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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers' playoff hopes are
still slim, but they overcame long odds Sunday to remain in
contention.
Brett Favre threw three touchdown passes as the Packers beat
Minnesota 33-28 Sunday, snapping the Vikings' 13-game home win
streak and damaging their bid for home-field advantage through the
playoffs.
|  | | The Packers kept the Vikings from clinching home-field advantage in the playoffs, and also snapped their 13-game home streak. |
Ahman Green rushed for a career-high 161 yards on 26 carries for
the Packers (8-7), who must beat Tampa Bay next Sunday to have a
chance at reaching the playoffs. It was his first game at the
Metrodome.
"Everybody was telling me how loud it is and how they get tired
of hearing that horn go off," said Green, who has 1,101 yards
rushing. "I'm the type of guy who likes to see for himself. The
crowd was a factor, but we stayed poised."
Green's biggest run might have come on the Packers' final drive.
The Vikings had pulled within 33-28 on Cris Carter's 5-yard
touchdown pass from Daunte Culpepper with 2:38 remaining, and they
needed a stop from their defense to get the ball back.
Instead, Green rushed for 16 yards on first down and the Packers
ran the clock out for only their second victory at the Metrodome in
nine seasons.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Packers: What is the biggest reason for the Packers'
late-season run?
Donahoe: The Packers have done a good job of maintaining their focus
and consistently playing hard down the stretch -- and it has begun to pay
off for them. The Packers' catalyst is quarterback Brett
Favre. His toughness and competitiveness are essential for their
success. Favre has been a constant over the years, and this season we've
also seen the emergence and development of running back Ahman
Green. Green came to the Packers in a preseason trade with Seattle. With
Dorsey
Levens sidelined by injuries, Green has been an offensive spark.
Question on the Vikings: What is the biggest reason for the Vikings'
recent slide?
Donahoe: It's been the inability of their secondary in particular and
their defense in general to step up and make plays. Last week the Rams may
have exposed some things in the Vikings' secondary that Green Bay took
advantage of today. The Vikings need to play more consistently and
aggressively on defense if they want to go far in the playoffs.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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"As disappointed as I've been here in the past," Favre said,
"it's an awesome feeling today."
Robert Smith, the NFC's leading rusher, was held to 26 yards on
10 carries. The Packers also forced a pair of turnovers.
"We concentrated on stopping the run," Packers defensive
lineman Russell Maryland said. "We made up our minds that we were
going to play in their backfield. Last time, they blew us off the
ball."
The Vikings (11-4), who lost 40-29 last week at St. Louis, could
have clinched home-field advantage with a victory. Now they need
some help to stay home for the NFC playoffs.
"The only thing I'm concerned about is that we haven't played
well in the last two games," Vikings coach Dennis Green said.
"That's two games in a row that we have been held to less than 100
yards rushing, and we've won 11 games by running the football."
The Vikings pulled within 23-21 in the third quarter on
Culpepper's 22-yard touchdown pass to Johnny McWilliams. The
Packers answered with Favre's third touchdown pass -- a 3-yarder to
Bill Schroeder -- and Darren Sharper ended the Vikings' next drive
with his league-leading ninth interception.
The interception set up Ryan Longwell's fourth field goal, a
36-yarder that increased the Packers' lead to 33-21.
The Vikings gave themselves a final chance with Carter's TD
catch with 2:38 remaining, but Green helped the Packers run out the
clock.
The Packers controlled the ball for more than two-thirds of the
first half, which ended with them leading 20-14.
Favre led the Packers on drives of at least 60 yards on each of
their first three possessions. The first drive ended with a 34-yard
field goal by Longwell. On the next, Favre fired an 18-yard TD pass
to Antonio Freeman for a 10-0 lead.
The Vikings, who had barely touched the ball until then, needed
just one play to cut the Packers' lead to 10-7.
Culpepper absorbed a hit from Packers defensive end Vonnie
Holiday and threw a pass nearly 50 yards downfield to Randy Moss,
who had gotten free from Sharper. Moss cut toward the middle of the
field and ran untouched the rest of the way, completing a 78-yard
touchdown pass.
Following Moss' touchdown, the Packers drove the length of the
field for a 6-yard touchdown pass from Favre to Green.
The Vikings nearly gave up a safety on their next possession,
which included two false starts and an illegal pass. Culpepper
avoided a safety by getting off a pass as he was being pulled down
by defensive end John Thierry.
The next time the Vikings got the ball, Carter lost a fumble
that was caused and recovered by LeRoy Butler. The recovery led to
a 35-yard field goal by Longwell, giving the Packers a 20-7 lead.
The Vikings closed the gap again, to 20-14 as the half neared an
end, with Culpepper scrambling for a 3-yard touchdown with 20
seconds remaining.
Game notes
Moss reached 4,000 yards receiving for his career faster
than any player in NFL history. Jerry Rice needed 46 games to gain
4,000 yards receiving. ... The Vikings broke a 49-year-old record
with their 30th consecutive 300-yard game. The record was set by
the Los Angeles Rams from 1949-51. ... Favre has 255 career
touchdown passes, passing Dan Fouts for ninth all-time.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Green Bay Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
Vikings' defense knows it must follow offense's lead
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Randy Moss says the Packers just played a better game than the Vikings.
wav: 169 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Brett Favre says the Packers' win over the Vikings was typical of their season.
wav: 126 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Daunte Culpepper knows the Vikings will bounce back after Sunday's loss to the Packers.
wav: 103 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Brett Favre Official Site
Randy Moss Official Site
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