Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings: Final Grades, Analysis for Minnesota

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers 37-34 on Sunday afternoon at Mall of America Field to win their fourth straight game and qualify for the NFC playoffs as the sixth seed.

The Vikings will have a rematch against the Packers at Lambeau Field next weekend in the first round of the playoffs.

Adrian Peterson gave a convincing final argument as the league MVP, rushing for 199 yards on a career high 34 carries and scoring a pair of touchdowns.

Peterson finished the season with 2,097 yards, finishing just nine yards short of Eric Dickerson's season rushing record, but can walk away smiling as his brutally hard running eventually wore down the Packers defense at got the Vikings the win and the playoff berth.

Nobody would have expected the Vikings to win a shootout with the Packers and they'd do well to avoid one next weekend, but the Vikings got enough contributions on both sides of the ball to come out on top Sunday.

Final Score:

Minnesota Vikings 37 Green Bay Packers 34

Blair Walsh drilled a 29-yard field goal as the clock ran out to give the Minnesota Vikings a 37-34 win over the Green Bay Packers and send the Vikings into the playoffs as the sixth seed in the NFC.

Adrian Peterson ripped through the Packers defense on the last drive, but finished nine yards short of Eric Dickerson's season rushing record, finishing with 2,097 yards on the season.

Stay with us for fourth quarter grades and then final grades and analysis.

Minnesota Vikings 34 Green Bay Packers 34

Aaron Rodgers slices up the Vikings secondary on a 11 play, 78-yard drive that's capped off by a 2-yard touchdown throw to Jordy Nelson to tie things up in Minneapolis with just under three minutes to play.

Rodgers is picking on A.J. Jefferson and Marcus Sherels as the Vikings secondary is currently missing both Antoine Winfield and Harrison Smith who have been hurt.

MInnesota Vikings 34 Green Bay Packers 27

The Minnesota Vikings answer a Packer's field goal with a touchdown to grab a 34-27 lead with just under eight minutes to play.

Christian Ponder found Michael Jenkins in the end zone from 3 yards out to put the Vikings back in the lead.

The Vikings moved 79 yards in seven plays for the go-ahead score that was aided immensely by a 15-yard personal foul on Packers corner Tramon Williams that gave the Vikings a fresh set of downs on the red zone.

End of 3rd Quarter

Minnesota Vikings 27 Green Bay Packers 24

This game is getting crazy very quickly. 

Aaron Rodgers hits James Jones with an 8-yard touchdown pass that is initially ruled a fumble and a turnover to the Vikings. Packers coach Mike McCarthy threw his red flag on a play that was already being reviewed. The review calls it a touchdown and the Packers are given a 15-yard penalty for the challenge flag.

Minnesota Vikings 27 Green Bay Packers 17

The Vikings convert a Packers turnover with a huge touchdown to push their lead back to 10 points, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Christian Ponder to Adrian Peterson. Peterson was wide open after taking a play fake from Ponder who rolled to his left.

Peterson set up the score with a 28-yard run deep into Green Bay territory.

Minnesota Vikings 20 Green Bay Packers 17

The Packers waste no time tightening things back up to start the third quarter, marching 80 yards in just six plays, capped off when Aaron Rodgers found Greg Jennings all alone in the end zone from five yards out.

Rodgers hooked up with James Jones on a nice 30-yard run and catch that moved the ball into Vikings territory.

Halftime Score:

Minnesota Vikings 20 Green Bay Packers 10

Mason Crosby drills a 51-yard field goal to end the first half and pull the Packers to within 10 points of the Vikings at the break.

Rodgers shook off a late sack by the Vikings Everson Griffen and hit Jermichael Finley with a big gain that put the Packers in field goal range with two seconds left on the clock.

Minnesota Vikings 20 Green Bay Packers 7

The Minnesota get perhaps their biggest touchdown of the season, an 8-yard touchdown pass from Christian Ponder to Jarius Wright that pushes the Vikings lead back to 13 points with just over a minute left in the first half.

The drive was set up by a 41-yard kickoff return by Marcus Sherels.  

