Packers Seal Deal

The Packers cruised past the Vikings on “Sunday Night Football” to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

With its dominant 37-10 win over Minnesota (7-9), Green Bay advanced to 13-3 and finished undefeated at home (8-0) this season. The loss eliminated the Vikings from playoff contention ahead of their final game of the season. 

Aaron Rodgers led the victory, completing 29 of 38 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t throw any interceptions for the sixth consecutive game. Rodgers connected with wide receiver Davonte Adams for 136 yards and one score.

Running back Aaron Jones led the Packers with 76 rushing yards, while A.J. Dillon recorded 63 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Dillon gave Green Bay a 27-3 lead in the third quarter as he plowed through several defenders for his first score, a 4-yarder. He put the Packers up 37-10 with just under nine minutes remaining with his second TD, a 7-yarder. 

Vikings backup quarterback Sean Mannion completed 22 of 36 attempts for 189 yards and his first career touchdown pass. Mannion threw a 14-yard score to wide receiver K.J. Osborn at the end of the third quarter. 

The win allows Rodgers more time to prepare for the Packers’ first playoff matchup. Backup quarterback Jordan Love finished Sunday’s game, completing 2 of 4 passes, and will likely see snaps in Green Bay’s final regular-season game Sunday at the Lions.

If starting quarterback Kirk Cousins can make it off the Vikings’ COVID-19 reserve list by Wednesday, he could be available for Minnesota’s regular-season finale against Chicago on Sunday.