SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 2, 2012
Packers 23, Vikings 14: Aaron Rodgers passed for 286 yards and a touchdown and Green Bay's defense made Minnesota one-dimensional as the host Packers rebounded from last week's lopsided loss to grab a share of the lead in the NFC North.
Green Bay (8-4) has won five straight meetings and 10 of its last 13 against the Vikings. The Packers also have won 10 straight against NFC North rivals and moved into a tie with Chicago atop the division.
Adrian Peterson rushed for 210 yards on 21 carries for the Vikings (6-6), who have lost four of their last five. Peterson was Minnesota's only reliable source of offense, as Christian Ponder was 12-of-25 for 119 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Green Bay jumped out to a 10-0 lead on Rodgers' 32-yard touchdown pass to James Jones and Mason Crosby's 30-yard field goal, but the Vikings answered with a big second quarter. Kyle Rudolph hauled in a 7-yard scoring strike from Ponder, and Peterson ripped off an 82-yard TD run to give Minnesota a 14-10 halftime lead.
The Packers' defense tightened up in the second half, though, and Green Bay scored 13 unanswered points on a pair of Crosby field goals (47, 31) and James Starks' 22-yard touchdown run.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Rodgers has thrown a touchdown pass in 36 consecutive home games, including the postseason. … Peterson recorded his sixth career 100-yard rushing game against the Packers, and he has scored a touchdown in eight of his past nine meetings with Green Bay. … Packers WR Greg Jennings played for the first time since having abdominal surgery and caught four passes for 46 yards.