Green Bay Packers 42 Minnesota Vikings 10: Blowout at Lambeau
Back-to-back interceptions on consecutive series in the second quarter highlighted a Green Bay Packers 42-7 shellacking of the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field Thursday night, Oct. 2.
Those two interceptions were key to this win, redeeming the past efforts of a much-maligned defensive unit and encouraging fans and coaches alike.
With about seven minutes left in the second quarter, Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder threw a tipped pass right into the arms of Packers outside linebacker Julius Peppers, who returned it 49 yards for a pick-six.
His interception was followed by another on the Vikings’ next series when Ponder threw this time to Jamari Lattimore, who stepped in front of the receiver in a crossing pattern to nab the pass.
Those two interceptions were key to this win, redeeming the past efforts of a much-maligned defensive unit and encouraging fans and coaches alike. This defense has been gashed and dashed all season long, especially the team’s run defense.
Oct 2, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) catches a pass for a touchdown as Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) chases from behind during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
But tonight’s performance on the defensive side of the ball was exactly what this team needed. Last week, the Chicago Bears slammed their way to about 250 yards on the ground, while the Packers offense saved the day.
And though the Packers offense was a bit sluggish at times tonight against a tough Minnesota defense, it was the first two drives of the night that set the tone and provided the Packers the lead they would never give up.
On the Packers second drive, the Packers rode Eddie Lacy and rode him hard. On three straight plays, Lacy carried the ball for 50 yards of a 61-yard drive that was capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Randall Cobb.
That first touchdown set off tonight’s scoring firestorm by the Packers.
On their very next possession, Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson in stride on a 66-yard bomb as Nelson ran uncovered and untouched into the end zone to give Green Bay a 14-0 lead. It was Nelson’s only catch of the night, but one of the best highlights of the young season.
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By that point in time the game was over.
By game’s end, Eddie Lacy ran for 105 yards on the ground, an 8.1-yard average, with his long being 29 yards. He also caught all three passes thrown his way for 27 yards, while ramming his way to two touchdowns tonight, the second being one that will be remembered for years to come. Lacy literally ran over the Minnesota defensive back, knocking the defender’s helmet off as he dragged the defender into the end zone.
It was a thing of beauty and punched an exclamation point onto the end of the game.
The following are the game stats as provided by ESPN.
Scoring Summary
| FIRST QUARTER | MIN | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD | 9:39 | Randall Cobb Pass From Aaron Rodgers for 8 Yrds , Mason Crosby Made Ex. Pt |
Drive info: 4 plays, 61 yds, 2:04
07TD5:18Jordy Nelson Pass From Aaron Rodgers for 66 Yrds , Mason Crosby Made Ex. Pt
Drive info: 4 plays, 81 yds, 1:32
014SECOND QUARTERMINGBTD7:06Julius Peppers 49 Yrd Interception Return Mason Crosby Made Ex. Pt
Drive info: 6 plays, 27 yds, 3:30
021TD4:51
Davante AdamsPass From Aaron Rodgers for 11 Yrds , Mason Crosby Made Ex. Pt
Drive info: 3 plays, 20 yds, 1:15
028THIRD QUARTERMINGBTD10:33Eddie Lacy 11 Yard Rush , Mason Crosby Made Ex. Pt
Drive info: 6 plays, 70 yds, 2:59
035TD3:42Eddie Lacy 10 Yard Rush , Mason Crosby Made Ex. Pt
Drive info: 7 plays, 52 yds, 4:49
042FOURTH QUARTERMINGBTD14:59Christian Ponder 6 Yard Rush
Blair WalshMade Ex. Pt
Drive info: 7 plays, 62 yds, 3:48
742FG10:07Blair Walsh Made 26 Yrd Field Goal
Drive info: 7 plays, 22 yds, 3:13
1042
Team Stat Comparison
MIN
GB
1st Downs
20
15
Passing 1st downs
13
8
Rushing 1st downs
6
6
1st downs from penalties
1
1
3rd down efficiency
5-15
4-11
4th down efficiency
1-2
0-0
