Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings: Finally A Little Luck Goes The Packers' Way

If the Green Bay Packers continue the 2010 season playing close games like we saw Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings, the state of Wisconsin might be in trouble. 

For a state that already has a diet full of beer and cheese, the added anxiety the Packers have caused this season might be too much for Wisconsinites' hearts to handle.

Before Sunday night, the Packers had lost three out of the last four games by three points—including the last two in overtime. And wouldn't you know it, with the score 28-24 and the Vikings driving, Brett Favre was given a chance to send Green Bay to another heart breaking defeat. 

But the Packers' resilient defense held Favre and the Vikings out of the end zone on the final drive, and in what could be Favre's last game at Lambeau Field, the Packers beat the Vikings 28-24. 

It wasn't without high drama, however. The Vikings got the ball back with 6:07 left in the fourth quarter, and you couldn't help but feel a tension in Lambeau Field after all the heart breaking moments already in the Packers' young season. 

That tension grew as Favre drove the Vikings deep into Packers' territory, but Minnesota offensive tackle Phil Loadholt committed a huge personal foul penalty that put the Vikings in a first-and-30 situation. 

On the very next play, however, Favre threw a laser into the back of the end zone which Percy Harvin was able to catch behind the Packers' defense. The back official raised two arms in the air to signal a touchdown, and the hearts of the Packers' faithful dropped all over Titletown. 

Yet luckily for the Packers, Harvin was unable to get two feet in bounds, and after review, the officials ruled the miracle pass incomplete. 

It was an uncommon stroke of luck for the Green Bay Packers, and after the defense held the Vikings on fourth down to win the game, the Packers and their fans were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Anyway you look at it, it's been painfully obvious that the Packers haven't seen much luck this season. Whether it's been star players getting injured left-and-right, yellow flags all over the field or opponents' overtime kicks sailing right through the uprights, Lady Luck clearly had a beef with the Packers' 2010 season. 

That all changed Sunday night. Including Harvin's touchdown catch that was overruled, the Packers lucked out on two other plays as well. 

With the Packers' facing a third-and-8 on the first play of the second quarter, quarterback Aaron Rodgers' fired a touchdown pass to Andrew Quarless in the back of the end zone. 

Replays showed that the catch most likely would have been overturned if the Vikings' challenged the call, but coach Brad Childress kept his red flag in his pocket. It was a lucky break that allowed the Packers to take a 14-7 lead.

Later in the second quarter, Vikings' tight end Visanthe Shiancoe seemingly caught a touchdown pass on a well-designed play from Minnesota. However, Packers' coach Mike McCarthy wisely used his challenge flag—another rarity for the Packers this season—and it paid off.

The pass was ruled incomplete, and the Vikings were held to only a field goal on the drive. The four point swing turned out to be the difference in the game. 

The officials weren't the only ones throwing the Packers luck—Favre certainly gave the Packers' a few lucky plays too. The Lambeau Field crowd had surely seen Favre throw some stupid interceptions in his time wearing green and gold, but finally Favre paid the Packers back as visitor. 

Favre's first pick was an arrant throw as he was being tackled by Brad Jones, and A.J. Hawk had no problem intercepting the poorly-thrown football. The pass was behind the receiver, but it was clear that the hit from Jones altered the throw and even re-injured Favre's troublesome left ankle.

It was the second Favre interception though that was really the head-scratcher. Midway through the third quarter, Favre felt the pressure in the pocket, and as he was being hit again, threw a terrible pass right into the arms of Desmond Bishop who took it 32-yards for a Packers' touchdown. 

The play was clearly a ball that Favre should have thrown away, but the Packers' weren't complaining with the easy six points. 

While it took her seven games into the Packers' season, Lady Luck finally showed Green Bay a little love Sunday night. 

And with the Packers' record now at 4-3, and tied with the Chicago Bears for the lead in the NFC North, the Packers' 2010 season isn't quite dead yet. 

Even though there might be a handful of Wisconsinites whose hearts might just be on the brink.