Minnesota Vikings get 37-34 win over NFC North rivals Green Bay Packers – NFL Week 17 Recap
With an average of 9.13 yards per pass Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers performed really well despite getting sacked five times during Minnesota Vikings’ 37-34 win over Packers in Week 17 game on Sunday, December 30, 2012, at Mall of America Field,
Minneapolis, MN.
Rodgers, who has the best passer rating (108) in this season, finished the game with 28 of 40 passes for 365 yards and scored four touchdowns without throwing any interception.
Rodgers threw two touchdown passes to wide receiver Greg Jennings of 3 and 5 yards in second and third quarters respectively.
Packers defensive tackle James Jones also scored a touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Rodgers.
Not even victorious quarterback Christian Ponder could have a comparison with Rodgers’ performance. Ponder ended up completing 16 of 28 passes for 234 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Vikings kicker Blair Walsh completed 3 of 3 field goals and increased his record of making most field goals (35) in this season.
Rodgers threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordy Nelson, and equalised the score at 34-34 in the fourth quarter of the game.
In the final moments of the game, Walsh kicked a 29-yard field goal and won the game by gaining three more points.
He also kicked 54-yard and 37-yard field goals in first second and second quarters respectively.
Packers were moving on with a good pace by winning four straight games in the season, but this close defeat was shocking for them, considering their 23-14 victory against Vikings in first matchup on December 2.
The Associated Press quoted Packers head coach Mike McCarthy:
"It took us a little while to adjust to the crowd noise, and we didn't get going. That usually happens up here. This is a tough place to play, no doubt. We anticipated this being the loudest environment of the year. They pumped it in here pretty good today."
The running back with 2,097, the most in the season, Adrian Peterson got the chance to prove his worth in this game. He rushed 34 times for 199 yards and scored a touchdown in first quarter of the game. Peterson also scored a touchdown in third quarter by
receiving a 2-yard pass from Ponder.
Peterson said:
“We came in here tonight and accomplished the ultimate goal, and that was getting a win and punching our ticket to the playoffs."
Vikings have ended their season with four straight wins.
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