Postgame
3:32 p.m.
Best way to put it was Mike McCarthy's four words to Larry McCarren: "a hard fought loss."
4th Quarter
3:19 p.m. 0:26 Packers' 4th Drive
The Packers have to produce an actual full drive now. They haven't done that all day.
Blackmon to the 40 yard line giving Green Bay a 30 yard drive to go to field goal range.
HUGE TIPPED CATCH BY DRIVER to the Minnesota 40 yard line! A spectacular play that might have given the Packers life in a deadly situation.
Two runs get the ball to the MINN 37...wish they'd thrown the ball. 55 yards is do-able, but kind of tight quarters for a kick.
Can you get me five yards. Just five yards, not even a first down?
Blitz coming - but Driver gets to the 34. three yards, smart to avoid the blitz and the sack. Better than a 10 yard loss.
52 yards to win a game? A kickers' dream moment with :31 left.
Snap by Goode, hold, kick is up and NO GOOD...to the right.
3:07 p.m. 2:07 Vikings' 3rd Drive
Minnesota 28, Green Bay 27
Peterson 29 yard TD run.
3rd and 1 and for the first time, Bobby Wade makes an important catch in the game for a first down with 4:28 left.
Jiminy Christmas! Can't we get Peterson down on the improvised pass from Frerotte? 16 yards and about 32,910 tackles broken.
The Vikes just want to dink and dump and not worry about going after perhaps the best ball-hawking pass coverage unit in the NFL.
2nd and short on the 29...Peterson breaks through and gets to the end zone. Ugh (number four and the most painful).
Wait! McCarthy is challenging the call. I don't know if that's a touchdown! The knee was down...the ball at about the two-inch line. I think it's coming back.
Is it just a fait accompli, though, that the Vikes get the ball in the end zone eventually? I guess McCarthy wants to do the obvious and keep the points off the board and let his defense try to save this one.
Nope...it's a TD.
2:52 p.m. 5:55 Packers' 2nd Drive
Green Bay 27, Minnesota 21
Corsby 40 yd FG
Now Green Bay can put it away, or at least make Minnesota nervous.
Great job by Ryan Grant on the first play to go 13 yards on the first play, idiotic job by Darren Colledge to get called for holding on the next first down play.
Two short passes by Rodgers set up another critical 3rd down - 3rd and five. C'mon boys!
The Packers wind down the clock and take a time out, giving them two to go for the game.
TOUCHDOWN! Rodgers to Greg Jenn....wait...offsides on Clifton! Wayne: "How does that happen?" Larry answers: "crown noise and Jared Allen."
Now a 3rd and 10 and another Vikings time out...why? Vikes can't get a brain on defensive calls.
But they get it right as Darren Sharper hits Donald Driver after Rodgers finds him at the Minnesota 22. It's OK, a Crosby field goal makes Minnesota go the length of the field to win.
2:50 p.m. 8:58 Vikings' 1st Drive
The Packers' defense is doing a job on Peterson, as they're using what Larry calls a "MASH"...but as I type that, Peterson pulls a de-cleating cutback on A.J. Hawk and goes 24 yards.
152 yads for Peterson so far, and that's without a MONSTER run by Peterson.
Monster third and one...Taylor on the run...is he short? YES! With 9:19 to go, do you go for it on fourth on your own 41 yard line?
Mr. Mustache is sending the punting unit on to a chorus of boos...but he's challenging the spot on the 3rd down run first, and he loses - while losing a time out.
Hang on, they're going for it. Larry: "Slightly large" play.
Peterson stood up and he LOST THE BALL!!!! Did the Packers get it? Even if the Vikings got it back, it's behind the first down line, I think...and the Packers never had possession. I think it's Packers ball no problem.
2:40 p.m.
This is one of those times when you have the lead and you feel REALLY scared. Gus Frerotte won't play like T.J. Rubley all game long. Adrian Peterson still doesn't have a HUGE run today. Both those facts really make me shake in my chair in fright.
2:38 p.m. 12:36 Packers' 1st Drive
Can the Packers do anything offensively? If they can successfully in a sustained way, this game's history.
It won't if Daryn Colledge jumps. What is that...the 35th offensive line penalty today? It also won't if Chad Clifton can't guard Jared Allen.
But it will if Jared Allen roughs the passer multiple times like he did just then on Rodgers. I guess $50,000 fines won't stop him from head-to-head hits on QB's.
