Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings RECAP, SCORE and STATS | NFL Week 12

The Green Bay Packers (4-5-1), led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, met the Minnesota Vikings (5-4-1), led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, in an NFC North Week 12 NFL football game on Sunday, November 25, 2018 (11/25/18) at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Check the scoreboard above for the final score and click on the stats link for game stats.

App users: For the best mobile experience, use the mobile web version.

Here's the AP recap:

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Once Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings took the lead on Green Bay, they played with a fierce refusal to let it go.

They held onto the ball with the same determination.

Cousins bounced back from his worst game of the season with 342 passing yards and three touchdowns without a fumble or an interception, and the Vikings overcame some early gaffes to outlast the depleted Packers for a 24-17 victory on Sunday night.

Completing 29 of his 38 attempts, Cousins found Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen for scores. Diggs and Thielen had eight receptions apiece.

"It just kind of shows his character, shows what kind of player he is, to be able to just not really care what people talk about him, not really care about what happened last week," Thielen said of Cousins, adding: "The throws he was making, his full game was really impressive. That's what you expect out of him."

Sheldon Richardson had two sacks to lead the defense's game-long stifling of Aaron Rodgers, and the Vikings (6-4-1) pushed the Packers (4-6-1) further back in the NFC wild card race.

The Vikings won a night game for the first time this season after losing to the top three teams in the NFC: to the Rams in Los Angeles, at home to the New Orleans Saints and at Chicago in a two-interception game by Cousins against the first-place Bears. The Vikings entered the weekend with the fourth-most turnovers in the NFL, and Cousins has been charged with 13 of the 16 giveaways. Coach Mike Zimmer was so impressed by the way Cousins played against the Packers that he gave him the game ball in the locker room afterward.

"Last week left a bad taste in our mouths," Cousins said, "and the chance to come back on Sunday night football against a division rival at home was a great opportunity, and I'm glad we made the most of it."

Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Davante Adams and Aaron Jones scored on a short run for a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter, but the Packers fell to 0-6 on the road this season and 1-5-1 against the Vikings in their last seven meetings. Their final seven possessions produced only one field goal, with five punts and one turnover on downs.

"We've all got to play better, myself included," Rodgers said. "Started off the game nice. We had a couple good drives. We're rolling there. We hit our unfortunate typical lull and didn't get it going again."

With Randall Cobb out (hamstring) for a sixth game this season and rookies Equanimeous St. Brown (elbow) and Trevor Davis (hamstring) forced out in the second half, Rodgers didn't have much to work with down the field. Left guard Lane Taylor (quadriceps) departed in the first half and left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) was sidelined in the second half, leaving the protection shaky at best. Rodgers finished 17 for 28 for 198 yards, without a turnover.

The Packers failed to move the chains on eight of 10 third downs. Jones was stuffed on fourth-and-inches by Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter and Eric Kendricks midway through the third quarter, giving the Vikings the ball at the Green Bay 44. That set up a 37-yard field goal by Dan Bailey for Minnesota's first lead of the game.

"We're definitely not in the position, record-wise, we thought we would be in coming into the year or even after this game. We thought we could get the victory. But unfortunately we ran out of gas," Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said. "We're beat up, no doubt about that. But give them credit: They put in a full four quarters."

SLOW START

The Vikings outgained the Packers 280-139 in total yardage in the first half, but they had to settle for a tie at the break. About to go for it on fourth-and-inches on the opening drive following a timeout to strategize, they were penalized for 12 men on the field and had to punt.

Diggs collided with Thielen when Jaire Alexander crashed their pick play on the second possession, and after Diggs tried to circle back the other way with an ill-fated salvage attempt he lost 10 yards on that reception to lead to another punt.

Bailey's wide left 48-yard try wasted another highlight-reel catch by Thielen in between Alexander and Josh Jones that went for 33 yards. Later in the second quarter, after some mismanagement of the clock, the Vikings had to hustle to set up a 51-yard kick for Bailey. That one was good, but Rashod Hill was called for a false start. The 56-yarder sliced right, the fifth straight missed field goal against the Packers after rookie Daniel Carlson went 0 for 3 in Green Bay and was cut the next day.

PACKED AND HAPPY HOUSE

The announced attendance of 66,872 was the largest for the Vikings in three years at U.S. Bank Stadium. A handful of Minnesota players were introduced in the first quarter with Paul Bunyan's Axe, the trophy the Gophers repossessed from the rival Badgers in Wisconsin on Saturday to end a 14-game losing streak. Randy Moss kept the crowd fired up in a halftime ceremony to receive his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring.