Total Plays
75
52
Total Yards
299
320
Yards per play
4.0
6.2
Total Drives
14
13
Passing
188
164
Comp-Att
22-44
15-22
Yards per pass
3.8
6.8
Interceptions thrown
2
1
Sacks-Yards Lost
6-34
2-14
Rushing
111
156
Rushing Attempts
25
28
Yards per rush
4.4
5.6
Red Zone (Made-Att)
1-3
4-4
Penalties
9-91
5-30
Turnovers
3
1
Fumbles lost
1
0
Interceptions thrown
2
1
Defensive / Special Teams TDs
0
1
Possession
32:09
27:51
| Minnesota Passing | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | SACKS | QBR | RTG | |
| C. Ponder | 22/44 | 222 | 5.0 | 0 | 2 | 6-34 | — | 45.8 |
| Team | 22/44 | 188 | 3.8 | 0 | 2 | 6-34 | — | — |
Green Bay Passing
C/ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
INT
SACKS
QBR
RTG
A. Rodgers12/17
156
9.2
3
0
2-14
—
138.7
M. Flynn3/5
22
4.4
0
1
0-0
—
30.8
Team
15/22
164
6.8
3
1
2-14
—
—
Minnesota Rushing
CAR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
M. Asiata15
72
4.8
0
11
J. McKinnon7
24
3.4
0
10
C. Ponder3
15
5.0
1
8
Team
25
111
4.4
1
11
Green Bay Rushing
CAR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
E. Lacy13
105
8.1
2
29
J. Starks12
46
3.8
0
17
J. Kuhn2
6
3.0
0
3
M. Flynn1
-1
-1.0
0
-1
Team
28
156
5.6
2
29
Minnesota Receiving
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
TGTS
A. Thielen4
57
14.3
0
17
5
G. Jennings2
31
15.5
0
17
6
C. Ford3
31
10.3
0
12
4
J. Wright3
27
9.0
0
18
8
J. McKinnon3
22
7.3
0
8
5
M. Gray1
16
16.0
0
16
2
R. Ellison1
12
12.0
0
12
2
J. Banyard2
11
5.5
0
10
2
C. Patterson2
8
4.0
0
6
4
C. Johnson1
7
7.0
0
7
3
M. Asiata0
0
0.0
0
0
3
Team
22
222
10.1
0
18
44
Green Bay Receiving
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
TGTS
J. Nelson1
66
66.0
1
66
3
R. Cobb3
34
11.3
1
20
4
E. Lacy3
27
9.0
0
21
3
A. Quarless2
19
9.5
0
10
2
J. Janis2
16
8.0
0
9
2
D. Adams1
11
11.0
1
11
4
J. Kuhn1
3
3.0
0
3
1
J. Starks2
2
1.0
0
3
2
Team
15
178
11.9
3
66
22
Minnesota Fumbles
FUM
LOST
REC
M. Asiata1
1
0
Team
1
1
0
Green Bay Fumbles
FUM
LOST
REC
C. Hayward0
0
1
Team
0
0
1
Minnesota Defensive
TACKLES
MISC
TOT
SOLO
SACKS
TFL
PD
QB HTS
TD
R. Blanton8
5
0
0
0
0
0
H. Smith6
5
0
1
1
0
0
G. Hodges6
4
0
0
0
0
0
A. Barr6
3
0
0
0
0
0
J. Brinkley5
3
0
0
0
0
0
X. Rhodes4
2
0
0
1
0
0
C. Munnerlyn3
3
0
0
0
0
0
L. Joseph3
0
0
0
0
0
0
E. Griffen2
1
1
1
0
1
0
S. Floyd2
1
1
1
0
2
0
B. Robison2
1
0
0
0
0
0
T. Johnson2
1
0
0
0
0
0
C. Loeffler1
1
0
0
0
0
0
M. Sherels1
1
0
0
0
0
0
C. Ponder1
1
0
0
0
0
0
A. Cole1
1
0
0
0
0
0
A. Thielen1
1
0
0
0
0
0
S. Stephen1
1
0
0
0
0
0
C. Wootton1
0
0
0
0
0
0
M. Mauti1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Team
57
35
2
3
2
3
0
Green Bay Defensive
TACKLES
MISC
TOT
SOLO
SACKS
TFL
PD
QB HTS
TD
M. Burnett12
9
0
0
0
0
0
T. Williams7
6
0
0
1
0
0
A. Hawk7
3
.5
0
1
1
0
M. Hyde6
5
0
0
1
0
0
H. Clinton-Dix6
5
0
0
0
1
0
C. Hayward5
4
0
0
2
1
0
J. Lattimore5
3
0
0
1
0
0
L. Guion4
2
1.5
1
0
3
0
N. Perry3
2
2
2
0
2
0
M. Daniels3
2
1.5
1
0
4
0
J. Peppers3
0
.5
0
1
1
1
M. Neal2
2
0
0
0
1
0
S. Richardson2
2
0
0
0
0
0
M. Pennel2
2
0
0
0
0
0
D. House2
1
0
0
0
0
0
C. Matthews1
1
0
0
0
0
0
B. Jones1
1
0
0
0
0
0
J. Starks1
1
0
0
0
0
0
S. Shields1
1
0
0
0
0
0
D. Jones0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Team
73
52
6
4
8
16
1
Minnesota Interceptions
INT
YDS
TD
H. Smith1
5
0
Team
1
5
0
Green Bay Interceptions
INT
YDS
TD
J. Peppers1
49
1
J. Lattimore1
10
0
Team
2
59
1
Minnesota Kick Returns
NO
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
M. Sherels2
75
37.5
46
0
C. Patterson3
59
19.7
27
0
Team
5
134
26.8
46
0
Green Bay Kick Returns
NO
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
No Kickoff Returns
Minnesota Punt Returns
NO
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
M. Sherels2
9
4.5
7
0
Team
2
9
4.5
7
0
Green Bay Punt Returns
NO
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
R. Cobb3
18
6.0
11
0
M. Hyde1
0
0.0
0
0
Team
4
18
4.5
11
0
Minnesota Kicking
FG
PCT
LONG
XP
PTS
B. Walsh1/1
100.0
26
1/1
4
Team
1/1
100.0
26
1/1
4
Green Bay Kicking
FG
PCT
LONG
XP
PTS
M. Crosby0/0
0.0
0
6/6
6
Team
0/0
0.0
0
6/6
6
Minnesota Punting
NO
YDS
AVG
TB
-20
LG
J. Locke7
304
43.4
0
1
56
Team
7
304
43.4
0
1
56
Green Bay Punting
NO
YDS
AVG
TB
-20
LG
T. Masthay6
304
50.7
1
5
58
Team
6
304
50.7
1
5
58