3rd and 3....in Minnesota territory. This could be MONSTROUS...DRIVER with a leaping grab, but didn't get both feet inbounds. Leber unloaded...legally this time, on Rodgers.
3rd Quarter
2:29 p.m. 0:25 Vikings' 5th Drive
Hmm...defense and special teams outscoring the offense? That's awesome.
But Wayne makes a definite point - when you keep playing defense, your defenders get tired. One example - Peterson breaking three to the side for a 15-yard-or-so first down. Desmond Bishop taking a bad angle on the play. Another broken eardrum for him in the Monday meetings.
3rd down and 18...and the Packers have owned Bernard Berrian today - no catches. Wade gets this opportunity and he drops the pass.
Defense comes off the field..."OK, offense, see if you can hold 'em!"
2:22 p.m. 3:45 Vikings' 4th Drive
Green Bay 24, Minnesota 21
Blackmon 65 yd TD punt return
Now the defense has to do its job again, and that job includes stopping Adrian Peterson. Of course, it's easier with a holding penalty on the Minnesota line.
So does a drop by Wade when being stalked by Aaron Rouse, and a blitz by Poppinga holding Peterson to a one-yard gain. The good screen play by Taylor is about 500,000 yards short of a first down.
WOO HOO! Blackmon putting the Packers in the lead with about 25,000 hip swivels to make Vikings defenders miss - 65 yards!!!
2:16 p.m. 5:21 Vikings' 3rd Drive
Minnesota 21, Green Bay 17
Collins 60 yd INT return TD
"God Bless Gus Frerotte! He has single-handedly kept the Packers in this game." Wayne put it perfecly after a Collins interception return and weave through the not-so-experienced tacklers of the Minnesota offense.
2:12 p.m. 5:48 Packers' 2nd Drive
Either the Vikings know exactly what the Packers are doing in the run game, or the O-line is simply doing nothing. Two runs by Grant net -1 yards, and it's not his fault.
3rd down...Rodgers throws behind Driver. Sick of these three-and-outs. Ugh. (3rd of the day).
The offense is as sharp as a 50-year-old knife. Then add a late hit by Desmond Bishop on the punt return. We'll see if he has a roster spot after this game.
2:09 p.m. 7:07 Vikings' 2nd Drive
And it will be short, regardless of the result. Even a three-and-out means a field goal attempt.
And Longwell from 48 yards? NO GOOD! Pushed right.
2:04 p.m. 8:34 Packers' 1st Drive
Better answer, guys, and fast.
Hmm...Nelson gets the football and runs forward - but not to the 20. The Vikes just cover kickoffs well, and they're full off, as Wayne put it, you-know-what and vinegar.
AGAIN! Chad Greenway on a delayed blitz with a sack, after Rodgers had all the time in the world. Loss of 12 and a lot of hope in the Packers' offensive backfield.
This is sad.
3rd and 19 - Rodgers misses Jennings who was tripped by Cedric Griffin, who Jennings beat. McCarthy was livid, as was Jennings, and I'm surprised Jennings didn't get 15 yards for screaming at the ref.
Again, great field position at the GB 34 for Minnesota.
1:57 p.m. 10:31 Vikings' 1st Drive
Minnesota 21, Green Bay 10
Man, seeing the Vikings with a five-plus minute time of possession advantage is not pleasant to think about.
Shancoe, incoming missile coming your way...being identified as Nick Collins causing a three yard gain to be MIGHTY painful.
Sadly, on 3rd-and-2, a second effort by Peterson got a first down.
Oh no...Barnett is down on a run play with 11:00 left. He's being turned over by medical staff. This is not too happy. He's on a stretcher on the sideline.
3rd and 5 on the GB 48...Frerotte - Taylor and he beats Desmond Bishop, who came in for Barnett, and he missed a tackle - and Taylor is gone.
2nd Quarter
1:35 p.m. 0:00 Packers' 5th Drive
Minnesota 14, Green Bay 10
Crosby 47 yd FG
ANOTHER penalty - Colledge one of three offensive linemen downfield early, and a waste of six seconds with a loss of five yards. More challenging for Rodgers.
Great job by Jackson to get out of bounds with :09 left to get to field goal range and give Crosby a chance. Now DON'T LET THE CLOCK RUN OUT!
Good catch by Jones out of bounds to get the field goal unit on, and Crosby knocks it through.
