There is no room for sympathy in the NFL. When you get the chance, you kick a team when it’s down. Especially when it’s one of your arch-rivals, and the number one seed, and the first round bye that comes with it, are on the line.
The Minnesota Vikings got off the bus with half a team, and the Packers did to them what they were supposed to do. They dominated in all phases, put the game away early, and now get to play their reserves in week eighteen against the Lions while their starters heal up and rest up.
The only sympathy I have is for Mike Zimmer’s nose. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a nose that red. I hope we’re not talking about some serious frostbite there.
Green Bay put the Vikings out of their misery by doing the two most important things: They kept Dalvin Cook under control (nine carries for thirteen yards), and they kept Justin Jefferson from making big plays (six catches for 58 yards). It didn’t hurt that fill-in quarterback Sean Mannion was a statue, offering no threat to run, and throwing mostly checkdowns that the rejuvenated Packer defense smothered immediately.
Meanwhile the offense followed a familiar pattern of starting slowly, putting only two field goals on the board in its first three trips inside the thirty yard line. But as the defense kept getting the ball back for them, Aaron Rodgers gradually heated up. QB 12 did nothing to hurt his MVP chances, throwing for 288 yards and two scores, finishing with a 114.8 rating. His usual game ball is a given. Who says you have to run the ball in the cold?
Certainly not Davante Adams, who broke his own single season record for receptions in a season after grabbing eleven throws for 136 yards and a score. He stands at 117 for the year. His game ball is also understood. Toss in 157 rushing yards by the running backs, and you have a complete performance. The performance of a team that is ready for a playoff run.
GAME BALLS
Offensive Line
No sacks and 174 rushing yards. This makeshift unit is getting better every week. So much so, that NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth legitimately raised the question, do you really want to break up the band if and when David Bakhtiari and Billy Turner are ready to come back? Of course you do, but dang, these replacements up front are getting the job done.
AJ Dillon
Aaron Jones (76 yards) actually outgained Dillon (63 yards), but it was quadzilla who hammered the Vikings into submission with his fourth quarter power runs, getting into the end zone twice. He also caught a pair of throws for twenty yards.
Aaron Jones
But you’ve got to acknowledge Jones as well. He not only led the team in rushing, but broke two big plays of 27 and 28 yards, and caught five passes for another thirty. I’m hard pressed to think of a better one-two punch in the league.
Allen Lazard
I am, of course, tempted to write that Lazard has emerged as the Packers’ true number two receiver. But as soon as you assume that, MVS will have a big game, or Cobb will come back and shine. What is safe to say, is that Lazard is reliable and steady, and getting better. His leaping, hands catch in the end zone was breathtaking. He’s clutch. Oh yeah, and he may be the best blocking receiver in the game.
De’Vondre Campbell
I want to be the president of his fan club. He is the surest tackler the Packers have had in recent memory. He twice stopped the explosive Jefferson short on third down plays. He sniffed out a screen to Cook and wrecked it. He made an excellent open field stop on Alexander Mattison. Campbell once again led the defense with eight tackles, including a TFL. Will we be able to afford to bring this guy back next year?
Honorable mentions to Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, who each had sacks, and did a much better job of containing the edges. And Kenny Clark, who eats up blockers and was largely responsible for Cook’s meek performance.
LAME CALLS
Still forcing it to Davante
The most blatant example came on fourth down at the Viking twelve in the first quarter. Lazard was open short for the conversion, but Rodgers was locked in on Adams in the end zone and missed him. There were a few other similar plays. Sure would like to see Aaron spread it around a little more when Davante is covered.
Rough night for Bojo
Punter Corey Bojorquez shanked one kick for 24 yards, averaged just 31 per punt on the night, and dropped a field goal snap on a kick saved by Mason Crosby.
AFTERTHOUGHTS
AJ Dillon: “We know how important it is to have teams come through Lambeau. I say it all the time. We’ve got the best fans in football. It’s going to be tough sledding for anybody.”
Rashan Gary (on the improvement against the run): We knew that they were going to come in and run the ball and try to run the same plays as Cleveland. We knew we had to go back to work and come out today and make corrections and that’s what we did.”
Matt LaFleur (on whether to rest players against Lions): “We’ll kind of play it by ear. We’ll have conversations tomorrow with our staff. We’ll definitely have conversations with our players and we’ll make the best decision for us, but if you ask me right now, I’d say my gut is these guys are gonna play at least a little bit next week.”
THREE AND OUT
• Could it be? Could the Packers have actually found a kick returner? Newly acquired David Moore had punt returns of 10 and 22 yards, and fielded the ball cleanly all night. In fact, all of the special teams units were solid, except for the aforementioned Bojorquez kicks.
• Speaking of special teams, Crosby has quietly righted his season and has gotten red hot. He has now made six straight field goals and nine of his last ten. Just in time for the playoffs. Remember, he’s kicking in frigid weather. That ball must feel like a brick.
• I am loving the short yardage play where Dillon gets the handoff, and Yosh Nijman pulls from his tackle spot to go directly behind Dillon to push him downfield. Yosh ought to get credit in the box score for some of those yards.
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Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.