Minnesota Vikings 13 Green Bay Packers 7

Aaron Rodgers hits a wide open Greg Jennings in the end zone for the Packers first score of the day, a touchdown from 3 yards out that cuts the Vikings lead to six.

Jeremy Ross set up the Packers with great field position with a 32-yard punt return.

The Packers offense held the ball for over five minutes as they moved 42-yards in 12 plays to keep the game close in the second quarter.

Minnesota Vikings 13 Green Bay Packers 0

Blair Walsh converts from 37 yards out to push the Vikings lead to 13-0.

The Vikings gained 34 yards on an 11-play drive that was highlighted by a 6-yard run by Adrian Peterson on fourth and one and then a 10-yard completion from Christian Ponder to Kyle Rudolph on third and seven.

End of First Quarter:

Minnesota Vikings 10 Green Bay Packers 0

Adrian Peterson caps off the Vikings second possession with a 7-yard touchdown run to stake the Vikings to a 10-0 lead halfway through the first quarter.

Peterson already has 61 yards rushing and needs just 147 more to break Eric Dickerson's single season record.

Minnesota Vikings 3 Green Bay Packers 0

The Packers and Vikings are underway at Mall of America Field and the Vikings have jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a 54-yard field goal by Pro-Bowl rookie kicker Blair Walsh.

Christian Ponder threw for two first downs and Adrian Peterson ran for another during the opening drive of the game.

Game Preview:

The stakes couldn't be much higher for the Minnesota Vikings as they get set to host the Green Bay Packers in the season finale on Sunday at Mall of America Field in Minneapolis.

Win and the Vikings are in the playoffs, more than likely setting up a rematch against the Packers at Lambeau Field next weekend. The Vikings could lose Sunday and still qualify for the playoffs, but it would be a long shot, as they'd need three other teams—Chicago, Dallas, and the New York Giants—to lose as well.

A win over their arch-rival on the final Sunday of the regular season would cap off a tremendous turnaround campaign for the Vikings, who are looking for their 10th win of the season just a year after bottoming out at 3-13.

The Packers have much to play for as well, as a win over Minnesota would clinch a first-round bye and extend their NFC North winning streak to 13 games.

Both teams enter Sunday's game on hot streaks—the Packers having won four straight and nine of their last 10, while the Vikings have won three straight games to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is the game's biggest subplot. Peterson needs to rush for 102 yards to become the seventh player to crack the 2,000 yard barrier and he needs 207 yards to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. Peterson rushed for 210 yards against the Packers on December 2, so it is certainly possible.

The NFL MVP Award may come down to the last week of the season as well, as Peterson and Peyton Manning seem to be running neck and neck through 15 games.

You can see that game at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX. Also, stay with us all day long for instant grades and analysis for the Vikings. 

Quarterback Christian Ponder: A

Final Grade: A

Christian Ponder played his best game as a professional football player with the most on the line, leading the Vikings to a 37-34 win over the Green Bay Packers to set up a playoff showdown with the Packers at Lambeau Field next weekend.

Ponder did more than just manage the game, going 16 of 28 for 234 yards and three touchdowns, pairing with Adrian Peterson to out-gun Aaron Rodgers and the high-powered Packer offense.

Ponder spread the ball around to eight different receivers and came up big repeatedly on third down to keep Vikings drives going.

Ponder looked and acted the part today and deserved the win.

4th Quarter Grade: A

The Vikings scored on both of their fourth quarter possessions and Ponder was instrumental in both drives.

He started their first possession of the quarter with a 65-yard strike to Jarius Wright to the Packers 14-yard line. Seven plays later Ponder found MIchael Jenkins in the end zone to put the Vikings up by seven.

That was only the beginning though, as Ponder led the Vikings on a final drive that ultimately put them into the playoffs.

Ponder completed only one pass on the drive, but it was the biggest of his career. On third and 11 from his own 27-yard line and the specter of giving the ball back to the red hot Aaron Rodgers hanging over his head, Ponder made a nice pump fake and then stepped up in the pocket before delivering a perfect 25-yard throw to Michael Jenkins at the Packers 48 yard line.

Adrian Peterson took if from there to set up Blair Walsh for his game winning kick.

