Packers release frustration with 30-13 rout of Vikes

fpadmin | 11/23/2015

Bears at Packers this Thursday plus Favre ceremony

We can get you there with tickets and game packages!
» Reserve your spot!

By CHRIS HAVEL

Green Bay’s three-game losing streak halted against Minnesota as defense leads way with smothering effort

The Minnesota Vikings can’t claim they didn’t see this coming.
Teddy Bridgewater saw it. Adrian Peterson saw it.
The Packers’ defense was in the Vikings’ facemasks from start to finish in Green Bay’s fairly convincing 30-13 victory over Minnesota on Sunday in Minneapolis.
Green Bay (7-3) came in on a three-game losing streak. It exited with a renewed feeling of confidence stemming in part from regaining control of its own fate.
The Vikings (7-3) missed an opportunity to put a stranglehold on the NFC North in a game that featured the Packers’ stingy defense punctuated by Mason Crosby field goals and two Aaron Rodgers touchdown passes. It also featured a rejuvenated Eddie Lacy who rushed for a season-high 100 yards.
Others such as the two Joneses – James and Datone – contributed with big games when the Packers needed it most. James Jones had six catches for 109 yards including a picture-perfect 27-yard touchdown catch as he dragged two feet and maintained control along the end zone’s side line. How Aaron Rodgers spotted Jones and tucked the football into a minuscule space is beyond description.
Rodgers also hooked up with Randall Cobb on a 10-yard touchdown strike. It’s noteworthy that both touchdown passes came on third down plays.
“Maybe we’ll get you guys off our back for a couple days,” Rodgers told reporters. “We’ve been taking it on the chin, rightfully so, the last three weeks after a couple real poor performances. This was an important week for us. We really stuck together.”
Datone Jones helped lead the defense by claiming two of its six sacks of Bridgewater, who struggled to gain any rhythm once the Packers’ defense put the clamps on Peterson. Peterson finished with 45 yards on 13 carries including a critical second-half fumble that thwarted a promising Vikings drive.
“I think sometimes we play a little better when we start to get questioned,” Rodgers said. He finished just 16 of 34 for 212 yards but his two touchdown passes were right on the money.
Minnesota saw its five-game winning streak squashed in front of a hopeful hometown crowd that eventually shuffled out in disappointment.
At times, the Vikings were their own worst enemy.
The Packers took a 27-13 lead on Jones’ touchdown catch and ensuing two-point conversion on a drive fueled by Vikings penalties. A 50-yard pass interference penalty on Terence Newman on third-and-15 set up one touchdown. An illegal contact call on Anthony Barr on a third-down incompletion also gave the Packers a new set of downs on the drive.
Clay Matthews, speaking for the defense, said: “Sometimes you have to look in the mirror, especially with the losses we’d had.”
Datone Jones had perhaps his finest day in a Packers uniform. It comes after defensive coordinator Dom Capers elected to use Jones as a defensive end in the 4-3 alignment opposite Nick Perry or Mike Neal. At tackle, Capers relied on B.J. Raji, Letroy Guion and Mike Pennel in a three-man rotation. The alignment and the Packers’ rally to the football caused Peterson all kinds of fits.
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy appeared more active on the sidelines. He seemed to be more vocal and involved.
“This is the way we prefer to play,” McCarthy said, referring to a much better run-pass balance on offense.
The Packers got a strong performance from J.C. Tretter, who stepped in early for the injured Corey Linsley (ankle). While tackles Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari struggled all day, Rodgers at least had enough time to make a few big plays.
More important, the offensive line’s run blocking was good enough to get Lacy some room. The big back did the rest with his high effort and trademark spin move.
The Packers have precious little time to revel in the win. The Bears are coming in for a Thanksgiving night showdown featuring the jersey number retirement ceremony for the great Brett Favre. Also, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr will be in attendance to honor the fellow legend.
With a second win in five days, the Packers could lay a strong claim to the division title, a bye week in the playoffs and at least one home game.
Now, we’ll see what the Bears’ Jay Cutler, or rather, the Packers’ revamped defense, will have to say about it.

Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’s MVP Parties the evening before home games.

"

Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
"

-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada

"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help. As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game, particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "

-Kayle

"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time. One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA. "

-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida

"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"

-Matt

"Hi Amy- Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future! Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol! Go pack go!!"

-Julie Mastrianni

"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service. My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it. We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip. Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."

-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN

"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."

-Frank Chavez, Sacramento

"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."

-Beverley Moore, Lancaster

"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"

-David Anastas, Worchester

"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."

-Dick Koerner, Neenah

"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."

-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario

"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."

-Sam Jones, Sedalia

"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."

-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor

"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."

-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly