Facing a Minnesota Vikings defense that's been one of the best in the NFL this season against the run, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs learned rather quickly why that is, as the Vikes forced him into just his fourth fumble of the season on the fifth play of the game.
Thankfully for Jacobs, the blunder proved to be inconsequential, as the Green Bay defense forced Minnesota into a punt on the ensuing possession. Sadly for Jacobs and everyone else on the roster, however, that same defense didn't make many more big stops as the afternoon progressed.
After scoring zero points on their first two possessions, the Vikings put up points on their next four drives, the last being an 18-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to Jordan Addison, which gave Minnesota a 20-3 lead with 9:44 remaining in the third quarter.
The Packers' defense finally stepped up on Minnesota's next drive, with Carrington Valentine making a leaping interception on a Darnold pass intended for tight end T.J. Hockenson. He nearly gave the ball right back as he fumbled following a 31-yard return, but Karl Brooks was able to fall on it to give Green Bay great field position at the Vikings' 16-yard line.
Just four plays later, Jacobs found the end zone on a 2-yard run that helped cut the Vikings' lead to 20-10. The Packers couldn't quite complete the miracle comeback, ultimately taking a 27-25 defeat that knocked them out of contention for the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
Nevertheless, Jacobs' touchdown run helped the first-year Packer make a little franchise history.
Josh Jacobs tied a Packers record and is inching toward some more franchise history
For 6️⃣! The 7th straight game with a rushing TD for @iAM_JoshJacobs
— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024
📺: #GBvsMIN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/QzY8g5Ai74
Coming into Sunday's matchup with Minnesota, Jacobs had scored at least one touchdown in each of the Packers' last six games. And with his 2-yard score in the third quarter, the sixth-year veteran tied a franchise record for the most consecutive games with at least one score on the ground.
The only other player in Green Bay history to achieve this feat was Hall of Famer Paul Hornung, who scored in seven straight outings in 1960.
READ MORE: Matt LaFleur identifies Packers' biggest problem after loss to Vikings
Now with 14 rushing touchdowns on the season, 11 of which have come during this incredible seven-game stretch, Jacobs is just one shy of becoming only the fourth Packers player to reach 15 in a single season.
Jim Taylor did it twice with a franchise-record 19 in 1962 and 15 in 1961, Aaron Jones scored 16 in 2019, and Ahman Green scored 15 in 2003.
With 69 yards on the ground against the Vikings, Jacobs now has 1,285 for the year. And if he can record at least 23 in Week 18 against the rival Chicago Bears, he'll join the top five in franchise history in single-season rushing yards. Taylor currently sits in the No. 5 slot at 1,307.