Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers: Fourth Quarter Open Thread

Holding a 6-3 lead in the de facto NFC North title game, the Minnesota Vikings kicked off to the Green Bay Packers, as the Packers had deferred to the second half after winning the game's opening coin toss. The kickoff from Blair Walsh went for another touchback, and the Packers started their first possession of the second half from their own 20-yard line. The Vikings forced a three-and-out thanks to a nice stop by Terence Newman and Eric Kendricks, and the Packers brought Tim Masthay on to punt it away. Masthay shanked his opportunity, and the Vikings took over with great field position on their own 42-yard line.

Minnesota quickly got themselves into Green Bay territory, as Teddy Bridgewater found Jarius Wright for an 11-yard gain to the Green Bay 47. Adrian Peterson then picked up 10 more, and Adam Thielen then took an end-around for 26 more all the way down to the Green Bay 11-yard line. Peterson then took the ball to the Packers' 6-yard line, and and two plays later finished the drive off with a three-yard touchdown run. Blair Walsh hit the extra point, and the Vikings extended their lead to ten at 13-3.

The next kickoff from Walsh was not a touchback, as Jeff Janis returned it to the Green Bay 27-yard line. The Vikings' defense forced a second straight three-and-out, with the Packers only gaining one yard in the process. A penalty for a block in the back on the Vikings gave them the ball at their own 23-yard line, where they started their next drive. A run by Peterson and an offsides penalty gave the Vikings a first down to start things off, and then Teddy Bridgewater made one of the worst decisions you'll ever see him make. He was in the process of being sacked, and he threw one left-handed that was intercepted by Micah Hyde at the Minnesota 43-yard line, giving the Packers a huge opportunity with 6:28 left in the quarter.

It looked like the Packers were going to take advantage of the turnover, but on a 3rd-and-12 play, Everson Griffen got around Josh Sitton and knocked the ball out of Aaron Rodgers' hand, with Rodgers pushing the ball forward with his empty hand. As there was no whistle on the play, Captain Munnerlyn alertly jumped on the ball and took it all the way for a 55-yard Vikings' touchdown. The play was reviewed, and the call was upheld. Blair Walsh hit the extra point, and the Vikings extended their lead to 20-3.

Walsh registered another touchback on the next kickoff, and the Packers started out at their own 20-yard line. Green Bay got their initial first down of the half on the series, and then got themselves into Minnesota territory when Aaron Rodgers found James Jones for a 32-yard gain down to the Minnesota 43-yard line. The Vikings' defense stiffened, and the Packers elected to go for it facing a 4th-and-4 from the Minnesota 37. Rodgers found Randall Cobb, who got just enough to convert the first down and keep the ball with Green Bay. As we move to the fourth quarter of play, the Packers are looking at 3rd-and-3 from the Minnesota 26-yard line.

With fifteen minutes remaining from Lambeau Field, the Minnesota Vikings lead the Green Bay Packers by a score of 20-3. Can the Vikings hold on and capture their first NFC North division title since 2009?