Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers: Fourth Quarter Open Thread

Holding a 10-0 lead at halftime over the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings got the football first to start the second half at chilly Lambeau Field. Mason Crosby got to take the field for the first time on the evening, and kicked the ball to Marcus Sherels, who returned the ball to the Minnesota 23. After a short run by Latavius Murray, Case Keenum hit his first big pass of the half, as he found Adam Thielen for a 21-yard gain to the Minnesota 46. Keenum then caught the Packers offside for a free five yards, and the Vikings found themselves in Green Bay territory. Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn’t advance any further, as Keenum’s pass for Jarius Wright on third down went incomplete. Ryan Quigley came on for his first punt of the half, and Trevor Davis called for the fair catch at his own 15.

The Packers put together a first down on a couple of runs by Jamaal Williams to start their drive, as he picked up 11 yards on the two touches. Brett Hundley then took off on another long run on a scramble, picking up 22 yards and putting the Packers near midfield at their own 49-yard line. The Vikings forced a third-and-long situation, but Hundley found Jeff Janis for a 12-yard gain to the Minnesota 39. Fortunately for the Vikings, Hundley’s throw for Lance Kendricks on 3rd-and-7 fell incomplete, and the Packers went for it on 4th-and-7. Hundley’s pass fell incomplete again, and the Packers turned it over on downs.

Keenum attempted to go deep for Laquon Treadwell on the first play of the next drive, but the pass fell incomplete. On second down, Latavius Murray had his best run of the night, gaining 14 yards for a first down and putting the Vikings at midfield. Another long pass for a wide open Adam Thielen fell just out of his reach, giving the Vikings a 3rd-and-8 from the Green Bay 48-yard line. Keenum then made an outstanding play to scramble around and find David Morgan, who stumbled his way to a 23-yard gain to the Green Bay 30. After a penalty on the Packers for twelve men on the field, Keenum hit Latavius Murray for six yards and another first down to the Green Bay 19.

Keenum then rolled out and hit Stefon Diggs for an 11-yard gain to the Green Bay 7 to set up a first-and-goal. Murray was stopped for a short gain on first down, and then took it down to the 2 on second down. After Murray was stopped for no gain on third down, Mike Zimmer elected to bring on the field goal unit with Morgan as the backup long snapper. The snap was high, but Quigley got it down and Kai Forbath connected from 20 yards out to extend the lead to 13-0.

Forbath booted another short kickoff that was taken by Trevor Davis at the 1-yard line and taken out to the Green Bay 35 for the Packers’ next drive. Hundley tried to hit Geronimo Allison for a long pass on first down, but he dropped it for an incompletion. Hundley scrambled for a short gain on second down, bringing up a 3rd-and-9. Hundley again scrambled around, but slid down behind the line of scrimmage and was touched down by Trae Waynes. As we move to the fourth quarter, the Packers are looking at 4th-and-13 from their own 32, and will be punting the ball away.

With one quarter left to go at Lambeau Field, the Minnesota Vikings are holding on to a 13-0 lead over the Green Bay Packers. Can the Vikings hold on and put themselves one step closer to a first-round bye?