Shut-out! Packers 34, Vikings 0
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by Cheezer
December 22, 2002. That was the last time the Green Bay Packers shut out an opponent. It was 10-0 vs. the Buffalo Bills. The last time the Minnesota Vikings were shut out was week 4 of 1992 against the New Orleans Saints. Final score 26-0. On Sunday, the Packers put together the closest thing they’ve come to a complete game this season. Everything was working as the Packers stomped the inept Vikings 34-0.
The Packers set the tone on the Vikings first possession with linebacker Brady Poppinga and safety Atari Bigby bursting through the line to stop Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson for no gain on third-and-1. The Packers focus on Peterson served to limit him to 45 yards on 11 carries. The Viking offense hinges on the effectiveness of Peterson and they were able to accomplish very little on the day.
Peterson left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury.
The Vikings were held to 67 yard in the first half with just three first downs. Quarterback Brooks Bollinger completed just 3 passes for 7 yards. None of them to wide receivers. Bollinger finished 16/26 for 161 yards with 1 interception.
Minnesota went 0/8 on 3rd down and 0/3 on 4th down for the game.
Minnesota had several late opportunities to prevent the shut-out, but Green Bay’s defense turned them away each time. At the Green Bay 26 late in the 3rd quarter, linebacker AJ Hawk stopped former Packer Robert Ferguson for a one-yard loss on 4th-and-10. Charles Woodson came through on the next Minnesota scoring chance by intercepting Bollinger’s 1st-and-goal pass attempt from the Packer 7. Finally, with under a minute to go in the game and the defense desperate to preserve the shut-out, Packer linemen Johnny Jolly and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila had sacks on two of three plays to help end any hope the Vikings had to score.
Green Bay had six scoring drives on the day. They averaged 77 yards and took 5:50 per drive. Their plan was obviously to control the clock and keep their defense fresh so they could contain Peterson for the entire game. It worked well as Green Bay dominated the stat sheet with a time of possession advantage of 40:40 to 19:20.
Ryan Grant became the first running back this season to rush for over 100 yards against the stingy Minnesota rush defense (2nd in the league). Grant’s day was highlighted by a 30-yard TD run on the game's opening drive.
Observations
- The Packers out gained the Vikings 488-247.
- Brett Favre was 33/46 for 351 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He finished with a rating of 115.1. The 6th game this season with a rating of over 100.
- Ten Packers had receptions.
- Ryan Grant had 25 carries for 119 yards.
- For the second week in a row, the Packers scored more than 30 points.
- Green Bay must have more unique formations than any other team in the NFL.
- Green bay has struggled to put teams away this season. This blowout victory is a good indication that the Packers are a force in the NFC.
- With losses by Detroit, Washington, and the NY Giants, there is some separation between the elite NFC, Dallas and Green Bay, and the rest of the conference.
- Minnesota will probably be looking for a quarterback this off-season.
Favre Watch
- Surpassed the 60,000 yard mark for his career. Dan Marino holds the NFL record with 61361 yards.
- Passed for his 200th TD pass at Lambeau Field.
Packer Quote of the Day
"Our offense is consistent when we execute,. . ." said Ryan Grant, stating the obvious.
