Rookie Pro Bowl kicker Blair Walsh delivered a 29 yard walk off field goal lifting the Minnesota Vikings into the playoffs and denying the Packers a first round bye in a wild, 37-34 Viking victory at Mall of America Field Sunday. It sets up the rubber game of the 2012 series between the rivals next Saturday night when the Packers host the Vikings in the NFC Wild Card round at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won at Lambeau 23-14 on December 2, and Sunday's game had double the points, double the yards and four times as many thrills. Adrian Peterson's quest for the single season NFL rushing record came up 9 yards short after he piled up 199 yards on 34 carries with a touchdown. He finished the season with 2097 yards, second most in history, but perhaps one carry away from breaking Eric Dickerson's standard of 2105. In the two games against the Pack, Peterson piled up an incredible 409 yards. Minnesota built a 20-7 lead in the first half but Aaron Rodgers heated things up considerably, passing for 365 yards and four touchdowns, two to Greg Jennings, the 14th of the season to James Jones and a back shoulder strike to Jordy Nelson from the two with 2:54 to play that tied the game at 34. But Christian Ponder converted a huge third and 11 play to Michael Jenkins for 25 yards in the closing minutes and Peterson blasted through the Pack for a 26 yard run to the 11 and Minnesota called time out with :03 to paly to bring on Walsh for the game winner. Unlike the first meeting when Ponder threw a pair of bad interceptions to Morgan Burnett, the second year pro from Florida State was much more poised, completing 16 of 28 for 234 yards and three scores, without a pick. Minnesota converted 6 of 12 third downs, many of them long yardage plays to keep drives alive in building a 13-0 lead 9 seconds into the second quarter. Green Bay finally got on the board with 4:01 left in the half when Rodgers scrambled and found Jennings at the back end line for a three yard touchdown. Marcus Sherels returned the next kickoff 41 yards to set up Ponder's 8 yard TD pass to Jarius Wright with 1:07 to play in the quarter. Rodgers moved the Pack 42 yards in four plays without a time out to set up Mason Crosby's 51 yard field goal on the final play of the half. It was only the second plus 50 make for Crosby on the season. Walsh earlier hit from 54, making him an NFL record 10 for 10 from long range on the season, a big reason why he was selected to the Pro Bowl in his first year out of Georiga. Jennings second TD catch came on the first series of the third quarter and pulled the Pack to withing 20-17 but Minnesota always had an answer. At midfield, driving for the lead, Rodgers was sacked, one of five on the day for Minnesota, and Brian Robison stripped the ball out the QB's hand and the Vikes recovered the only turnover of the day. They cashed in after a called fumble by Peterson was overturned by replay. On the next snap, Peterson ripped off a 28 yard run and after a third down incompletion was wiped out by a Jerron McMillian holding call, Peterson caught his first TD pass of the season from two yards out putting the Vikes up 10. The Packers quickly answered with Jordy Nelson getting behind the defense for a 73 yard bomb and on the next snap, Jones caught a slant and extended the ball to the goal line when it came loose and Minnesota covered it up. Mike McCarthy was so incensed by the ruling of a fumble recovery touchback, he threw the challenge flag, even though he knew it would cost him 15 yards. The penalty stood even after the play was reversed and called a touchdown. Crosby's second field goal, from 40 yards out, tied the game at 27 early in the 4th quarter. On the first snap after the kickoff, Jarius Wright got behind Sam Shields for a 65 yard strike. Again, the Packers appeared to get a third down stop but Tramon Williams was called for illegal hands to the face and Minnesota got 7 instead of three when Ponder found Michael Jenkins for a three yard touchdown. The Packers drove 78 yards in 11 plays with Jarrett Boykin, subbing for an injured Nelson, caught a 4th and 1 hitch for 7 yards. Boykin injured his ankle on the catch and Nelson had to come back in to make the game tying catch. There was simply too much time for the Vikes to drive 51 yards for the game ending field goal. Aside from Boykin, the only other injury of note was to rookie Jerel Worthy who had to be carted of the field with a significant knee injury in the 4th quarter. Randall Cobb's ankle and knee injury kept him inactive, along with Charles Woodson, Davon House, James Starks, Terrell Manning, Jordan Miller and interestingly enough, Donald Driver. Other notable performances for the Pack included DuJuan Harris rushing for 70 yards on 14 carries. Jeremy Ross had a 44 yard kickoff return and 32 yard punt return for the special teams. Next weekend will be the second playoff meeting ever between the divisional foes, the Vikings stunned the division champion Packers at Lambeau 31-17 in 2004. On the link below, post-game quotes from both teams.
Vikes beat Packers gain playoff


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