New York Giants 17
Minnesota Vikings 49
The Vikings dominated the Giants on both sides of the ball en route to a 49-17 victory Sunday night at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Minnesota will battle the Packers next Sunday at Lambeau Field, with the NFC North title at stake. The start time has been moved to 7:30 p.m. for national broadcast on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
The Vikings intercepted Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning three times, scoring points off two of them. Jerrick McKinnon rushed for two touchdowns, including a 68-yarder late in the fourth quarter.
Teddy Bridgewater went 15-for-25 for 168 yards and threw for one touchdown.
Adrian Peterson scored another TD and rushed for 104 yards in the game. Blair Walsh hit five field goals in the rout.
The defense pressured Manning all night and sacked him four times.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph scored the Vikings’ first touchdown on a 28-yard touchdown strike from Bridgewater to go up 10-0 early in the second quarter.
Harrison Smith, who returned to action after sitting out the last two games with an injury, intercepted a Manning pass and returned the ball 35 yards for a touchdown.
Harrison Smith's fourth pick-six gives him the #Vikings franchise record.
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) December 28, 2015
The Vikings were up 19-3 at halftime.
Zimmer: The second half was really good. I thought we rushed the QB well tonight. They were 1-11 on third down and we got some turnovers.
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) December 28, 2015
In the third quarter, Captain Munnerlyn intercepted Manning again and was tackled just short of the end zone. Peterson ran it in from two yards out for his only touchdown of the game.
The Giants came right back on the next possession, as Manning threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Reuben Randle.
Jerrick McKinnon scored two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, a week after scoring his first passing TD.
The Giants scored a touchdown with just under two minutes left, but it was too little too late.
Playoff scenarios
The Vikings travel to Lambeau to face the Packers Sunday night. Both teams are 10-5, and both have clinched a spot in the playoffs.
“We’ve played well on the road this year, but we haven’t beaten Green Bay. That’s something we have to get done.” – Zimmer#VikingsVictory
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 28, 2015
The winner next week will claim the NFC North title and will get home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The #Vikings are in the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and will get a chance Sunday to win their first division title since 2009.
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) December 28, 2015
After the Packers’ ugly 38-8 loss to the Cardinals in Arizona Sunday, the Vikings will go into that game with some momentum.
All year we assumed Green Bay would win the division and Minn fight for a wild card. But next week will not be a gimme for the Packers.
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) December 28, 2015
#Vikings scenarios:
1) Beat #Packers: 3 seed vs. #Seahawks
2) Lose to GB, SEA wins: 6 seed at GB
3) Lose to GB, SEA loses: 5 seed at WAS
— Keith Leventhal (@KeithLeventhal) December 28, 2015
Current #Packers weather forecast for @SNFonNBC next Sunday: Clouds, 15 degrees. https://t.co/u2CWqebG4A pic.twitter.com/bAhzObpFQs
— 620 WTMJ (@620wtmj) December 28, 2015
Tweet of the night:
https://twitter.com/theschief/status/681285437122568193