3rd Quarter Grade: B

Ponder was decent on the quarter, making throws when he had to, including a big 21-yard completion to Jerome Simpson to start the touchdown drive.

Ponder made a nice fake and throw to Peterson for the touchdown.

2nd Quarter Grade: B

The Vikings put up 10 more points in the second quarter, but Ponder looked a little shakier than he did in the first quarter. He got lucky on a reception to Jarius Wright that just as easily could have been picked off, but he hung in there and capped off the drive with a nice throw for a touchdown to Jarius Wright.

Ponder is playing well and doing enough to keep the Packers defense honest.

1st Quarter Grade: A

Christian Ponder played perhaps his best quarter of the season to start things off against the Packers. Ponder finished the first quarter five of nine for 58 yards and ran twice for 16 big yards. Ponder converted three times on third down to extend drives and another third down pass picked up nine yards and set up the Vikings to go for it on fourth down.

Preview:

To say that it's been a tumultuous year for Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder is an understatement. 

The fact that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is having a historical season at running back but Ponder still dominates any conversation about Minnesota is quite telling. Inside Vikings headquarters at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, they've never wavered on their insistence that Ponder is the quarterback of the present and the future for the Minnesota Vikings.

That organizational stance has befuddled and angered a fan base that has watched not only four quarterbacks from Ponder's 2011 draft class, but also four rookie quarterbacks from the most recent draft class, put up higher QBR ratings than Ponder. In what is now considered a quarterback's league, frustrated Vikings fans have watched Ponder average just 180 yards passing a game, while 26 quarterbacks around the NFL average over 200 yards.

More importantly, with 25 starts now under his belt, Ponder hasn't shown much improvement and he just hasn't looked the part of a starting NFL quarterback.

NFL fans aren't very fickle though. The Vikings have won three straight games, and if Ponder can help them beat the Packers on Sunday, much will be forgiven.

Ponder has to be licking his chops to have another crack at Green Bay, as the single play that wraps up all Vikings fans frustrations with him came against the Packers in Week 13.

The Vikings opened the second half with a 14-10 lead at Lambeau Field and had all of the momentum on their side. This was especially true after Adrian Peterson ripped off a 48-yard run to the Packers 12-yard line to start the half.

On 2nd-and-6 from the eight-yard line, Ponder rolled right and lofted a careless pass into the end zone that was easily picked off by Packers safety Morgan Burnett. The play turned the tide in the game, all the Vikings momentum was gone and Adrian Peterson's 210-yard day was ultimately wasted.

To his credit, Ponder has bounced back and has been a solid game manager during the Vikings three-game win streak. But he still hasn't passed for 200 yards since Week 10, and he's only averaging 140 yards a game in his last nine contests.

Winning solves a lot, and if he gets a win on Sunday against the Packers, Ponder will quiet many of his critics. 

Vikings Offense: A

Final Grade: A

The Vikings offense went toe-to-toe with one of the most explosive units in the league and came out on top Sunday, knocking off the Green Bay Packers 37-34 to make the playoffs just a year after finishing 3-13.

Adrian Peterson finished just nine yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record, but nobody would argue that Peterson wasn't fantastic, rushing for 199 yards on a career high 34 carries.

The Vikings much maligned receiver corps stepped up repeatedly on Sunday, coming up with big plays and receptions every time it seemed like the Packers were set to take over.

4th Quarter Grade: A

Huge contributions from Christian Ponder, Adrian Peterson, Jarius Wright and Michael Jenkins as the Vikings get points on both of their fourth quarter possessions, including the game winning field goal by Blair Walsh as time expired.

3rd Quarter Grade: B

One three and out and one touchdown drive for the Vikings offense in the quarter. Jerome Simpson with a 21-yard catch helped get momentum going on the touchdown drive.

Adrian Peterson continues to pound through the Packers defense when given the chance. He has 147 yards through three quarters.

2nd Quarter Grade: B

The Vikings offense had one three and out and then a touchdown drive in the second quarter. Jarius Wright came up with two big catches, one to keep the drive alive and one for a touchdown.

