Skip to main content
Advertising

News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

3 Stats That Stood Out: Vikings at Packers

The Vikings and Packers **tied at 29** on Sunday in the 116th Border Battle, causing a **mix of emotions**.

It was just the third tie in the series and the first time in NFL history for teams to finish a game with that score.

A **spirited comeback** showed the grit of the team and prevented a loss, despite Minnesota going into the fourth quarter down 20-7.

Kirk Cousins passed for **425 yards and four touchdowns**, and Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen delivered **clutch catches** in the fourth quarter and overtime period.

Minnesota's defense **allowed just 12 points in the final 40 minutes** of the game, including three on a possession that started at the Vikings 13-yard line.

Here are three stats that stood out.

1. Cousins connects with Thielen & Diggs when it counts

Cousins' 425 passing yards on the day tied with Daunte Culpepper for the eighth-most by a Vikings player in one game. The quarterback totaled 21 completions for 259 yards and three scores to Thielen and Diggs.

In the fourth quarter and overtime, Cousins was a perfect 9-of-9 passing for 160 yards and three touchdowns and a maxed-out NFL passer rating of 158.3.

When facing a deficit, the Vikings obviously turned to the aerial attack to catch up. Minnesota earned 20 of its 24 first downs on passes and just three on rushes (one was awarded after a penalty), which contrasted the Packers, who also had 24 first downs (nine rushing, 11 passing, four via penalties).

All seven first downs by the Vikings in the first half were earned through the air, compared to five rushing, four passing and two via penalties for the Packers.

2. 9 QBHs and 0 PDs

This same stat combination was mentioned in recapping Minnesota's Week 1 win over San Francisco. The Vikings racked up nine quarterback hits and nine passes defended against the 49ers.

On Sunday, however, press box statisticians did not award a pass defended to the Vikings (although many could argue that Eric Kendricks had one on a second-and-10 throw into the end zone in the fourth quarter).

Aaron Rodgers was 30-of-42 passing for 281 yards with a touchdown and passer rating of 97.4.

Playing through an injured left knee, Rodgers turned to quick passes quite often to prevent Minnesota's front four and blitzers from getting to him. The Vikings still totaled 4.0 sacks and nine quarterback hits.

He, however, handled the pressure and avoiding putting the football in harm's way.

3. 15.8 per catch by Graham

Packers offseason addition Jimmy Graham averaged 15.8 yards per reception against the Vikings. The tight end caught six passes for 95 yards on eight targets.

Graham's day included receptions of 34 and 27 yards that were the two longest completions by Rodgers. He also had a 12-yard touchdown nullified by a holding penalty.

The Packers also had a gain of 31, but it was a combination of a 16-yard reception and a 15-yard penalty.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer expressed his disappointment in giving up the big plays to Graham, who caught two passes for eight yards against the Bears in his Packers debut the previous week.

In Week 1, the Vikings allowed 49ers tight end George Kittle five catches for 90 yards (18.0 per reception).

Advertising
;