INJURY REPORT

Packers: In addition to the carnage on offense, SS Kentrell Brice aggravated an ankle injury in the first quarter and was knocked out of action in the third quarter with a possible concussion. CB Kevin King and CB Bashaud Breeland were already inactive with injuries.

Vikings: RT Brian O'Neill left in the third quarter for evaluation for a possible concussion. ... CB Xavier Rhodes limped off with an apparent injury to his right hamstring in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Packers: Host Arizona (2-9) next Sunday afternoon.

Vikings: Play at New England (8-3) next Sunday afternoon.

Click here for our picks and predictions for Week 12.

Here's what you need to know:

Who: Packers vs. Vikings

What: NFL, Week 12

When: Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018

Where: U.S. Bank Stadium

Time: 8:20 p.m. Eastern

TV: NBC

Livestream: fuboTV, NBC Sports Live

Line: Vikings -3.5 (Over/under: 47.5)

Packers notes: QB AARON RODGERS completed 21 of 30 (70 pct.) for 332 yards with 2 TDs. vs. 0 INTs for 128.8 rating last week. Has 9 50+ yard passes this season, incl. 2 in Week 11, most in NFL. In his past 10 vs. division, has 26 pass TDs vs. 0 INTs for 115.6 rating. His 26 consec. TD passes without INT vs. division is 3rd-longest streak since 2002 (DREW BREES, 28 vs. NFC South from 2009-14 & Rodgers, 28 vs. NFC North from 2013-15). * RB AARON JONES had 103 scrimmage yards (63 rec., 40 rush) & 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) in Week 11. Aims for his 3rd in row with 100+ scrimmage yards & 2+ TDs. In his past 4, has 446 scrimmage yards (111.5 per game) & 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 rec.). * WR DAVANTE ADAMS had 10 receptions for careerhigh 166 yards last week. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Min. & 5th in row vs. division with TD catch. Has 5 rec. TDs in his past 4 on road vs. NFC North. Since 2016, ranks 2nd in NFL with 31 TD catches (ANTONIO BROWN). TE ROBERT TONYAN had 54-yard TD catch in Week 11, his 1st-career reception & TD. * LB KYLER FACKRELL had career-high 6 tackles & tied career-best with 3 sacks last week. Aims for 3rd in row with sack. LB CLAY MATTHEWS had FF in Week 11. In his past 5 vs. Min., has 3 sacks, 2 PD, FF & FR. DL KENNY CLARK has 4 sacks in his past 5. Has 3 sacks, FF & FR in his past 4 meetings. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Min. with sack & 3rd in row vs. NFC North with TFL.

NFL MVP odds: Mahomes, Gurley, Brees, more

Vikings notes: QB KIRK COUSINS completed 35 of 48 (72.9 pct.) for 425 yards with 4 TDs vs. 1 INT for 118.8 rating in Week 2 meeting. Has 800 pass yards (400 per game) & 7 TDs vs. 1 INT for 129.2 rating in 2 career meetings. Leads NFL with 289 completions in 2018. * RB LATAVIUS MURRAY has rush TD in 4 of his past 5. Aims for his 3rd in row at home vs. division with TD. In 2 career home games vs. NFC North, RB DALVIN COOK has 183 scrimmage yards (91.5 per game) & rush TD. Has 584 scrimmage yards (116.8 per game) & 2 rush TDs in 5 career home games. * WR ADAM THIELEN leads NFL with 85 receptions. Had 12 catches for 131 yards & TD in last meeting. In his past 4 vs. GB, has 35 receptions for 453 yards (113.3 per game) & 3 TDs. Aims for his 4th in row at home with TD catch. Has 455 rec. yards (91 per game) & 3 TDs in 5 home games this season. WR STEFON DIGGS had 13 catches for 126 yards & TD last week. Has 480 rec. yards (96 per game) & 4 TDs in his past 5 at home vs. division. Aims for his 5th in row vs. GB with TD catch. Had 9 catches for career-high 182 yards & TD in his last home meeting (9/18/16). * DE DANIELLE HUNTER has 7.5 sacks & FR in his past 5 at home. Had 6 tackles & sack in last meeting. Has 5.5 sacks, FR & PD in his past 4 at home vs. NFC North. CB XAVIER RHODES led team with career-high 8 tackles in last meeting. S ANTHONY HARRIS had 2 INTs last week, his 1st-career multi-INT game. -- NFL Communications

FuboTV is a paid affiliate of Advance Local Media LLC. Advance Local Media LLC may receive compensation if you access the FuboTV service through the link above.

Let's block ads! (Why?)