Packers: Grades for Week 17 performance in win over Vikings
The Green Bay Packers moved a step closer to the postseason by dominating the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17.
It was Green Bay’s best performance of the year, and Minnesota had no answer in any phase of the game.
Matt LaFleur’s team knows it must win again next week to make the playoffs, but this performance should give them a ton of confidence.
Let’s hand out some Week 17 grades.
Packers offense: B
The Packers were good, but not great offensively. They did everything they needed to.
Green Bay controlled the game on the ground, rushing 33 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
With a big lead in the second half, the ability to run the ball led to long drives which took time off the clock and ended any hope of a Vikings comeback.
Aaron Rodgers led the offense perfectly, made some beautiful throws along the way, and ended the game with one passing touchdown and one rushing score.
The offense provided 27 points. A strong performance.
Packers defense: A+
From the first snap, Green Bay’s defense dominated.
The Packers forced a three-and-out on the Vikings’ first drive, but a blocked punt gave Minnesota the ball right back on Green Bay’s two-yard line.
No problem for the defense. They kept the Vikings out of the end zone, forcing a field goal, then didn’t allow another point until the game was over late in the fourth.
Joe Barry’s unit sacked Kirk Cousins twice, made eight quarterback hits, and forced four turnovers. They intercepted Cousins three times, with Darnell Savage returning one for a touchdown.
Justin Jefferson was limited to one catch, and Minnesota couldn’t get anything going offensively.
An absolutely dominant performance from Green Bay’s defense.
Packers special teams: A
The only reason the Packers don’t get an A+ grade is because they had a punt blocked on their first drive of the game. But from that moment, Green Bay got everything right on special teams.
Keisean Nixon returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown, a key moment early in the game. Randall Cobb also had a nice punt return of 15 yards.
Forgotten in the Packers’ dominant performance is Mason Crosby’s 56-yard field goal before halftime. According to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, it was the longest-ever field goal by a Packers kicker at Lambeau Field.