Advertisement

WATCH: Green Bay Packers clinch NFC North title following 23-10 win over Minnesota Vikings

Ibrahim Mustapha

The Green Bay Packers will head into the playoffs as NFC North Champions following a 23-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Despite three first half turnovers and the rare sight of an Aaron Rodgers interception, the Packers moved to 12-3 for the season and will be eyeing a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the the Divisional Round.

Green Bay showed that they can win matches even when Rodgers has an off night - the quarterback had just 216 yards, no touchdowns and that first interception since week six as he threw a wayward pass into the hands of Vikings’ Anthony Harris in the second quarter.

The Vikings knew a win would put them in contention for the NFC North title and would have been encouraged when Kirk Cousins threw a great second quarter touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs for a 10-3 lead.

However, that was a good as it would get for Cousins as the Packers Defence took over, with linebacker Za’Darius Smith registering 3.5 sacks to stifle the Vikings.

In terms of offence, Aaron Jones was the star of the show with two second half touchdowns and a total of 154 rushing yards to take the game, and ultimately the title, away from their division rivals.

For Cousins, the unfortunate Vikings man now has the unwanted record of 0-9 as a starting quarterback on “Monday Night Football” - the only quarterback in NFL history to do so.

The Packers will clinch a top-two seed and a bye with an expected win in week 17 against the 3-11-1 Detroit Lions.

Featured from our writers:

Yahoo Sport presents Tailgate