Adrian Peterson was held in check for most of the quarter, but broke loose for an 18-yard run that set up the touchdown pass to Wright.

1st Quarter Grade: A

Adrian Peterson rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown and Christian Ponder threw for 58 more as the Vikings offense dominated the Packers defense in the first quarter.

The purple converted three times on third and long situations and gouged the Packers for another big gain on a fourth and one play.

Preview:

It's been a historic season for Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

Starting the season just eight months removed from major reconstructive knee surgery, he has proceeded to run over expectations, opponents and the record books.

History awaits Peterson on Sunday. If he is able to put up 102 yards rushing, he will become just the seventh player to ever eclipse the 2,000 yard mark in a single season. With 207 yards, he will break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards.

Though Peterson obviously wants both marks, he'd gladly settle for a victory against the Packers and a spot in the playoffs.

The Vikings will undoubtedly need a big game from Peterson to get a win. And while all eyes will be on No. 28, the entire offensive unit for the Vikings will have to put their best foot forward if they hope to win the game.

Vikings Defense: B

Final Grade: B

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a huge game, racking up four touchdowns and 365 yards. The Vikings defense was giving up big chunks of ground, especially in the second half, but they ultimately did enough to win.

Rodgers is just too good to contain all day long and he completed 28 of 40 passes, but was sacked five times and had to earn all of his passing yards, usually by buying himself extra time with his nimble feet.

Brian Robison came up with the only turnover of the game when he punched the ball loose from Rodgers in a play that went a long way in deciding things.

Rodgers went to work on A.J. Jefferson and Marcus Sherels in the second half and he got his yards, but the Vikings ultimately got the win.

4th Quarter Grade: B

The Vikings defense was certainly bending during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers, but it did enough as the Vikings held on to win the game.

Injuries cost Minnesota Antoine Winfield for much of the game and they lost Harrison Smith in the fourth quarter.

Holding the Packers to a field goal on their first possession of the quarter proved to be a huge hold when all was said and done.

3rd Quarter Grade: C

Not a great quarter for the purple defense, but a Brian Robison forced fumble on Aaron Rodgers kept it from being worse.

Rodgers is getting comfortable and finding receivers all over the field. 

A 73-yard completion to Jordy Nelson following the Vikings touchdown completely reversed the momentum of the game.

The Vikings defense will have to be better in the fourth quarter.

2nd Quarter Grade: B

Aaron Rodgers kept the chains moving for the Packers offense, calmly evading pressure and finding open receivers after plays had broken down.

The Vikings front is getting plenty of initial pressure on Rodgers, but they have to sack him to keep him from extending plays with his legs and arm.

Mistral Raymond had a tough quarter, missing a crucial tackle on Greg Jennings on a third down play and then losing him in the end zone on the Packers score.

1st Quarter Grade: A

The Vikings defense allows the Packers just six plays in two possessions, stuffing Green Bay and not allowing a first down.

Preview:

While Adrian Peterson has garnered most of the headlines during the Vikings drive for the postseason, it's been the defense that has led the way during Minnesota's three-game winning streak that has them on the verge of a playoff berth.

Kudos abound for the Vikings defense, who played "bend but don't break" in wins over the Bears and the Rams, before playing their best game of the season in a dominating win over the Texans last Sunday.

The key for the Vikings defense on Sunday will be putting pressure on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers without blitzing too often.

Rodgers is too smart and too savvy for blitzing defenses, and he tends to torch any team that doesn't drop eight defenders into coverage.

The Vikings will need solid play from all three parts of their defense: pressure up front from Jared Allen and company, solid contributions against both the run and pass from the linebackers, and most importantly, great coverage games from their defensive backs.

Vikings Special Teams: A

Final Grade: A

Three for three from Blair Walsh, including a game winner and another from beyond 50 yards. Walsh finishes off his first regular season with an NFL record 10 field goals from beyond 50 yards. Walsh was 10 for 10 from beyond 50.

The coverage unit gave up a couple of big returns, but Marcus Sherels also had a couple of big runs for the Vikings.

4th Quarter Grade: A

Vikings rookie kicker finished off his first regular season the same way he started it, kicking a game winning field goal.

