Packers take control of playoff spot as they cruise past Vikings 33-10
Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score to put the Green Bay Packers in control of a spot in the playoffs with a 33-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.
Aaron Jones rushed for 120 yards and Jayden Reed had two touchdown catches for the Packers (8-8), who can get the NFC's last wild-card spot by beating Chicago at home next week. They moved above the cut when Seattle lost earlier in the day.
Love went 24 for 33 for 256 yards in what might have been the finest game in his first season as the Packers' starter in the post-Aaron Rodgers era.
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The Vikings (7-9) benched another turnover-prone quarterback after an interception and a fumble by Jaren Hall in the first half were converted into touchdowns by the Packers. Nick Mullens took over for Hall for the second half, the fifth time the Vikings have switched quarterbacks since Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 win at Green Bay on Oct. 29.
Detroit clinched the NFC North by beating Minnesota here last week, marking just the second time in 13 seasons the division wasn't won by either the Packers or the Vikings, but a prime-time game between these border-state rivals always generates plenty of energy in the stadium.
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NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is Dec. 30, 2023.
Carlson's FG leads to 23-point Pack lead in Q4
After the Packers carried out a dozen-play spree in the fourth quarter — and spent their first timeout — Anders Carlson kicks a 37-yard FG.
Packers 33, Vikings 10.
Mundt gives Vikes their 1st TD of the game
During the second play of the fourth quarter, QB Nick Mullens fires a pass to TD Johnny Mundt, who runs in a 6-yard TD — his first of the season, and the Vikes' first of the game.
Greg Joseph's kick pushes the Vikes into the double-digits, though they still trail by 20 points. Packers 30, Vikings 10.
Melton's TD boosts Pack's ample lead near 3Q's end
With a minute left on the clock in the third quarter, Packers QB Jordan Love passes to WR Bo Melton, who runs in a 10-yard TD.
Kicker Anders Carlson splits the uprights, giving the Pack a 27-point lead. Packers 30, Vikings 3.
Mullens returns to QB position
After Jalen Hall's lackluster first half in the driver's seat, the Vikings have decided to bring Nick Mullens back as QB to start the third quarter.
Packers get TD with seconds left in 1st half
Jayden Reed catches a pass from Jordan Love and runs in a 25-yard TD with just seconds left in the first half.
Anders Carlson's FG attempt fails — his fifth failed kick of the season.
Packers 23, Vikings 3.
Packers QB Love makes TD run in Q2
For the fourth time this season, Packers QB Jordan Love ran in a touchdown. In this case, he barely squeaked out a 2-yard TD with just four minutes left in the second quarter.
Anders Carlson then kicked for an extra point. Packers 17, Vikings 3.
Joseph kicks FG to put Vikes on scoreboard
The Vikings finally have some points up on the board after kicker Greg Joseph makes a 54-yard FG. Packers 10, Vikings 3.
ICYMI: Cousins blows the Gjallarhorn!
Kirk Cousins just took his shirt off to sound the gjallarhorn … and US Bank is shooketh. pic.twitter.com/IF0qaY8xn2
— Tracy Perlman (@Partray) January 1, 2024
Packers take 10-point lead with Reed TD
Packers QB Jordan Love passes to WR Jayden Reed, who runs in a 33-yard TD. Anders Carlson then kicks for an extra point, giving the Packers a 10-point lead with about five minutes left in the first quarter.
Hall throws interception in Q1
Vikings QB Jalen Hall throws a pass that was intercepted by Packer Corey Ballentine, who was quickly tackled by Vikings TE Johnny Mundt.
Packers take lead midway through 1st quarter
Packers kicker Anders Carlson made a 34-yard FG to finally put some points up on the board halfway through the first quarter. Packers 3, Vikings 0.