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| Mike Roemer-Associated Press |
The Green Bay Packers ruined the
Minnesota Vikings Superbowl hopes and sent a message out to the rest of the NFC
with a dominating win of 24-10 at Lambeau Field.
This win also ended a two game losing streak in the playoffs at
Lambeau Field for the Packers, as they hadn't won there in the playoffs since
the 2007 season.
The Vikings had to play without starting quarterback Christian
Ponder, who had injured his right elbow against the Packers last weekend. Joe
Webb took over the reins instead and this would be the first time he would
throw a ball all season.
He got off to a promising start, giving kicker Blair Walsh a
good field position to add three points to the Vikings score on their first
drive. Webb had a nice 17 yard read option run which kept this opening drive
alive.
Two drives later, the Packers responded with their usual no
huddle routine and their running back DuJuan Harris scored a nine yard
touchdown run to give the Packers their first score of the day.
In the second quarter, the Packers asserted their dominance
thanks to two sacks by linebackers' Clay Matthews and Erik Walden on Webb, a 32
yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings, a 20 yard field goal by
kicker Matt Crosby and a three yard touchdown run by fullback John Kuhn.
This made the half time score, 17-3 to the Packers.
Prior to the Jennings touchdown though, Rodgers was sacked by
Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, but this was the Packers’ only true mistake
of the first half.
The second half was when the Packers defence really came
out and played.
It wasn't the best of starts though for the Packer's offense as
Rodgers was sacked by Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen. They quickly
responded with a nine yard pass to Kuhn, giving him his second touchdown of the
day.
On the next Vikings drive, Matthews struck again. He did this by
sacking Webb, causing him to fumble the ball. Matthews then recovered the ball
to give the Packers the possession on their own 45 yard line.
When the Vikings had the ball again, the Packers defence came
out on top once again as Webb's pass intended for Devin Aromashodu was
intercepted by cornerback Sam Shields.
Further excitement was brought to the game in the fourth quarter
when a punt by the Packers was muffled by Vikings return specialist Marcus Sherels
and was recovered Packers linebacker Dezman Moses.
Five drives later, the Vikings got their first touchdown of the
day, but not from running back Adrian Peterson as he was held for only 99 yards
on the day.
Webb was able to throw a 50 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Michael Jenkins, giving the Vikings their first and only touchdown of the day.
This was the final score of the day as the game finished 24-10
to the Packers.
Webb finished the day with 180 passing yards, a touchdown and an
interception. He was out played by Rodgers though as he achieved 274 passing
yards and a touchdown.
Throughout the game, Rodgers had passed the ball to 10 different
receivers, which is a new NFL playoff record.
Next up for the Packers in their aim to win the Superbowl is a
trip to Candlestick Stadium to play against the San Francisco 49ers. Last
time these two teams met was on the first day of the regular season at Lambeau
Field and the 49ers won 30-22.
However, since that game, the 49ers have changed quarterbacks
from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick. His inexperience in the playoffs could
become a factor in the outcome of this game.
The game between the Packers and the 49ers will take place on
Saturday 12th January.
twitter - @ConorJPorter
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