In cold, Packers defeat Vikings 37-10 to win NFC's No. 1 seed

GREEN BAY (Wis.) -- Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers and the Packers have once more made it clear that they will not have to leave Lambeau Field in the conference playoffs.

03 January 2022 Monday 14:29
317 Reads
In cold, Packers defeat Vikings 37-10 to win NFC's No. 1 seed

They are hoping that it will work out for them better this time.

Rodgers threw 2 touchdown passes to A.J. Dillon ran for two additional scores, and the Packers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 37-10 to win the NFC's No. #1 seed in the playoffs.

Dillon stated, "It certainly feels amazing." It's something we are constantly working towards, striving to, and it's something that we will never stop trying to achieve. It is important to have teams pass Lambeau.

Green Bay (13-3), the only NFL team without a home loss, has a chance of reaching the Super Bowl without ever leaving Lambeau Field. Sunday's game was a good example of the Packers' advantage in home games in January. It was 11 degrees and there was a wind chill just before kickoff.

The Packers have won 13 consecutive regular-season home games, but they lost 31-26 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in last season's NFC championship match. Since their 2010 title, the Packers have not reached the Super Bowl and have lost in the conference championship games four times.

Rodgers stated, "Last year, we didn't have that great Green Bay weather." "Tonight was one such night. Temperature-wise, we haven't had one like this for a while. It was something different. It was different. It is cold, and teams can break down a bit more easily.

Green Bay's win, along with Philadelphia's 20-16 victory at Washington earlier in day, knocked the Vikings (7-9), out of playoff contention, and gave the Eagles a playoff spot. After Kirk Cousins was placed on the COVID-19 reserve/reserve list, the Vikings were without their quarterback.

Mike Zimmer, Vikings coach, said that it was disappointing tonight. "I felt like we didn't give ourselves a chance of winning," Zimmer said.

Rodgers was 29 of 38 for 288 yard with a touchdown pass to Allen Lazard at 20 yards and an 11-yarder for Adams, who caught 11 passes totalling 136 yards.

Adams has 117 receptions, breaking the Packers' season record that he set last summer.

Adams stated, "It means I'm continuing my push." Adams said that Adams had told him when he posted his farewell message on Instagram at the end last year. I stated at the end of that post, "Don't be surprised if i come back worse, when i come back better." Because I stated it before, I don't think people are surprised.

Rodgers, despite having a left pinky toe injury, has thrown 18 touchdown passes in his six previous games without an interception.

The reigning MVP has thrown 56 regular-season touchdown passes against Vikings in his career, which is the most any quarterback has allowed. Before Rodgers became the Packers' quarterback in 2016, Brett Favre threw 54 touchdown passes against the Vikings during his career.

Matt LaFleur, Packers coach, broke George Seifert’s 30-year-old NFL record of the most regular season wins by a coach during his first three seasons. LaFleur's regular-season record is 39-9 and his overall record is 41-11. Seifert's regular-season record was 38-10 in 1989-91, his first three seasons as a San Francisco 49er.

Dillon ran for two touchdowns in the second half and gained 63 yards from 15 carries. Aaron Jones ran for 76 yards in just eight carries, as the Packers defeated the Vikings 174 to 27.

Minnesota had already won the Packers' previous two matches, but this matchup was without Cousins. Cousins had thrown for 341 yards with three touchdowns in a 34 to 31 home win over the Packers on Nov. 21.

Since that Minnesota loss, the Packers have won five consecutive games.

Cousins was replaced by Sean Mannion, who went 22 of 35 for 289 yards, including a touchdown pass of 14 yards to K.J. Osborn. Mannion made his third career start and was the first since the end of the 2019 regular season.

"I feel like Cousins gets it out a bit faster than the quarterback who played today," Packers outside linebacker Rashan Garry said. "We came to work as defense and got what we wanted."

The Packers were able to reach the red zone on three out of their four first possessions, but they only had a 6-0 lead thanks to Mason Crosby’s two field goals. They broke through with their third possession, which saw them reach the end zone. The Packers also scored two touchdowns in the last 4 1/2 minutes.

Zimmer stated, "Give them credit." "They are a great team, and they took after us tonight."

INJURED

Fred Bryan, umpire, went to the medical tent before heading to the locker room for the first quarter.

After taking a huge hit from Packers safety Adrian Amos in the third quarter, Vikings tight end Tyler Conklin was forced to leave the game. Amos' hit stopped a pass but center Garrett Bradbury ran upfield and snatched the ball from the air for a 21-yard gain.

UP NEX

Vikings: Chicago hosts Vikings on Sunday.

Sunday, Packers at Detroit