Minnesota Vikings: Studs and duds vs. Packers in Week 16
Following the Minnesota Vikings falling to the Green Bay Packers in Week 16, here are three Vikings studs and duds from their first home loss of the year.
The Minnesota Vikings went into the penultimate game of the 2019 NFL regular season on Monday Night Football facing their biggest test of the year up to this point. The Vikings welcomed in one of its biggest NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers, to U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 16 with a lot riding on the game in Minneapolis.
Minnesota came into the game not only needing to top Green Bay to force a tie in the division going into the regular-season finale in Week 17, but to also try and continue to climb up in the NFC playoff picture prior to the start of postseason play in just over a week.
On Monday Night Football, the Vikings came up short of trying to accomplish their goal of making a jump in the playoff picture, falling to the Packers, 23-10, on national television.
Minnesota got off to a hot start led by its defensive group. The Vikings jumped out to an early 3-0 lead following an early forced turnover, ending the first quarter knotted up with the Packers at 3-3. Minnesota ended up outscoring Green Bay 7-6 in the second quarter to grab a 10-9 advantage going into halftime at home.
In the second half, the Packers turned the tables and took over the game on the road over the course of the final two frames to grab the division title. Green Bay went on to score 14 unanswered points in the second half to overcome a first-half deficit and come away with the victory.
With the loss, the Vikings fell to 10-5 overall on the year and also fell at home for the first time in the 2019 campaign. Minnesota, which has already wrapped up a playoff spot, will officially go into the NFC Playoffs as a Wild Card team once the postseason games kick off.
The Vikings will return to action in the final game of the 2019 regular season next Sunday when they remain at home and welcome the Bears into U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis prior to the start of the playoffs in a little over a week.
Now with the Monday Night Football contest between NFC North rivals Minnesota and Green Bay is in the books, let’s take a look back at three studs and duds from the Vikings in the game.