The Green Bay Packers 31-3 dismantling of the Minnesota Vikings today at Mall of America Field at the Minneapolis Metrodome was satisfying on so many levels. It completed a resoudning sweep of the defending NFC North Champs, drove a stake through the heart of the franchise's hopes for the playoffs, much less a winning season, provided understated redemption for Aaron Rodgers against his former mentor Brett Favre and while fans will relish those points most, it brought the Packers to 7-3, still atop the division race, squarely in the mix for top honors in the NFC and made it 4 consecutive victories. Rodgers shook off a pair of short series in an 8 yard first quarter with 2 sacks, to torch the Vikes to the tune of 301 yards passing, 4 touchdown throws, three to Greg Jennings with a passer rating of 141.3. Jennings caught 7 balls for 152 yards and his juggling 47 yard catch and run early in the second quarter lit the fuse that exploded against the likes of Chris Cook, benched at halftime, and his replacement, Asher Allen. The defense turned in another virtuoso performance. After Adrian Peterson broke off a 25 yard run, Toby Gehart slipped a Frank Zombo tackle on third and 12 for 19 and Greg Lewis burned Sam Shields for a 29 yard grab, Minnesota put up their only points of the day on Ryan Longwell's 24 yard field goal. Green Bay tied the game after Jennings remarkable catch on Mason Crosby's 42 yard boot in the second. Rodgers heated up with a 39 yard strike to James Jones up the right sideline and then spun out of a near sack to find Jennings for an 11 yard score to put the Packers up 10-3. The game then swung for good as Favre was driving the Vikings for a tie late in the half when Tramon Williams stepped in front of a Percy Harvin slant route to intercept Favre and return it 14 yards to the 47. 6 plays later, Rodgers found Jones in the right corner of the end zone for a 3 yard touchdown with :09 left in the half and a 17-3 lead. Green Bay took the third quarter kickoff and scored ini 6 plays, Jennings caught a 15 yard hook route, spun away from Allen and raced 46 yards for the touchdown that built the lead to 24-3. When Jennings burned Allen one more time on a 22 yard touchdown in the 4th quarter, the home fans literally headed for home. The Packers piled up 374 yards of offense, converted 8 of 15 third down plays and got a nice boost in the running game from D'Mitri Nance who had a game high 37 yards on 12 carries. But it's the defense that continues to shine, two more takeaways, making 9 in three weeks. The Pack has given up 0, 7 and 3 in their last three games and have allowed only 4 touchdowns in 5 road games. Green Bay did not turn it over and committed only 1 penalty, clean execution continues to start the final 7 game stretch with another difficult day in a dome looming, a visit to 8-2 Atlanta next Sunday. Here's what the guys were saying in the locker room after the victory.
Packers blowout Vikings


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