Love, Packers Dominate Vikings, 33-10, Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

While a shirtless, Gjallarhorn-blowing Kirk Cousins successfully fired up the crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium before Minnesota's Sunday night game against the visiting Packers, he did little to light a fire under the Vikings' defense.  

Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes as the Packers raced to a 20-point halftime bulge and cruised to a 33-10 win. The loss knocks Minnesota out of contention for a wild card. And, based on their flat, uninspired performance in a must-win situation — at home, no less — the Vikings made it clear they are not worthy of postseason play.

Of course, starting a rookie at Cousins’ position did not help the Vikings’ cause. That decision backfired early when Jaren Hall, the rookie signal-caller in question, was intercepted in the first quarter at his own 33-yard line by Green Bay corner Corey Ballentine. Love converted the short field into a score with the first of two touchdown passes to rookie receiver Jayden Reed. A Minnesota field goal at the start of the second quarter made it 10-3, but Green Bay answered right back, with Love scoring on a two-yard run. During the drive, RB Aaron Jones picked up 32 yards of his 120 yards on the night. 

The Packers again converted a costly Minnesota mistake into points when Preston Smith strip-sacked Hall with 32 seconds left in the first half. Two plays later, Love found Reed for the second time to give the Pack a commanding 23-3 lead at intermission. 

The two turnovers meant the end of the evening for Hall, replaced by Nick Mullens at the start of the second half. Mullens did throw a touchdown, but the Vikings depleted offense (no T.J. Hockenson) could muster no momentum against a Green Bay defense gashed in the last three games, most recently by Carolina's anemic offense. The Packers’ D registered five sacks, stifled Minnesota’s running game (67 yards) and kept star wideout Justin Jefferson (five catches, 59 yards) in check.

Meanwhile, the pressure-happy Vikings defense did not record a single sack on Love. The usually mediocre Green Bay running game pounded out 177 yards. And the Packers got help from an unexpected source in Bo Melton, signed off the practice squad in late November. The second-year wideout caught six passes for a team-high 105 yards and a touchdown. He was one of three players (along with Reed and tight end Tucker Kraft) to catch a half dozen passes, with eight different Packers catching at least one pass. 

Those numbers illustrate how well Love is distributing the football. His 30 touchdown passes on the season indicate how sneaky productive he has been in 2023. His three scoring throws tonight marked the fifth game this season in which he has thrown that many TD passes.

For the Packers, their road to the playoffs started with this must win. They were aided greatly by Seattle losing to Pittsburgh earlier in the day. To get into the postseason, Green Bay still needs to defeat Chicago next week and needs the Rams to lose to the 49ers. If both those things occur, the Packers are in as a wild card. 

Though a fairly cut-and-dry scenario, there are couple of possible obstructions: The 49ers, having clinched the No. 1 seed, may rest some starters against LA. And nothing would make the Bears’ disappointing season more than knocking their oldest rival out of the postseason. 

Should be fun.