For over three hours during tonight’s Minnesota Vikings 17-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers, Vikings cornerback TRAE WAYNES got it——disrespectful and ignorant comments——from NFL fans and the media on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Minnesota Vikings fan forums, and etc. But it was Waynes who got the last laugh as he picked off Packers quarterback AARON RODGERS just after the two-minute warning to help send the Vikings to their second win of this young 2016 season.
On a night when the Vikings lost their gifted running back ADRIAN PETERSON to a right knee injury, they needed some good news or for someone on their team be on a “next man up” binge.
Waynes (4 tackles and 1 interception) was flagged for three pass interference penalties and he was responsible for the 5 catches for 73 yards and 1 score night provided by Packers star receiver JORDY NELSON. But the second-year cornerback out of Michigan State showed with that game-saving interception, why he was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Waynes is a ball-hawk, he’s aggressive, confident, and he’s a heck of an athlete. But it was one of those traits (aggressiveness) that got him in hot water for much of tonight’s game and which could have helped the Pack win this game. But it was that crucial interception that saved his hide and gave the Vikings only their third win in this series of the 2010s decade. Since 2010 the Vikings are 3-10-1 (including a 2012 playoff loss to the Packers) versus the Packers.
It was players Waynes (when he wasn’t being flagged), receiver STEFON DIGGS (9 catches for 182 yards and 1 score), and the newly acquired SAM BRADFORD (22 of 31 for 286 yards, 2 touchdowns and no picks) who came up big tonight when they had and are players that the Vikings desperately to perform and to help make up for the loss of their franchise quarterback TEDDY BRIDGEWATER (done for the season with an ACL tear in a late August 2016 practice). 
Diggs is an up and coming superstar and he proved that tonight, with his big game and propensity for getting open and helping out Bradford. As for Bradford, tonight was a validation game for him because when he’s healthy and he has the requisite offensive weapons around him, he can be one of the most efficient NFL quarterbacks there is.
Rodgers had an off-night (for him that is) as he went 20 of 36 for 213 yards, 1 touchdown pass and no interception. He was also sacked five times and received numerous pressures from the likes of Viking defenders such as defensive tackle LINVAL JOSEPH and defensive ends EVERSON GRIFFEN and DANIELLE HUNTER.
Meanwhile, a blocked punt by backup wide receiver TY MONTGOMERY and two pass interference penalties on Vikings cornerback TERENCE NEWMAN, gave the Packers all the help they needed to score the first points of the game for both teams. On 2nd down and 1 from the 1 yard line, Rodgers took the snap and then waggled to his left, with him then throwing a 1-yard scoring pass to Nelson near the left corner of the end zone. With 5:39 left in the first quarter the Pack had a 7-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, the Vikings were able to answer that Nelson score with one of their own. And the score came courtesy of their marvelous tight end KYLE RUDOLPH (3 catches for 31 yards and 1 score) who beat Packers safety MORGAN BURNETT for an 8-yard touchdown catch. With 10:14 left in the second quarter the score was tied at 7-7.
Near the tail end of the first half, the Vikings had their first lead when kicker BLAIR WALSH booted a 44-yard field goal through the uprights. Walsh’s 126th successful field goal of his career gave the Vikes a 10-7 lead with 27 seconds left in the fist half.
Diggs gave the Vikes their second lead of the game, when he got behind the defense for a back of the end zone 46-yard touchdown grab. With 2:11 left in the third quarter the Vikings took a 17-7 lead.
But the Packers as they are apt to do in situations like this, began their comeback. Early in the fourth quarter and on a 3rd and 10 situation, Rodgers decided to take matters into his own hands. Seeing no one open short or in the end zone, he evaded multiple sack opportunities for Viking defenders and traversed down field for an eventual 10-yard touchdown run. Near the twelve-minute mark, the score moved to 17-14 Vikings.
