay Matthews knifed through for a third-down sack, forcing Minnesota to punt.
The Packers got a good drive going with a 14-yard pass to TE Jared Cook, a couple of defensive penalties and a 12-yard run by RB Eddie Lacy. QB Aaron Rodgers then scrambled for a first down, had the ball knocked out, but TE Jared Cook recovered at the Minnesota 22-yard line. Three plays later, the Packers went for it on fourth-and-short, and RB James Starks was stopped just short of the marker at the Minnesota 13.
The Vikings seized the momentum switch, as QB Sam Bradford hit Diggs over the middle for a 46-yard catch-and-run on the second snap of the next series. A 5-yard pass to WR Adam Thielen converted on third down to put the ball on the 25, as both RB Adrian Peterson and DB Micah Hyde left the game with injuries. Bradford then hit Diggs over the top of CB Damarious Randall for the 25-yard touchdown, and the Vikings led 17-7 with 2:11 left in the third.
The Packers got out to midfield on their next drive on a pass interference call on CB Trae Waynes on a ball intended for WR Davante Adams. A shovel pass to Starks picked up 16 yards and the Packers were in field-goal range as the quarter ended.
