Ranking the Green Bay Packers' Best-Ever Wins in Minnesota
The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings have one of the most intense rivalries in the NFL. Here is a look at the Packers' biggest wins in Minnesota since the rivalry began back in 1961.
The Packers and Vikings have met 106 times, with the Packers winning 56 and losing 48 with two ties. That includes this year's first meeting, which Green Bay won 42-10 at Lambeau Field.
While the Packers own the overall advantage in the series, winning in Minnesota has rarely been easy. Even all-time greats like Brett Favre often struggled to win at the Metrodome. Winning at the Met in Bloomington was rarely easy for the Packers, either.
The games on this list are ranked on their importance and historical significance, the excitement of the game and any outstanding individual performances or milestones.
Feel free to comment on any of these games or to mention a game that did not make the final list but you feel belongs there. As always, indicate why you feel the way you do.
Honorable Mentions
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While these two games didn't make this list, they did come close.
In 1980, the Packers improved their record to 5-6-1 with a 25-13 win over the Vikings. The loss knocked the Vikings out of first place and left the Pack in contention with just four games left on the schedule.
The Packers ran the ball down the Vikings' throat in this contest. Both Eddie Lee Ivery (145 yards and a touchdown) and Gerry Ellis (101 yards and a touchdown) ran for more than 100 yards in the game. Ironically, the Packers didn't have a 100-yard game by a running back all season until this game.
Wide receiver James Lofton made five catches for 93 yards, which gave him 1,015 yards for the season. It was the first time the future Hall of Famer topped the 1,000-yard plateau in a season.
Meanwhile, in 2003, Brett Favre played despite suffering a broken thumb and led the Packers to a 30-27 win over the Vikings at the Metrodome.
The Pack improved their record to 4-4 while dropping Minnesota to 6-2. Favre threw three touchdown passes including two to wide receiver Javon Walker in the victory.
Ahman Green ran for 137 yards and caught five passes for 52 more yards and one touchdown to pace the Green Bay offense.
The Vikings scored on a one-yard run by quarterback Daunte Culpepper with just 33 seconds left in the game, but Darren Sharper recovered the ensuing onside kick to clinch the win for the Packers.
6. December 17, 2000: Packers 33, Vikings 28
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The Packers improved their record to 8-7 and kept their playoff hopes alive with a 33-28 win over the Vikings in Minnesota. The loss dropped the first-place Vikings' record to 11-4.
Brett Favre threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns for the Pack. Ahman Green ran for 161 yards and also caught a touchdown pass from Favre. The big rushing game put Green over the 1,000-yard mark for the season; it was the first time he topped that mark in his NFL career.
Ryan Longwell also kicked four field goals in four tries for the Packers.
The Green Bay defense stifled Minnesota running back Robert Smith, holding him to just 26 yards on 10 carries. The Packers also won the turnover battle, 3-0.
The Packers went on to win their season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they failed to get the help they needed to make the playoffs.
5. November 29, 1981: Packers 35, Vikings 23
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The Packers overcame an early 14-0 deficit to beat the Vikings 35-23 and keep their playoff hopes alive. The win improved Green Bay's record to 6-7—not bad after a 2-6 start.
Lynn Dickey threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns in his first game back after missing the previous four games due to a back injury. Running back Harlan Huckleby ran for two touchdowns and caught a Dickey pass for a third score.
Wide receiver James Lofton caught seven catches for 159 yards including a 47-yard touchdown pass. John Jefferson also caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Dickey.
Running back Gerry Ellis rushed for 77 yards in 19 carries to lead the Green Bay rushing attack.
The Packers intercepted Minnesota quarterback Tommy Kramer five times in 55 attempts including a key pick by cornerback Estus Hood late in the first half.
The Packers finished the season 8-8 and missed the playoffs after losing the season finale to the New York Jets.
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4. December 3, 1967: Packers 30, Vikings 27
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Don Chandler's 19-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the game gave the Packers a 30-27 win over the Vikings at the Met in Bloomington. The win improved the Pack's record to 9-2-1 on the season. It would be Vince Lombardi's last regular season-win as coach of the Green Bay Packers.
