Packers: Three reasons Vikings game ended in a tie
By Nile McNair
3. Multiple Packers missed opportunities
Even though Green Bay ended up with 29 points, they could have scored more. The fact Mason Crosby made five field goals means the Packers offense had to settle for three points on drives where they were threatening to score a touchdown.
In fact, the offense didn’t score a touchdown at all in the second half. On Green Bay’s opening drive of the second half, a touchdown to Jimmy Graham was nullified by a holding call on guard Lane Taylor.
Rodgers took the blame for Green Bay not scoring on their lone overtime possession, saying the fumble and sack on back-to-back plays were all on him.
Another penalty that changed the outcome of the game was a roughing the passer call on Clay Matthews on the Vikings’ final fourth quarter drive. The play caused great controversy and NFL referees have emphasized not allowing defenders to land on quarterbacks during sacks.
“I know there’s an emphasis on protecting quarterbacks, but it’s gotten out of control here, I don’t know what else to do,” Matthews said to reporters after the game.
Afterward, the Vikings went on to score and tie the game up to force overtime. Nevertheless, the penalty on Matthews negated a Jaire Alexander interception which would have essentially ended the game.
One thing that cost Green Bay the game that is being overlooked is poor clock management by McCarthy. After the Ha Ha Clinton-Dix interception, Green Bay had the ball in the red zone just before the two-minute warning.
Instead of running the ball on all three downs, then kicking the field goal. Green Bay ran the ball once and threw the ball on both second and third down. This allowed Minnesota to get the ball back with two timeouts remaining. With that much time left, Cousins and the Vikings went down and tied the game.
Next. Top 30 moments in Green Bay Packers history. dark
Where this decision comes back to hurt the Packers is when Minnesota iced Crosby on his potential game-winning field goal attempt. If Minnesota is forced to use their two timeouts, Crosby is never iced on the first attempt.