Packing Whoop-Ass

Just a few plays into the Green Bay Packers’ week 17 game against the Minnesota Vikings, it looked like the wheels were about to come off the green and gold’s playoff push. Earlier in the day, the Packers got the help that they needed to give them control of the NFC’s final playoff spot when the Cleveland Browns beat the Washington Commanders.

Needing two wins to secure a playoff spot, the Packers then had a chance to get halfway there by beating Minnesota. Just minutes into the game, however, it appeared that everything might go wrong; a blocked punt by the Vikings’ Josh Metellus set up Minnesota on the edge of the end zone. But the Packers’ defense got a tremendous goal line stop, holding the Vikings to a field goal.

After that, it was all Packers, and their highest-scoring game of the season got off to a thrilling start. Keisean Nixon delivered a lightning bolt to the Lambeau Field crowd, returning the ensuing kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown. Green Bay then got a pick-six from Darnell Savage two drives later, spotting the offense a 14-3 lead.

The defense was the story for much of the game, as the Packers picked off Kirk Cousins three times and forced another fumble from the Vikings quarterback. The offense finally got moving in the second quarter, kicking two field goals and scoring a touchdown, then added two more trips to the end zone in the fourth quarter. The Packers ended up putting up 41 consecutive points between Vikings scores as Green Bay racked up over 160 yards rushing. By the time the middle of the fourth quarter arrived, both teams began inserting backups as the clock ran down on Green Bay’s blowout win.

With the victory, the Packers will officially have a win-and-in situation next week against the Lions, who come to Lambeau Field in week 18. That game’s kickoff time is to be determined, likely to be announced during the Sunday Night Football game later in the evening. Meanwhile, the Vikings were eliminated from contention for the NFC’s #1 seed and a playoff bye.