Vikings vs. Packers: Thriller at Lambeau ends in tie

The Minnesota Vikings faced the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 16 in Week 2 of the 2018 NFL season. Here are highlights from the game.

An NFC North showdown took place in Week 2 as the Minnesota Vikings faced off with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Last season, the Vikings swept the series and went on to win the division with a record of 13-3. It’s not like the Packers were at full strength though. In their first meeting, a hit from Anthony Barr broke Aaron Rodgers collarbone and the season ended up going downhill fast for them.

Thus, there was a bit of drama looming coming into this matchup.

It was the Green Bay special teams that got things started early. Geronimo Allison blocked a punt with Minnesota pinned back deep already, which was recovered for a touchdown by Josh Jackson. However, new quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Vikings answered with a pass to Laquon Treadwell that tied things up.

Rodgers, even playing with a bum(ish) knee, wasn’t about to let that lie, however. He orchestrated a drive shortly after and, once in the red zone, allowed Davante Adams to go to work as the wide receiver juked defenders out of their cleats to get into the end zone. After a Mason Crosby field goal just before halftime, the Packers led, 17-7.

Green Bay came out of the locker room and added to their lead with a third-quarter field goal. Cousins and the Vikings wouldn’t be denied and started to stage a fourth-quarter comeback. That began with a solid drive and, after getting to the red zone, the signal-caller hit Stefon Diggs in the flat, with the wideout making a great snag to get the score.

Crosby put another field goal on the board with time halfway gone in the final frame, but Cousins and Diggs answered quickly with a 75-yard connection that put the score at 23-21. Then came a ton of drama. Cousins almost cost the Vikings on multiple occasions, once actually throwing a pick to Ha Ha Clinton-Dix down 26-21. However, they kept getting chances.

After some more near-interceptions thrown by Cousins — including one called off by roughing the passer — they stayed alive. And by staying alive, the Vikings found life and kept driving. And finally that resulted in a wonderful touchdown grab by Adam Thielen, followed by a fade to Diggs for the tying two-point conversion with 30 seconds left.

However, that left time on the clock for Rodgers, which many teams can attest to as being a mistake. And sure enough, he led the offense down the field and seemingly got the team into field goal range. Then Crosby kicked one and it snuck between the uprights — but the Vikings had called a timeout. Unfortunately for the Packers, the retry was no good, forcing overtime.

Minnesota won the toss in the extra period and, as expected, elected to take the ball. Cousins continued to play well as he drove down the field, but drops by Laquon Treadwell killed the momentum and put kicker Daniel Carlson in the spotlight to try and make a play. The rookie, however, could not as he missed.

For once, the Packers and Rodgers were unable to capitalize. Yes, they made a drive down the field, but were unable to get close enough to where they felt comfortable letting Crosby get another attempt. Thus, they elected to punt.

Cousins made them pay for that, even with Dalvin Cook having to leave the game on the previous drive with a hamstring injury. They drove down the field and, with four seconds remaining, called timeout from the Green Bay 17-yard line. However, Carlson again couldn’t get it done, missing the short attempt and ending the game in a tie.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1041377155622432768

Green Bay got the scoring going early as Geronimo Allison blocked a punt in the first half that was recovered in the end zone by rookie Josh Jackson.

Minnesota’s offense recovered and answered, however, as Cousins found Laquon Treadwell for the score to even things up.

Looking healthy still, Rodgers had some fire of his own, as did Davante Adams. The Packers signal-caller hit the wideout just shy of the goal-line and the receiver put the moves on to score.

After two field goals pushed Green Bay’s lead to 13 points, Cousins and the Vikes got something going as Diggs hauled in a great catch for the score.

Following another Packers field goal to go up by two scores, the Vikings felt the pressure, but stepped up to it. Cousins dropped a deep dime to Diggs for a 75-yard score to tighten it up.

Trying to milk the clock, Rodgers found Jimmy Graham, who made a phenomenal play to get some extra yardage.

With Minnesota getting the ball back, they had the chance to drive, but Ha Ha Clinton-Dix came up with a big pick to allow Green Bay to kick another field goal and go up eight.

Thielen came up with a monstrous catch in a huge moment, leading to the game-tying two-point conversion.

The winner of this game will have an early advantage in the tough division, which will be huge since these are the two teams it should come down to when the season ends.