Vikings beat Pack to earn final playoff spot

Week 17
December 30, 2012 - 3:25 p.m. - FOX
Mall of America Field
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Packers 34 - Vikings 37

The playoff scenarios were simple in this Week 17 matchup against the rival Minnesota Vikings.  For the Vikings: win and you're in.  For the Packers: win and you knock the Vikings out, put the Chicago Bears in, and you still have hope for the #2 seed in the NFC.

Photo credit: packers.com

Adrian Peterson was a man on a mission Sunday.  Coming into the game Peterson needed 208 rushing yards to set the single-season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson in 1984.  Peterson dominated the Packers defense rushing for 199 yards and a touchdown.  The Vikings did their job beating the Packers on a 29-yard Blair Walsh field goal as time expired.  With the Vikings victory, the Packers clinched the #3 seed in the NFC and the Vikings clinched the #6 seed in the NFC which sets up a rematch at Lambeau Field next week for the Wild Card Round.

The Packers started very slow in this ballgame.  We were playing catchup the entire game as the Vikings jumped out to a 13-0 lead early in the 2nd quarter.  The Packers fought back into this game and even tied the game twice in the 4th quarter, but we were never able to overcome Adrian Peterson.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 365 yards and four touchdowns.  Rodgers was also sacked five times in this game.  Greg Jennings played well as he caught eight balls for 120 yards and two touchdowns.  DuJuan Harris also had a decent game as he rushed for 70 yards on fourteen carries.

The Packers and Vikings are set to play for the third time this season next week at Lambeau Field for a Wild Card playoff showdown.  Hopefully the Packers figure out some type of answer for Adrian Peterson as he has gashed the Packers for 409 rushing yards in the first two games.

To the playoffs we go...

Green Bay Packers  11-5
Minnesota Vikings  10-6
Chicago Bears  10-6
Detroit Lions  4-12