(Green Bay) Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and the Green Bay Packers triumphed over the Minnesota Vikings 37-10 on Sunday night to confirm their first place in the National Association.
The Packers ‘win, paired with the Philadelphia Eagles victory earlier Sunday, ended the Vikings’ (7-9) hopes of making the playoffs. The Vikings had to do without the services of starting quarterback Kirk Cousins who was placed on the COVID-19 protocol list on Friday.
The Packers (13-3) are the only NFL team to be unbeaten at home and they have the opportunity to make it to the Super Bowl without leaving Lambeau Field. Sunday’s victory clearly demonstrated how home advantage could be a factor when the temperature was -11 degrees Celsius with a wind factor bringing the temperature to -17 just before kickoff.
The Wisconsin team have won 13 straight games at home, but fell 31-26 at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Association final. The Packers haven’t reached the Super Bowl since 2010 and have lost in the association finals in four of the past seven seasons.
Rodgers completed 29 of his 38 passes for a 288-yard gain.
The Vikings had won the last two games between the two teams, but were really unlucky without Cousins’ presence. The quarterback had 341 yards on aerial play and completed three touchdown passes in his 34-31 victory on Nov. 21.
The Packers won all five games following the setback.
Sean Mannion replaced Cousins as the starting quarterback and gained 189 yards on the air with 22 catches of 35 attempted. It was his third career start and his first since the last game of the regular season in 2019.
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