Aaron Rodgers, Packers Beat Vikings With Kirk Cousins Out; GB Clinches NFC’s Top Seed

Green Bay’s offense started operating with surgical precision after the initial slow start, as Adams went over the century mark for yardage in the first half and Aaron Jones exploded through holes at the line of scrimmage while also getting involved in the aerial attack.

It wasn’t difficult to envision the Packers lifting the Lombardi Trophy as the onslaught continued into the second half. Rodgers, Adams and Jones generate most of the headlines, and deservedly so, but AJ Dillon got into the fun by churning out tough yardage between the tackles before finding the end zone multiple times.

Everything was clicking for Green Bay as it enacted some revenge against its rivals and clinched that No. 1 seed with an entire week remaining.

That means Rodgers and the red-hot offense won’t play a meaningful game in three weeks, but they also proved Sunday they can quickly bounce back from something of a slow start with plenty of playmakers. Perhaps there will be some rust to overcome, but No. 12 is operating an offense that looks ready to win the Super Bowl.

Shorthanded Vikings Had No Chance

Minnesota may have beaten the Packers the first time they faced each other this season, but doing so again Sunday figured to be quite the daunting task with Cousins on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

That was apparent right out of the gates.

The Vikings’ first five possessions ended with a turnover on downs and four punts as Sean Mannion struggled to find anything downfield and was far too reliant on safety valves and short throws. Green Bay’s defense made a point of containing Dalvin Cook, and the fact the visitors fell behind 20-3 by halftime largely neutralized the threat of the consistent run game.

Playing from behind against Rodgers and Co. is a recipe for a loss for basically any quarterback in the league, and that certainly applied to Mannion.

After all, he hadn’t appeared in a game since 2019 and entered play with zero touchdown passes and three interceptions. A dramatic comeback against arguably the NFL’s best team wasn’t in the cards, especially with the ability to rely on the dynamic Cook largely out of the picture because of the rough start.

Green Bay’s defense deserves plenty of credit as well.

Not only did it swarm to Cook’s running lanes, it kept Justin Jefferson in relative check while the game was still hanging in the balance and pressured Mannion enough to make him even more uncomfortable on the road. Combine that with the dominant Packers offense, and the Vikings didn’t have much of a chance Sunday.           

What’s Next?

Both teams finish their regular seasons against division foes in Week 18 when the Packers travel to face the Detroit Lions and the Vikings host the Chicago Bears.