The winning field goal was set up by a fumble recovery by defensive back Tom Brown at the Minnesota 28 in the final minutes of the game.
Bart Starr threw for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns—a 57-yard strike to Boyd Dowler in the second quarter and a 34-yard pass to Carroll Dale in the third.
Ben Wilson ran for 59 yards and a touchdown to pace the Green Bay ground attack.
The Packers had trouble stopping Vikings' running back Dave Osborn, who set a new club record with 155 yards on 21 carries.
The Packers had already clinched the division title the previous week with a win over the Chicago Bears. They lost their remaining two regular-season games before beating the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys in "The Ice Bowl" and the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II. Those wins gave Lombardi's Packers three straight NFL titles, a mark that has still never been equaled.
3. September 30, 2007: Packers 23, Vikings 17
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Brett Favre made history in the Packers' 23-17 win over the Vikings in the Metrodome. Late in the first quarter, the quarterback hit wide receiver Greg Jennings with a 16-yard touchdown pass that left Favre as the NFL's all-time touchdown pass leader. His 421 career touchdown tosses surpassed Dan Marino's previous record of 420.
Favre often showed a lot of enthusiasm after throwing touchdown passes, and this was no exception. The veteran quarterback literally picked up Jennings and lifted the receiver over his shoulder and ran down the field.
Favre also threw a touchdown pass to James Jones to extend his record to 422. He finished the game with 344 yards on 32 completions.
Mason Crosby added three field goals to help the Packers earn the win.
The Vikings scored with 1:55 left in the game on a touchdown pass from Kelly Holcomb to Sidney Rice to make it a one-score game. Ryan Grant's fumble gave Minnesota a chance to win it, but Atari Bigby picked off Holcomb and clinched the win for the Packers.
The win improved the Packers to 4-0 on the season. They would finish the year with a 13-3-0 record. Green Bay reached the NFC Championship Game that season, where they fell in overtime to the New York Giants.
2. December 10, 1972: Green Bay 23, Minnesota 7
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The Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC Central Division title for the first time in the post-Lombardi era by beating the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 at the Met in Bloomington. The win improved the Packers' record to 9-4-0 on the season, while the Vikings fell to 7-6-0.
The Packers trailed 7-0 at halftime but scored 23 unanswered-points in the second half to clinch the victory.
This win typified the 1972 team's style: They had a strong running game led by the duo of John Brockington (114 yards) and MacArthur Lane (99 yards and a touchdown) and a dominant defense that shut down Fran Tarkenton and company.
The Vikings managed only nine first downs and 144 total yards for the game. A fumble recovery by linebacker Fred Carr set up a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Scott Hunter, while an interception by cornerback Willie Buchanon set up a three-yard touchdown run by Lane.
With the strong performance, Brockington became the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.
The Packers made their only playoff appearance of the 1970s this year. They lost 16-3 in the opening round to the Washington Redskins.
1. December 24, 2004: Packers 34, Vikings 31
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You never knew what you were going to get with Brett Favre at quarterback. The Kiln, Mississippi, native was capable of making some outstanding plays that left everybody amazed, but he was also capable of making some really stupid throws that left fans and coaches alike shaking their head in disbelief.
Favre did both in this game at the Metrodome, but as it usually was with Favre, the good outweighed the bad in the end.
He threw an interception to Minnesota's Chris Claiborne, who returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. Minnesota had a 31-24 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
But Favre was able to rally the Packers. First, he hit wide receiver Donald Driver in the end zone on a 4th-and-3 play to tie the game at 31-31 with just 3:34 left in regulation time.
With 1:35 left, the Packers took possession at their own 13. Favre led the Pack downfield on a precision 12-play drive that ended at the Minnesota 12-yard line.
Ryan Longwell hit a 29-yard field goal as time expired to give Green Bay a 34-31 win. The Pack improved to 9-6 and clinched the NFC North crown for the third consecutive year. The loss knocked the Vikings down to 8-7.
Favre threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns with Driver grabbing 11 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown to pace the Green Bay offense.
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