Walsh never wavered and there wasn't a Vikings fan anywhere who didn't know Walsh would drill the game winner from just 29 yards away.

3rd Quarter Grade: C

Not much action for the special teams, a bad face mask penalty on rookie Rhett Ellison gave the Packers good field position.

2nd Quarter Grade: B

Blair Walsh good again, this time from 37 yards, but the coverage teams give up two big returns to Jeremy Ross, a 44-yard kickoff return and a 32-yard punt return that set up the Packers first score.

Marcus Sherels answered with a 41-yard kickoff return after the Packers touchdown to give the Vikings offense good field position.

1st Quarter Grade: A

Vikings' rookie Pro Bowl Kicker Blair Walsh added to his NFL record, making his 10th field goal from beyond 50 yards to cap off the Vikings first possession of the game, converting from 54 yards.

Marcus Sherels set the Vikings up with great field position on their second possession, making a nice 25-yard return.

Preview:

More of the same. 

That's all the Vikings can ask of their special teams as they play for their playoff lives on Sunday against the Packers.

Blair Walsh is having a phenomenal season as the Vikings rookie kicker, and he was named to the Pro Bowl this week. Walsh's booming kicks have the Vikings coaches unafraid to use him once inside 65 yards. In fact, Walsh is nine-for-nine from beyond 50 yards on the season.

A big game will also be needed from punter Chris Kluwe, who's been brilliant of late. Pinning Aaron Rodgers and the Packers high-octane offense with long fields will be key in trying to get a victory.

The Vikings coverage units will be tested, however, as the Packers' Randall Cobb is one of the most dangerous return men in the game.

Vikings Coaching Staff: A

Final Grade: A

The Vikings mixed the run and pass expertly on offense and did just enough to stay ahead on the scoreboard on defense.

It had to be a strange day for Vikings coaches as they clearly wanted to give Adrian Peterson a chance to get the single season rushing record, but weren't going to do anything on that front that would jeopardize a victory. They didn't have to.

The Vikings actually took some chances downfield on offense and they paid off.

The Vikings have finished the regular season with four straight wins, a 10-6 record and a spot in the playoffs just one season removed from a 3-13 disaster.

They deserve all the credit that will come their way.

4th Quarter Grade: A

The Vikings coaches expertly worked the clock on the final drive and came up aces when Blair Walsh kicked the game winning field goal as time ran out.

The defense didn't have a great quarter, but much of that was due to Antoine Winfield and Harrison Smith missing snaps because of injuries.

3rd Quarter Grade: B

The Vikings continue to mix the run and pass pretty effectively against the Packers defense. The Vikings sidelines had to be pretty frustrated with a circus-like sequence that ended up with the Packers getting a touchdown.

It looks like the only grade that's going to matter is the fourth quarter.

2nd Quarter Grade: B

The Vikings are doing a good job of getting pressure on Rodgers, he just made some great plays to extend a couple of drives and put points on the board.

A good move by the coaches to get a play off before the Packers could challenge on what was clearly not a catch by Jarius Wright on a catch that extended a drive and eventually led to a touchdown.

1st Quarter Grade: A

Great first quarter for the Vikings sidelines. A brilliant call by Bill Musgrave on a third and 12 to throw a screen to Toby Gerhart, who rumbled for 21 yards. The Vikings didn't hesitate to go for it on fourth down and converted easily.

Preview:

Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier isn't going to win any awards this year, but he has to be on anyone's short list of the best coaching performances of 2012.

Frazier's calm demeanor and steady hand proved to be exactly what this version of the Minnesota Vikings needed. A season that threatened to go downhill fast on many different occasions never did, and Frazier and his staff have to be given much of the credit for that.

While the Vikings mid-season slide had many Vikings fans questioning whether Frazier was the right man for the job, nobody is wondering that any more, as the Vikings are on the brink of the playoffs just a year after finishing 3-13.

The Vikings will try to control the football on Sunday and keep it out of the hands of Aaron Rodgers, who has been lethal of late.

A win on Sunday and a spot in the playoffs would be the cherry on the top of a great season for Frazier and his coaches.