The Green Bay Packers throttled the Minnesota Vikings in the first of three consecutive divisional games on the schedule.
The Packers’ defense started on the field and got off to a slightly wobbly start — the Vikings got to the Packers’ 35 in just three plays — but then the D locked in, forcing three straight incompletions and forcing the Vikings offense to settle for three. That would ultimately account for half of Minnesota’s total points; they would add just one more field goal in the waning minutes of the half.
Jordan Love looked sharp and took an early lead, dissecting Minnesota’s defense down the field until Emanuel Wilson punched it in from a yard out to go up 7-3. Technically, that would be the game-winning score, although it felt closer than that when the half ended with a 10-6 Packers lead.
After the Vikings stopped the Packers on the first drive of the half, a Myles Price muff would set Green Bay up at the Vikings’ five-yard line. Wilson scored his second touchdown of the day, making it 17-6.
A couple more Packer field goals and an absolute bombardment of J.J. McCarthy made for a second half in which the Packers seemed fully in control.
Here are five numbers that tell the story of the Packers’ win over the rival Vikings.
6/6
With their opening touchdown, the Green Bay Packers capped off an interesting streak: They converted all six of their last red-zone drives into touchdowns.
NFL games are often won and lost in the distance between the 20-yard line and the end zone. The ability to get seven or settle for three usually makes or breaks seasons. The Packers have been exceptional recently at converting when they get deep into their opponents’ territory.
While Josh Jacobs has been the primary beneficiary of the red-zone touches, Wilson took over for him while he was injured this week and succeeded in that area. On the first drive at the one-yard line, Wilson took the initial hit from an unblocked Blake Cashman and drove the ball into the end zone.
5/7
The Packers were five of seven on third down in the first half.
A big part of what separated both teams in the first half of this game came down to how they operated on third down. The Packers consistently got themselves in good position, creating short-yardage situations with Emanuel Wilson.
When the Packers did need Love to make a throw, he proved more than capable. On third-and-long, he stood tall against the blitz and hit his man in the middle of the field. The Packers got their lead and helped their defense by converting on third down and keeping the Vikings defense on the field.
2
Micah Parsons made the Vikings’ offense struggle, recording two sacks on the day.
Parsons made his impact felt early on, getting pressure on the Vikings’ second pass play of the game and forcing a flustered J.J. McCarthy to throw the ball well over his running back in the flat.
While the Vikings’ run game took the Packers’ pass rush out of the game for much of the second quarter, after Green Bay took a 17-6 lead, it became evident that the Vikings would need to air the ball out, allowing the front four to pin their ears back and terrorize McCarthy.
This is when Parsons really made his impact felt, lining up all over the place, beating Christian Darrisaw on one play and Ryan Kelly on the next. Even when Parsons wasn’t directly responsible for sacks, he was getting McCarthy off platform and in the hands of a fellow pass rusher.
Parsons is now just the second player in NFL history with 10 sacks or more in their first five seasons. The first is a guy named Reggie White.
1
In his first start, Emanuel Wilson had his first 100-yard rushing day.
While Josh Jacobs was close to playing this week, he ultimately sat out on Sunday, looking to come back for Green Bay’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Detroit Lions. That allowed Wilson to make his first start, and he certainly capitalized.
Wilson looked especially lethal after contact, refusing to go down on the first tackle attempt. It was evident on the first drive when he lowered his head and ran over Cashman on his way to the game’s opening score.
Wilson’s toughness helped Green Bay’s offense extend drives, tiring Minnesota’s defense and preventing the Vikings from building a rhythm. He provided Love some breathing room and gave Jacobs an extra week of rest ahead of the most crucial game of the year.
1,057
The Packers beat the Vikings in Lambeau for the first time in 1,057 days.
The last time the Packers beat the Vikings at home was on January 1, 2023, back when Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers starting, respectively. The last time the Packers dropped three straight at home to the Vikings was in the 1970s.
Last season, Green Bay went 1-5 in its six games against NFC North opponents. Now, they are 2-0 in the division and in a good position for their next two games against the Lions and Chicago Bears, two games that could decide the fate of the NFC North.
