TAKING IT TO EM

VIKINGS 34

PACKERS 31

There was only one way the Vikings were going to pull off their biggest win of 2021 on Sunday, facing the 8-2 Packers. They had to stand up and really go at them. They couldn't play cautious. They couldn't play passive. They had to punch and punch hard.

They spent the afternoon doing just that. And because of it, they have not just re-asserted themselves as one of the NFC's top wild card contenders, they have opened that door just a little to still have a chance at a division title. 

The first punch came on Green Bay's 1st offensive play, as a short pass from Aaron Rodgers to an uncovered Davante Adams became a 37 yard gain. But the Vikings 1st half defense was solid, and held them to a long field goal.

The Vikings countered with almost an identical drive. One big pass to Jefferson, but we too settled for a long Greg Joseph field goal. But that early deep shot was not an outlier. Our next series concluded with a deep shot to JJ, who came up just short on a stretch for the endzone (which Zimmer unwisely challenged), followed by an easy Cook TD. Joseph shanked the PAT, so we had to have that hanging over us the rest of the day.

It seemed briefly that maybe that miss wouldn't matter. Mason Crosby doinked a field goal. Our offense stayed aggressive. JJ drew a big DPI. A huge swing came right after when a Kirk pass was intercepted, but the turnover was wiped out by a helmet to helmet hit on Kirk, and a few plays later he found Thielen for the touchdown.

A chance to really step on the Packers throats came after we made them quickly punt the next series, and we got the ball back with a chance to drive and go up 3 scores. Instead, in the day's stupidest play call, Klint Kubiak called a pitch out run on 3rd and 1 to CJ Ham, which predictably did not go well.

Late in the 2nd quarter, we all knew what was coming. The Packers stymied offense suddenly got hot, and Rodgers hit one of his annoying "scramble forever then hit a wide open receiver" throws for a.touchdown. We had a brief chance to respond but after a KJ Osborn near catch was ruled incomplete that was pretty much it for the half.

The script had returned, but the Vikings opened the 2nd half with one of their biggest drives of the season. So often they have come out flat offensively after halftime, but here they resumed their machine-like efficiency.

Kirk immediately hit Conklin over the middle for 15. We got the run game going. This time Dalvin got the call on a pair of 3rd and 1 plays. On 3rd and goal Kirk threw a dart to JJ for the score and the Vikings were back up 13.

But the Packers offense was done being contained. Rodgers led them right down the field again, including one of those insufferable easy big runs he has gotten for years (today, allegedly, with an injured toe). Then we gave him forever in the pocket and he hit Adams for the touchdown.

It was very obvious that at no point the rest of the game were we keeping Green Bay from the endzone, so when our next drive ended short of scoring range after a strip sack (we recovered but had to punt) it felt like that nasty script was back for good.

It wasn't long before Rodgers hit a wide open Adams for a go ahead touchdown (after faking a timeout that caused some on the Vikings defense to ease up). And of course it was a go ahead touchdown because of the missed PAT like 2 hours earlier.

But an offense that too often seems to play scared showed none of that. Kirk quickly hit Osborn on a big play. Soon the Vikings were well within field goal range, but 3s were not going to get it done, particularly with the amount of time left. So on a 3rd down, Kirk faced down a blitz and lofted a ball to JJ by the front corner of the endzone. JJ made the perfect adjustment, caught the ball and dove over the line for a touchdown. One of the best plays of the season. Dalvin scooted in for the 2 and we had a 7 point lead with a little over 2 minutes left.

So I'm thinking, at best we are still going to OT cause Rodgers was unstoppable and had plenty of time. Even I didn't think it would be THIS easy though, and on the very first play Rodgers zipped a deep pass over the middle to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who had easily burned through our secondary, and easily outsprinted Xavier Woods (who had a horrible game) for the tying touchdown. 

Honestly this was a blessing in disguise. This stunner of a play took the control of the outcome of the game from the Vikings defense and placed it back in the hands of the Vikings offense. 

It looked like instant disaster when on the very first play Kirk threw a ball downfield towards Jefferson, but the DB had the better position on the ball and picked it off. 

They went to a commercial break, during which I was thinking this game was all but lost. How would we possibly stop Rodgers now?

Ah, but a team that has gotten so few breaks this year got a major one.

The play was reviewed. And the review showed that the DB did not control the catch after hitting the ground. We got a huge reprieve. Maybe a season saver.

And here too the team didn't respond to the near disaster by curling up into a ball and not trying to do anything. No, they went right back at the Packers. A screen pass to Dalvin netted 19 after a nifty cut. The next play was an incredible sideline throw to Thielen, which gained another 26. Then Dalvin sprinted inside the 10.

I was surprised that the Vikings sat on it here, with still a minute left, and played for the field goal. No field goal can ever be guaranteed. There was no reason to think the reeling Packers D was going to keep us out. But I understand the thinking, which Zimmer echoed after the game. You don't ever want to let Rodgers touch the football again, and the Vikings had all the power to control that.

And it worked out just fine. Joseph nailed the walkoff winner. The Vikings landed the final blow. 

Add two more late clutch drives to Kirk Cousins' incredible season. Add another massive superstar game for Jefferson. 

Has this team finally turned the corner for good, and transformed into the offensive-led team we all see they have to be? I mean, despite an OL that looked awful at times and some Kubiak stupidity in spots, we put up 34 points against a Packers defense that in recent weeks was starting to look dominant (they just shut out Seattle last week). We all see that this is a team that has a defense that can at least hang in there, but needs to be largely carried by a star-packed offense. Zimmer seems to be awakening to this reality...perhaps in time to save his job. 

And so now we sit back in a wild card position. We've even jumped up to #6 thanks to the Saints losing again. Our back to back wins couldn't have come at a better time, as this whole playoff field seems to be a lot more formidable than even a couple weeks back. The Eagles and 49ers are playing well. The Panthers lost today but look better on offense with Cam Newton back. It's going to be a wild final 7 weeks. And of course this win keeps the door slightly open to a division title, although that will likely require winning at Lambeau in early January.

So...rematch?