The Green Bay Packers would be more of a contender in both the NFC North and just the NFC Playoff picture if they could just find a way to win on the road. They could not do so on Sunday Night Football, as the Minnesota Vikings took advantage of their inability to win away from home to earn a 24-17 victory to pull within a game and a half of the Chicago Bears for the top spot in the division. The loss for Green Bay sends them to 4-6-1 overall, including 0-6 away from home. Luckily for them, three of their final five games will take place at Lambeau Field.
For the Vikings, Kirk Cousins finally stepped up in prime time, throwing for 342 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over, as his team gained 416 yards in their sixth win. He completed 29 of his 38 attempts on the night, finding Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook for touchdowns, helping the Vikings improve to 4-2 on their home field.
The Vikings' defense was also a major factor in this home win, a charge that was led by Sheldon Richardson's two sacks, all to hold Aaron Rodgers to just 198 yards passing. It also led the Vikings to their first win in a night game this season, this after they fell to the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, and the Chicago Bears in similar showdowns. The lack of turnovers was also different for Minnesota, who entered the game ranked fourth in the NFL in turnovers. Of those 16 turnovers coming in to play, Cousins was charged with 13 of them, so a clean game is exactly what his confidence needed.
Despite the loss, Rodgers did find Aaron Jones and Davante Adams for touchdown passes, but his team fell to 1-5-1 in their previous seven games against the Vikings. After a hot start on the road, their final seven possessions saw just one field goal, five punts, and a turnover on downs. An onside kick attempt late was recovered by the Vikings, who passed for a first down that allowed them to run out the rest of the clock.
The road does not get any easier for Minnesota, who will hit the road next week to battle the New England Patriots. Meanwhile, the Packers will fortunately return home to host the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday afternoon.
For the Vikings, Kirk Cousins finally stepped up in prime time, throwing for 342 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over, as his team gained 416 yards in their sixth win. He completed 29 of his 38 attempts on the night, finding Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook for touchdowns, helping the Vikings improve to 4-2 on their home field.
The Vikings' defense was also a major factor in this home win, a charge that was led by Sheldon Richardson's two sacks, all to hold Aaron Rodgers to just 198 yards passing. It also led the Vikings to their first win in a night game this season, this after they fell to the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, and the Chicago Bears in similar showdowns. The lack of turnovers was also different for Minnesota, who entered the game ranked fourth in the NFL in turnovers. Of those 16 turnovers coming in to play, Cousins was charged with 13 of them, so a clean game is exactly what his confidence needed.
Despite the loss, Rodgers did find Aaron Jones and Davante Adams for touchdown passes, but his team fell to 1-5-1 in their previous seven games against the Vikings. After a hot start on the road, their final seven possessions saw just one field goal, five punts, and a turnover on downs. An onside kick attempt late was recovered by the Vikings, who passed for a first down that allowed them to run out the rest of the clock.
The road does not get any easier for Minnesota, who will hit the road next week to battle the New England Patriots. Meanwhile, the Packers will fortunately return home to host the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday afternoon.
