Green Bay used a suffocating defense and commendable balance on offense to push aside the Minnesota Vikings 42-10 at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay (2-2) jumped out to a 7-0 lead when quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12 of 17 for 156 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions) threw to his second read which was wide receiver Randall Cobb, who leaped a little bit then secured Rodgers’ pass near the back left corner of the end zone against close coverage from Viking cornerback Captain Munnerlyn.
The most exciting play of the night came courtesy of wide receiver Jordy Nelson. On 2nd down and 7 from the GB 26, Rodgers play faked to running back James Starks and then received a good block center Corey Linsley, then Rodgers unleashed a spiral high and tight down the field and into the hands of Nelson, who secured the pass and then proceeded to beat late arriving safety Harrison Smith for a 66 yard score and a 14-0 Packer lead with 5:18 left in the first quarter.
Christian Ponder (22 of 44 for 22 yards, 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions) who was already having a subpar night, threw an interception to defensive end Julius Peppers who with good blocking, navigation skills, and left over speed from a 13 year career, rumbled down the right side for a 49 yard touchdown to give the Packers a commanding 21-0 lead with 7:06 left in the second quarter. That was the 10th interception of Peppers’ Hall of Fame career and his third interception return for a score in his career.
Ponder threw his second interception of the quarter, this time to linebacker Jamari Lattimore who took the theft 10 yards to the MIN 20 yard line. It only took the Packers three plays to score given the short field, and Rodgers took advantage of this gift by ending the drive with an 11 yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Davante Adams. It was now 28-0 Green Bay with 4:55 left in the first half.
That was the 200th touchdown pass of Rodgers’ career, which leaves him second in Packers history for career touchdown passes behind the legendary Brett Favre who had 442.
The game ended up getting uglier, as running back Eddie Lacy (13 carries for 105 yards and 2 scores) contributed two touchdown runs in the third quarter including a 10 yard touchdown run in which he ran through and over Viking cornerback Robert Blanton who lost his helmet in the process. The score was now 42-0 Green Bay with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
Minnesota (2-3) finally scored (albeit in the fourth quarter), when Ponder took it upon himself to forget about his progressions (certain receivers to read and then throw to) and ran 6 yards untouched into the end zone for a 42-7 score with just under fifteen minutes left in the game.
Minnesota again found out the hard way that they couldn’t penetrate the Packers defense for a touchdown during their 6 play-70 yard drive early in the fourth quarter, so they settled for a 26 yard Blair Walsh field goal to complete the scoring for both teams which made the score 42-10 Green Bay with 10:11 left in the game.
