Vikings vs. Packers, 20-13: Full highlights, final score and more

The Vikings topped the Packers in Lambeau to win the NFC North

The Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings spent the majority of the 2015 NFL season going back-and-forth in terms of the lead in the NFC North, which only made it more fitting that their Week 17 matchup on Sunday Night Football was to determine the division winner. Even though both teams had already clinched a playoff berth coming into the game at Lambeau Field, there was still plenty to play for.

On a cold night in Wisconsin, the scoring was hard to come by in the early goings of this matchup. The first three scores of the games were all field goals with two efforts from Blair Walsh pushing the Vikings out to an early 6-3 lead. That was the scoreline for the entirety of the first half as the two teams went into the locker room.

The Vikings then looked like they might run away with it at the start of the third quarter. Teddy Bridgewater led his offense 58 yards downfield after the defense stifled Aaron Rodgers and company on the Packers opening drive of the half that was capped off by an Adrian Peterson touchdown run. The defense then came up with another big play when the Vikings forced a questionable fumble from Rodgers that Captain Munnerlyn returned for a touchdown to put Minnesota up 20-3.

Of course, the Packers weren’t going to go down without a fight as Mason Crosby kicked another field goal and Aaron Rodgers found Richard Rodgers for a touchdown pass to cut the lead to 20-13. Crosby then came up with a huge play on a kickoff return as Cordarrelle Patterson broke off a huge run, but the Green Bay kicker forced a fumble. They failed to convert on the opportunity created by that, though, as Rodgers threw a pick in the end zone on fourth down.

Green Bay got one more try at it and kept things dramatic as Rodgers converted a throw on fourth down and then started moving the ball into Minnesota territory. Rodgers ultimately had one more chance to try and make a miracle happen, but his Hail Mary throw in this game was incomplete. Subsequently the Vikings held on to win the NFC North.

Three stars

The Vikings defense was unreal in this game as they had the fumble return touchdown, an interception, sacked Rodgers five times, accrued eight tackles for losses, and hit the quarterback 12 times.

Adrian Peterson wasn’t hugely productive in terms of yards per carry, but he got the job done for the Minnesota offense. He took 19 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Mason Crosby isn’t the likeliest of stars for an NFL game considering that he’s the Green Bay kicker, however, he played a key role for the Packers on Sunday night. Not only did he convert on two field goals, but he also gave the Packers the chance to tie in the fourth quarter by forcing a fumble on the Patterson kick return.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/683850354824355841

Odds

The Packers were three-point favorites coming into this game and failed to cover, obviously, in the losing effort. The two teams also fell short of the 45-point O/U line.

Next Week

The Vikings will be at home for the first round of the playoffs, taking on the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers will go on the road next week for a matchup with the Washington Redskins.