With at least one-third of the Metrodome packed with green-and-gold-clad fans, the Green Bay Packers tried to end a five-year jinx against the Minnesota Vikings Monday night in a game that meant more in the standings to the Vikings than to the Packers.
As the Packers built a lead early in the second half, the crowd seemed to grow in favor of the defending world champions.
The Packers led 20-11 midway through the fourth quarter. With a victory, Green Bay would extend its record to 10-3 and take a firm grip on the NFC Central Division heading toward its showdown in Tampa Bay next Sunday against the 9-4 Buccaneers. The Vikings must travel to San Francisco next week.
With Packers quarterback Brett Favre throwing to Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman and handing off to Dorsey Levens and Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson throwing to Cris Carter and Jake Reed and handing off to Robert Smith, both teams appeared to have enough offense to avoid a low-scoring affair, but not without considerable argument from the defenses.
The Packers were playing without much help from hefty nose tackle Gilbert Brown, but the Vikings were starting without their regular center, Jeff Christy, and the result was an early standoff. Brown, hobbled by a sore ankle, played only one whole series in the first half. When he has been hurt this season, the Packers defense has struggled.
Green Bay cornerback Doug Evans has picked up as the team’s defensive MVP by covering the top receivers one-on-one. He handled the Cowboys’ Michael Irvin last week and took on Carter Monday night. Evans’ interception of a poorly-thrown ball by Johnson on the second play of the second half set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Levens that put the Packers ahead 17-3.
Ryan Longwell’s second field goal, a 19-yarder, gave Green Bay a 20-3 lead with 8 minutes 2 seconds to play.
Fans expecting fireworks had to be satisfied with long punts and sensational coverage in the first half. The highlight may have been a booming 55-yard punt by the Packers’ Craig Hentrich and a return of zero yards by David Palmer, the NFC’s punt-return leader.
The Vikings countered with a 53-yard punt by Mitch Berger that the Packers’ Derrick Mayes returned for only four yards. He was stopped at his own 14, but it was the start of the game’s first touchdown march.
Favre hit Brooks with a quick out that Brooks turned into a 25-yard gain. Favre, forced to get active in the pocket by the Viking rush led by John Randle, rolled 12 yards for a first down, then was flushed and found Freeman for 18 yards.
Vikings cornerback Corey Fuller dropped a poor throw by Favre in the end zone and on the next play, Favre hit Brooks on an 18-yard dart up the seam for a touchdown. Brooks got inside Fuller and was drilled by safety Orlando Thomas, but hung on for the score to give the Packers a 10-3 lead with 4:19 left in the half.
The teams managed to play the first quarter without a single wacky play by either side, counter to their recent history in the Metrodome.
The Packers mounted the first drive when Favre found Freeman for 31 yards, but a shovel pass to Levens fell incomplete, forcing Longwell to kick a 30-yard field goal.
The Vikings responded with a drive of their own when Johnson found Reed on a 21-yard pass for their initial first down. The drive stalled and Eddie Murray tied the score on a 42-yarder early in the second period.
But the Packers kept pounding Levens and it began to take its toll by the third quarter, enabling Favre time to find receivers. By the second half, Favre was clearly outplaying Johnson, who was hobbled by a sprained ankle and was playing the biggest game of his short career.
Two years ago, Favre sprained an ankle here and had to be replaced by Ty Detmer, who also got hurt. T.J. Rubley fumbled his first snap and later threw an interception that led to the Vikings’ winning field goal.
Three years ago, the usually indestructible Favre left the game with a hip pointer and was replaced by Mark Brunell. The Vikings tied the game with 17 seconds left and won in overtime 13-10.
Four years ago, the Vikings won 15-13 on a field goal with 4 seconds left after Minnesota quarterback Jim McMahon found an uncovered Eric Guliford for a 45-yard pass.
