Packers vs. Vikings – Game Day First Impressions, Unfiltered: GB 34 MIN 37

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Vikings running back Adrian Peterson
Peterson scores an early touchdown and helps Minnesota secure the win but falls 9 yards shy of the single-season rushing record

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings:

I’m taking the reins for Jersey Al in today’s Game Day First Impressions.  Here are my unfitered game day running blog post of comments and observations.

Inactive for Packers today:

WR Randall Cobb, RB James Starks, S Charles Woodson, CB Davon House, LB Terrell Manning, WR Donald Driver, DT Jordan Miller

Inactive for Vikings today: 

QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, WR Stephen Burton, CB Brandon Burton, S Robert Blanton, LB Audie Cole, OL Troy Kropog, DE D’Aundre Reed

Game Notes:

Adrian Peterson needs just 205 rushing yards to eclipse Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards set in 1984

Packers can clinch the second playoff seed with a victory today.  Can still clinch #2 seed with a loss coupled with a San Francisco loss and a Seattle loss or tie

WR Jordy Nelson (hamstring) returns for the first time since the December 2nd meeting against the Vikings.  DE C.J. Wilson (knee) returns for the first time since late November

Jeremy Ross will assume kick return duties today with Cobb out

Packers can even their all-time record at Metrodome to 15-15 with a win. Have a chance to win three in a row in Minnesota since ’82 – ’85 seasons

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Mike McCarthy Pregame Show on 620 WTMJ:

Motivation today with playoff implications looming:  Playing to sweep division which is our goal in training camp.  Thursday’s padded practice was sharp

Game prep:  Big game, crowd will be energetic.  Team must be sharp and focus on finishing every play

Fewer big plays given up on defense vs. last season:  Playing good team defense.  Have to credit young guys

Vikings:  They’re a good team.  Have to study film carefully and be prepared.  They are tough at home.  Run the ball very well

Christian Ponder:  He has total command of the offense.  Went through a phase earlier this year, threw some interceptions.  Have to keep him in favorable down and distance from a defensive perspective

Adrian Peterson:  Huge focus today.  Important to focus on tackling and keep big plays to a minimum

Securing second seed in NFC:  Focusing on winning today and playing well.  Important to get highest seed possible but biggest thing is to play well.  Teams that play well can win most any game

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Packers vs. Vikings – First Impressions – First Half:

Packers will kick off and start on defense

Blair Walsh shows why he was named to this year’s Pro Bowl with a 54 yard field goal on Minnesota’s opening possession

Packers three and out on their first possession.  Rodgers had time to throw, couldn’t find anyone open

Packers getting good and consistent pressure on Ponder so far

Packers tackling very poorly early on.  Not a good sign

Green Bay has no answer for Adrian Peterson and he has over 70 yards and a score early

Packers having as much success on offense as they are on defense.  Two straight three and out’s

Pass rush not getting home and Minnesota can do no wrong on either side of the ball so far

End of First Quarter: Packers 0 Vikings 10

Ross with a nice return to start second quarter to Packers 43

Rodgers steps right into a sack by Jared Allen.  Can’t keep leaving himself open like that

Crowd noise is a problem for Green Bay today.  Packers just forced to burn timeout with 12 minutes left in the half and just two plays after a delay of game penalty

What’s on the golf channel?

Jeremy Ross with a 32 yard punt return and a very nifty one.  The Packers may have found the solution to getting Cobb off return duties

Nelson and Rodgers out of sync.  That’s what a month apart will do to a relationship

Jennings with a bad drop on what would have been a touchdown throw.  He seems on his way out of Green Bay after this season

Packers first red zone possession:  incomplete pass after incomplete pass after incomplete pass after a catch and no challenge on a potential TD followed by another incomplete pass and finally a touchdown throw to Jennings.  Sound like a playoff team?

Packers get to Ponder with a big hit but he still gets off a duck that lands in the hands of a Vikings receiver.  It’s just one of those kinds of games.  Green Bay has to play lights out all day to win, period

Packers are really embarrassing themselves today.  Give up a long run to Peterson after he was stopped and follow it up with a wide open touchdown just before half.  .

Rodgers just standing there sucking his thumb and gets sacked on 3rd down.  The one thing Rodgers is really horrible at:  holding onto the ball

Crosby hits a long field goal to bring the Packers to within 10 points.  Big whoop with a defense that can’t stop anything.  That was a sarcastic challenge to the defense

Going to temper my expectations and go with a more comedic approach in half #2

End of second quarter: Packers 10 Vikings 20

Packers vs. Vikings – First Impressions – Second Half:

After a very uninspiring first few downs that included Rodgers tripping over his lineman’s feet, the Packers march down and get some big runs after catch.  Culminates with a wide open Jennings touchdown in the end zone

And just as quickly as the Packer scored, Peterson rattles off another 15 yards.  He’s going to set the record today at this rate

Ross with another tough return after a defensive stop.  Hoping McCarthy goes with the hot hand at returner too!

