The Green Bay Packers ran their divisional winning streak to 10-games with a 23-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Their hasn’t been too many, if any, games in 2012 where the running game led the charge but this one was the case. James Starks and Alex Green combined for 124-yards on 27-carries with Starks adding the teams first rushing TD since Week 5. After the game, Head Coach Mike McCarthy was pleased with his teams rushing performance…
AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on the running game :23
Another injury on the offensive line didn’t stop the Packers running attack. Right Tackle T.J Lang had to leave the game in the 2nd quarter with an ankle injury. Lang was seen in the locker room after the game in a walking boot though McCarthy said in his post game press conference that it wasn’t serious. Lang was replaced by Don Barclay. Barclay, an undrafted rookie free agent out of West Virginia, received a lot praise after the game from McCarthy and QB Aaron Rodgers.
AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on Don Barclay :17
AUDIO: Aaron Rodgers on Don Barclay :21
Also on the injury front, Jordy Nelson left the game on the opening drive with a hamstring injury. McCarthy said he tweaked it during warm-ups and tried to play but it didn’t work out. Greg Jennings played his first game since week 4 catching 4-passes for 46-yards. Jennings has been out with an abdomen groin injury.
Rodgers had a solid day through the air for the Packers. He completed 27 of 35 passes for 286-yards with a touchdown and an interception. The TD pass was a 32-yarder to James Jones on the opening drive of the game.
Defensively, the Packers did a great job on Vikings QB Christian Ponder. Ponder was just 12 of 25 through the air for 119-yards, one touchdown, and a pair on interceptions. Both picks were made by Packers Safety Morgan Burnett.
However, the biggest star of the day was Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson. Peterson compiled 210-yards on 21 attempts which included an 82-yard TD scamper. His season total now sits 1,446-yards, tops in the NFL and the most since his career best 1,760 in 2008. Packers rookie DT Mike Daniels was impressed with A.P. in their first meeting…
AUDIO: Mike Daniels on his first taste of Adrian Peterson :13
Bigger picture for Green Bay, the win moved their record to 8-4 on the season. Chicago loss to Seattle 23-17 in overtime Sunday, which dropped the Bears to 8-4 as well. Green Bay visits Chicago on December 16th in a game that could be the difference in a division title with a home playoff game or a wild card that would include a trip to Chicago or New York in the first round of the playoffs.
Next up for the Packers is a Sunday night match-up with Detroit.