1:33 p.m. 0:22 Vikings' 5th Drive
A penalty drives a great return by the Vikes back to the MINN 39. The Vikings run the ball with Taylor to set up a 3rd down with 30 seconds left.
Frerotte intercepted by Williams and a GREAT job that could give Green Bay another chance before the half. THANK YOU SECONDARY AGAIN!
SHUT THE HORN UP!
1:28 p.m. 0:44 Packers' 4th Drive
Minnesota 14, Green Bay 7
Safety, Jared Allen
Rodgers is getting frustrated by the lack of open receivers in the short time his line can give him with the ferociousness of the Vikes' pass rush.
Just as I type that, cheap-shot artist Jared Allen legitimately got a safety. Ugh. (2nd of the game)
1:27 p.m. 1:11 Vikings' 4th Drive
Atari Bigby just Froggered Shanko on a WR screen on 2nd down. BEAUTIFUL job, causing a 3rd down and long which could lead to another possession.
Great job by Jolly stopping Frerotte (with DB coverage help).
1:20 p.m. 2:00 Packers' 3rd Drive
Two guys nearly picked off a thread-the-needle pass to Driver by Rodgers...thankfully a phew with Vikings butterfingers unable to hold on to it.
3rd and 9 at the GB 11: screen to Jackson but he only gets to the 17. That seemed like a breathing-room play.
1:17 p.m. 3:24 Vikings' 3rd Drive
On the MINN 12, Peterson goes 26 yards after a tackle missed by Poppinga and Hawk.
Another first down by Peterson on a nine-yard gain with a screen pass, and Peterson is coming up slowly along the sideline.
There's the difference between Peterson and Chester Taylor - a two-yard loss on a shimmy move that didn't fool a blitzing Nick Collins. Peterson might still be running if he was the guy in the game.
3rd and 8 and Colin Cole BARRELS over Frerotte (as well as the right guard protecting him). A personal foul call as well on the offense!
1:08 p.m. 7:50 Packers' 2nd Drive
To add insult to special-teams brainlessness, Grant gets a one-yard loss on 1st down, but thankfully, Pat Williams showed his lack of brains by allowing himself to commit defensive holding. 1st and five and out of a hole. Tory Humphrey addes a catch for a first down.
Greg Jennings! 15 speedy yards, and Medea Williams' arms were the only thing keeping Jennings from a TD on the slant pattern.
I loved Larry's descrption of the 1st down run...AAAAGH. Grant - no gain.
I hated Wayne having to say "goodness" after a Donald Driver holding penalty, negating a first down run by Ryan Grant.
3rd and 13 from the GB 39: one of those completions that aren't enough for a first down, but when you're running for life and limb, getting rid of the ball to whoever's open is all you can do.
The punt! FUMBLE! Not really - elbow on the ground with Bishop holding his knees up.
Charles Gordon, the return guy, is down and hurt. Really hurt. Players are on one knee, praying as they take Gordon onto a golf cart with a round of applause, even from Desmond Bishop, who hit him. He and other Packers defenders are coming up to him to let him know they're thinking about him.
Class in a moment of trying times.
12:59 p.m. 10:51 Vikings 2nd Drive
Minnesota starts the drive at the 39 yard line after the free kick punt, but oh do the Packers to a job to get to a 3rd down and 7...all the time in the world, but Wade was overthrown and Kampman helped stop a critical Vikings drive.
Nick Collins is out with turf toe - we'll see if he comes back.
Why did Blackmon take the ball out of the end zone on the punt? I don't think there's a brain-fulled return guy on the roster today! He's behind the 10 yard line, with a penalty to boot!
12:55 p.m. 12:54 Packers' 1st Drive
Minnesota 12, Green Bay 7
Safety, Rodgers called for illegal forward pass in end zone
Blackmon made the same mistake that Jordy Nelson did on the first possession - and they wouldn't let him get to the 20 yard line.
1st down: "five wide,", but not really - but Rodgers couldn't get it to Nelson, with Winfield on great coverage.
Korey Hall! Why did you just commit holding on Korey Hall grabbing Jared Allen's ankles? And why did the ref say it was holding on Grant, who actually carried the ball? Yeesh!!
2nd and 20....and he fumbles the ball out of the end zone, trying to prevent the safety. A ref called it a penalty, though Rodgers was throwing it underhanded to a receiver.
WHAT! ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS? SAFETY? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? He was throwing that football legitimately! Refs, get a clue.
