Packers thump Vikings 41-17 to stay in playoff picture
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[January 02, 2023]
Aaron Rodgers passed for a touchdown and ran for another, and Aaron
Jones rushed for 111 yards to help the host Green Bay Packers rout
the Minnesota Vikings 41-17 on Sunday to keep their NFC playoff
hopes intact.
Green Bay (8-8) won for the fourth straight game and can earn a spot
in the postseason with a home victory against fellow postseason
hopeful Detroit in Week 18. The Packers learned before kickoff that
they controlled their own destiny after Washington lost to
Cleveland.
Rodgers was 15-for-24 for 159 yards and a touchdown to Robert Tonyan.
AJ Dillon had 12 carries for 41 yards and a 2-yard touchdown in the
fourth quarter.
Minnesota (12-4), which clinched the NFC North last month, committed
four turnovers and missed an opportunity to stay alive for the NFC's
top seed following Philadelphia's loss earlier Sunday.
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Capitalizing on
two return touchdowns to help jolt a slow-starting offense, Green
Bay rolled to a 27-3 lead at halftime. The surge started moments
after the Packers' defense limited the Vikings to Greg Joseph's
21-yard field goal on the heels of a blocked punt that set Minnesota
up at the Green Bay 1-yard line.
Keisean Nixon took the ensuing kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown,
giving Green Bay an advantage it wouldn't relinquish. Just over five
minutes later, with the Vikings driving after a Green Bay turnover
on downs, the Packers' Darnell Savage intercepted Kirk Cousins and
scored on a 75-yard return.
It marked the first time since 1967 that the Packers scored
touchdowns on kickoff and interception returns in the same game.
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![](../images/010223PIX/sports7.jpg)
Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan (85) runs for a first down
on a reception against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter
of their game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA
TODAY Sports
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Green Bay outscored Minnesota 13-0 in the second quarter as part of
a run of 41 straight points. Mason Crosby bounced a 56-yard field
goal in off the crossbar as time expired in the second quarter,
moments after Joseph missed his second field-goal attempt of the
half.
Cousins was 18-for-31 for 205 yards with a touchdown and three
interceptions. Alexander Mattison was Minnesota's leading rusher
with 38 yards on eight carries.
Minnesota's Justin Jefferson was limited to one reception for 15
yards on five targets.
--Field Level Media
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