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Vikings hold off the Packers 27-25 for ninth straight win, keep No. 1 seed in view

Posted on December 30, 2024 - 1:05 am by

In one of the most significant games between the NFC North rivals in recent memory, the Vikings built a big lead and held on in the fourth quarter to beat Green Bay 27-25.

The first time the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers met this season, the Vikings got out to a big lead early and had to hold on to win at the end of the game. On Sunday, with the NFC North and the #1 seed in the NFC hanging in the balance for the Vikings, it happened again.

And the results stayed the same.

After leading 27-10 in the fourth quarter, the Vikings had to hang on at the end, but hang on they did for a 27-25 victory over the Packers, setting up an opportunity to clinch the #1 seed in the NFC in Week 18.



The Packers got the ball first after winning the coin toss and electing to received, but they turned the ball over on their first possession when Jerry Tillery forced a fumble from Josh Jacobs with Camryn Bynum recovering to thwart Green Bay’s opening possession.

The Vikings couldn’t take advantage of the turnover on their first possession, and after a three-and-out from Green Bay their second possession ended with kicker Will Reichard bouncing a 57-yard field goal attempt off the crossbar to keep the game scoreless in the early going.

Green Bay eventually drew first blood with about two minutes left in the first quarter, as Brandon McManus connected on a 22-yard field goal to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. Minnesota then finally notched the game’s first touchdown early in the second quarter as Sam Darnold found a wide open Jalen Nailor in the end zone for a 31-yard score to make it 7-3 a little more than three minutes into the second quarter.



The Packers moved into Minnesota territory on their next possession and found themselves facing a 4th-and-2 from the Minnesota 23. Matt LaFleur chose to pass on a 41-yard field goal attempt and keep the offense on the field, and Jordan Love’s pass fell incomplete for a turnover on downs.

The Vikings converted that turnover into more points, as Reichard extended the Vikings’ lead to 10-3 just ahead of the two-minute warning with a 25-yard field goal. They then got another field goal from the rookie as time ran out in the half, a 50-yarder to make it 13-3 going into the locker room at halftime. Reichard had initially missed from 55 but an offside penalty on the Packers gave him another opportunity and he took advantage.



Minnesota got the ball to start the second half and wasted no time adding to their lead, marching into Green Bay territory again and getting Darnold’s second touchdown pass of the afternoon, an 18-yarder to Jordan Addison to increase the lead to 20-3 a little more than five minutes into the third quarter.

On Minnesota’s next possession, they remained aggressive and it cost them with Sam Darnold getting intercepted by Carrington Valentine and the return setting the Packers up inside the red zone. Green Bay then cashed in on the turnover, with Josh Jacobs going into the end zone from two yards out to cut the Minnesota lead to 20-10.

Darnold shook off the interception in impressive fashion, marching the Vikings down the field and getting his third touchdown pass of the afternoon, a 9-yarder to Cam Akers to push the lead back to 17, 27-10, with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.



Reichard had another opportunity to add to the lead with just over nine minutes left, but his 43-yard attempt hit the left upright to keep the score at 27-10.

The Packers cut it to 27-18 with just over six minutes remaining, as Emanuel Wilson went into the end zone from five yards out to make it a two-score game and Jordan Love followed it up by finding Romeo Doubs for a two-point conversion.

The Vikings then had their first three-and-out of the afternoon, and Green Bay cut into the lead again on the next drive with Jordan Love finding Malik Heath for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 27-25 just before the two-minute warning.



Minnesota got the football back and needed to pick up some yardage to run out the clock, and found themselves facing a 3rd-and-2 near midfield. Darnold found Akers for a short gain, but it was enough to move the chains and allow the Vikings to kneel out the clock for their ninth consecutive victory.

The Vikings’ win this afternoon means that their Week 18 matchup with Detroit is for both the NFC North title and the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs, regardless of what the Lions do on Monday Night Football this week when they face San Francisco.

The Minnesota Vikings win their ninth straight game, defeating the Green Bay Packers by a score of 27-25. Thank you to everyone who got their coverage of this week’s game right here at The Daily Norseman!