Harris is the type of back that this offense needs.  . shifty, quick and short

And bye bye positive momentum as Rodgers coughs it up at midfield.  Vikings ball

Pathetic effort by Tramon Williams on the tackle attempt.  Absolutely pathetic

Packers just cannot get a turnover in this game.  And they need one or they’re at home against these same Vikings next week

More pathetic from Tramon

Congratulations Adrian Peterson on 2,000 yards and a new single-season rushing record.  I’m early to the party for the latter but it’s coming. .just watch

McMillian with a terrible PI in the end zone to give Minnesota new life from the 5.  Peterson with the TD grab and this will ignite the Vikings.  I don’t foresee a comeback by Green Bay in any fashion

Rodgers with a long strike to Nelson that looked like it might be overthrown but Nelson reels it in and takes it down to the Minnesota 5 yard line

James Jones with a catch and lunge at the end zone that is initially ruled a fumble but nothing on replay indicates that it was.  McCarthy unwisely throws the challenge flag on a play that would already be reviewed but review had already started.  Official ruling is touchdown for James Jones, as it should have been

Yeah, it’s good that GB is now within 3, but the Vikings offense is coming on the field so. . . .

Peterson needs just 51 yards to tie the all time rushing yard mark, 52 to surpass.  He is one long run away

End of third Quarter: Packers 24 Vikings 27

Packers with a big three and out after the score.  Must punch it in now

Vikings with three straight penalties on the punt and it will give the Packers the ball at mid field and with a chance to tie or take the lead

I take a realist approach to what I see. Yes, it’s negative at times but so is GB’s play.  Call it like it is

Packers first drive of the quarter stalls.  Crosby on to try a 41 yard attempt.  And it’s good to tie it up at 27-27

Crosby has now hit on his last four attempts.  Both today over 40 yards

Ponder hits on a deep ball to Jarius Wright followed by a very tough run by Peterson down to the Green Bay 2 yard line

Little early on the fireworks as Jenkins cant’ reel in Ponder’s attempt into the end zone. . but there’s another several tries coming thanks to Tramon Williams’ hands to the face when he’s nowhere near the play.  Tramon is costing the Packers dearly today

Matthews walks off the field after landing hard on his back

Vikings touchdown catch by Jenkins in traffic to give Vikings a 34-27 lead with 7 mintes left

Packers did not come ready to play a full game today

Hate to say it but I’m taking the Vikings in an upset next week.  I have not liked much that I saw at key times today from the Packers

Nelson is currently out with a knee injury and is questionable to return.  Disappointing season for Jordy.  Now he’s back and he makes an amazing touchdown grab on the back shoulder fade.  Tied at 34-34

Jarrett Boykin carted off after being tackled awkwardly on a previous catch.  Packers down to Jennings, Jones, Nelson and Ross at WR and Finley at TE

Matthews is back on the field

Now Jerel Worthy is down and will be carted off the field

Casey Hayward with a rare mental lapse and blows coverage on wide open Jenkins for key first down conversion

With that first down, Minnesota will likely run the clock down and give Walsh a game winning try

Peterson with a back-breaking run but will fall just 9 yards short of the single season rushing record

Walsh’s kick is good, Vikings win and have clinched a playoff berth.  Will come to Lambeau next week on Saturday evening

Final Score: Packers 34 Vikings 37

 

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Jason Perone is an independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on AllGreenBayPackers.com

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70 thoughts on “Packers vs. Vikings – Game Day First Impressions, Unfiltered: GB 34 MIN 37

  1. I don’t think it’s time to jump off the ship yet but man, that defensive performance gave me flashbacks to 2011. The secondary was absolutely horrible. Williams will probably never be a shut down type corner again but average would be nice, lol. He looked like he didn’t want to be at the game and his tackling was pathetic. I think all of those people that have been calling for TT to draft all offense in the upcoming draft might need to rethink their opinions.

    Some positives I took away from the game:
    1. I thought Raji played great and he was continually pushing the pocket.
    2. Crosby made his kicks. Kickoffs didn’t go very deep but at this point it’s an afterthought.
    3. Dujuan Harris looked like he can be a serious contributor. Maybe should be the number 1 running back.
    4. Rodgers started slow but he looked like he was back to his mvp form.
    5. Ross imo has earned some more attempts at kickoffs and kick returns. Great potential.

    In the end this game is frustrating but it should be a different outcome at Lambeau. Also, if that defense doesn’t have some pride after their past 2 performances against AP they should check themselves, lol.

  2. A number of years from now, when they’re compiling Peterson career highlights, the 2012 Packers will be featured prominently.

  3. In a number of years, when they’re compiling Peterson’s career highlights, the 2012 Packers will be prominently featured.

  4. First congrats to AD. He is a beast who has run through many D’s this year. It was the one year anniversary of his surgery today and he was out to prove how good he is. I wish we had a RB that ran with such intensity.

    The Pack lost to a division rival for the first time in two years at their home field. A stupid PF from Tramon cost the game. Two or three false starts from Barclay didn’t help. Mason hit Field Goals, Rodgers brought the team to a tie with 34 seconds left. Officials still seems slow and confused.

    Rookie Heyward bit on a fake pump. Learning time for him. I’d still rather have him than Cook for the vikes or the guy they traded Arizona for. Heyward will improve.

    All that said: The Pack needs someone the other teams fear. The DB’s are good but since losing Nick Collins the packers have lost the intensity. Of course the protect the defenseless wr bs also makes it tougher.

    The Pack lost a tough game and will regroup. I’m looking forward to the rematch. Now it is 1 and done. The talking will be down on the field.

  5. Hats off to M. Crosby for doing his job in a tuff environment. I’ve been tough on him, which he deserved. I hope his confidence is back and MM will have proved most of us wrong. I agree with Sterling, the Packers are fine. AP would have put 200 yards on any team yesterday. Don’t panic Packers Nation, our boys are fine.

  6. Ryan Grant started the game!? WTF? What a wasted first quarter. To allow the Pack to get behind on the road, in MN!? TT needs to pull the offensive play calling from MM. MM let his feelings and nostalgia get the best of him.

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