12:45 p.m. 12:56 Vikings' 1st Drive (continued from first quarter)
Minnesota 10, Green Bay 7
Longwell 54 yd FG
Adrian Peterson is having his way with the Packers' defense. The more he runs the ball and takes the clock down, the more tired the Packers' defense is.
It goes longer when offsetting penalties knocks down a perfectly guarded pass to Berrian - credit Harris with glove-like coverage.
Credit the Packers' defense, the secondary, when a blitz by the LB's went nowhere but Frerotte couldn't make a play to an open receiver.
I'm not sure what to think on a play call where it's 2nd and 15 and the Vikes go with an inside run on Peterson that gains one yard.
3rd down - again, GREAT secondary coverage forcing Frerotte to sit there with a ton of time and no open receivers!
Ah, our old friend Ryan Longwell from 54? Good. Darn. "With room to spare, Larry says."
1st Quarter
12:37 p.m. 0:00 Vikings' 3rd Drive
Peterson so far with one double-digit run, but Kampman stops him for no gain on a 1st and 10. A blitz and a run for Peterson, and great coverage by Johnny Jolly coming around to get him.
3rd and 12: Frerotte had Berrian WIDE OPEN, and he missed him by 10 yards, but Al Harris with a dumb illegal contact penalty that negated what would have been a lucky stop.
The play action fake on 2nd and 9 with Peterson gave Frerotte EONS of time to find Chester Taylor for a first down with Barnett getting faked out on coverage.
12:28 p.m. 4:01 Packers' 3rd Drive
GO RYAN GRANT! Power burst up the middle for 13 yards, and without a spectacular tackle, he'd be in Bloomington right now.
3rd down pass BEAUTIFUL to Jenings, but the ball was loose at the Minn 12. Was the ball ripped out before Jennings hit the ground? YES!
Another great pass on 1st down! Driver set the record for most consecutive games with a receptions!
RYAN GRANT! Great job of getting around the end to start a consecutive games with TD streak - one.
12:22 p.m. 7:16 Vikings' 2nd Drive
Thank you Charles Woodson! First good field position after Woodson cut off a pass to Wade. Ball at the GB 48. Short fields are very cool.
12:19 p.m. 7:34 Packers' 2nd Drive
Blackmon this time showing Nelson how it's done, running forward to the 25, getting what he could. That bad field position earlier cost Green Bay a touchdown.
Who needs Jared Allen when Napoleon Harris can blitz past a non-paying-attention Ryan Grant on 2nd down?
3rd and 13 at the GB 22: this is not good to have to face early....especially when Brian Robinson powers through for a second straight sack.
12:14 p.m. 8:01 Vikings' 1st Drive
Minnesota 7, Green Bay 0
Frerotte-Sidney Rice 3 yd TD pass
Peterson starts the game with a rare pile-driving run, and on 3rd and long, Chester Taylor checked out of the backfield and punished Green Bay by taking it right near the red zone.
After just one first down, Vikings near the red zone? Field position is not Green Bay's friend. Neither is Peterson after a lunge for a first down and goal. Missed tackle - Woodson.
So why are we blitzing against a Peterson outside run? That's taking too many chances, and he could blast into the end zone no problem if he runs to the vacated hole.
SWEET job by Williams to deflect a pass to Sidney Rice. Had the receiver not interfered with him, Tramon would have pulled off the INT and might still be running.
And now Rice made Williams pay for that, and poor coverage by getting position on Williams in the end zone for the score.
12:06 p.m. 13:15 Packers' 1st Drive
Jordy Nelson has got to make sure that in the future to always run forward and take what you can get instead of trying to run the flanks. Donald Driver should have learned the same lesson when he was nearly tackled on a pitch outside, and a second effort led to a loss of three on first down.
A higher-percentage third down and six: Nelson looked the wrong way at Rodgers' rifle throw...if he turns the proper direction to make the catch, it's at least a 30-yard gain.
Missed opportunity - the first ugh of the game, and the Vikings start on the GB 39 with a 21-yard return on a line-drive punt.
12:00 p.m. 15:00
Packers will start the game with the football after winning the coin toss.
Pregame Updates
11:22 a.m.
Packers WR James Jones is active for today, but LB Brandon Chillar looks like he's a scratch.
11:00 a.m.
Vikings DE Jared Allen will play, despite fighting his sprained right shoulder.