This one was pretty much over the moment it began.
The Green Bay Packers were hitting on all cylinders in pretty much every facet of the game, stomping the Minnesota Vikings 45-7 in front of a national audience.
Aaron Rodgers was nearly flawless, going 23-of-30 for 250 yards and tossing four touchdowns with no interceptions. Perhaps most telling, he was sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter watching backup Matt Flynn lead the Packers offense.
Jordy Nelson was the primary beneficiary of Rodgers’ pinpoint passes this week, with 63 yards and two touchdowns, but 10 different receivers caught balls on the evening. Even the Packers running game, which is clearly featuring James Starks over Ryan Grant, made an appearance. Starks ran for 63 yards on 13 carries, with most of his yardage coming after contact.
Grant got only eight carries and gained only six yards.
The Packers defense sacked Christian Ponder three times and intercepted him once. He threw for only 190 yards.Meanwhile, Adrian Peterson, who gashed the Packers in the teams’ first meeting, was held to 51 yards.
Oh, and the special teams even contributed to the win, with Randall Cobb returning the first punt he saw 80 yards for a touchdown and Mason Crosby hitting his only field goal of the night. Crosby hasn’t missed a field goal this season.
It was pretty much as if the Packers were just toying with the Vikings. They went for it twice on fourth down and converted easily.
If there’s anything to pick at, it’s the defense’s continued inability to wrap up and tackle. The offensive line also allowed Jared Allen to pressure Rodgers fairly consistently and Vikings got two sacks.
None of it mattered, though.
The Packers are the best team in the league and the Vikings suck. They can fuck off and go home.