Packers have traveled long road to wild-card meeting with Giants

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Dec 24, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) passes for a touchdown to wide receiver Jordy Nelson (not pictured) in the second quarter during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Christmas comes early

In a game where both teams were fighting for their playoff lives, the Packers wanted to continue to build on their four-game win streak at Lambeau.

The Vikings came in struggling. They left Green Bay in even worse shape. The team that started the season 5-0 came into the game only winning two of their past nine games.

The Vikings rushing game had been non-existent with Adrian Peterson gone most of the season, but now QB Sam Bradford was starting to revert to his Ram and Eagle days as the passing game struggled too.

After having three strong games on defense, the Packers made Bradford look like Joe Montana as he passed for 382 yards and three touchdowns.

The Packers bend-but-not-break defense did end up paying off as oft-injured LB Clay Matthews had an excellent game as he came up big when the Packers needed him to. Matthews had a strip sack that stalled a Vikings drive that would have flipped the momentum in Minnesota’s favor.

As Bradford was having his day so was his counterpart on the Packers offense. Rodgers looked like his old self as his masterfully lit up a strong Vikings defense for 347 yards and four touchdowns. Jordy Nelson was his favorite target on this day as he brought in 154 yards and two touchdowns.

Packers exact revenge on Vikings and eliminated them from playoff contention. Packers 38, Vikings 25.

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