(Photos courtesy: www.gamedaygold.com.)
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Forced to start backup quarterback Joe Webb, the Vikings were outmanned and outplayed at Lambeau Field Saturday, losing to the Packers, 24-10.
The loss knocked Minnesota out of the NFC playoffs, which they entered as a Wild Card last Sunday in a big win over Green Bay at Mall of America Field.
The rematch might have been over before the game began when Vikings starting quarterback Christian Ponder was declared inactive 90 minutes before kickoff due to a triceps injury, according to the Pioneer Press. Webb then entered the game, despite not throwing a pass the entire season.
“We knew Christian couldn’t go when we worked him out during pregame warmups,” coach Leslie Frazier said after the game, adding that it wasn’t a matter of pain for Ponder, but physical limitations.
To see Frazier’s comments in their entirety, via Vikings.com, CLICK HERE.
While the Vikings scored on their first drive on a 33-yard Blair Walsh field goal, the Packers soon took control of the game.
John Kuhn scored two touchdowns — one rushing, the other on a pass from Aaron Rodgers — and DuJuan Harris rushed for another touchdown to help give the Packers a commanding 24-3 lead in the third quarter.
Webb hit Michael Jenkins on a 50-yard strike late in the fourth quarter to make it a two-touchdown game, but it was too little, too late.
For the day, Webb was 11-for-30 for 180 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Rodgers was 23-for-33 for 274 yards and one TD pass.
“I didn’t find out (I was starting) until pregame, but I always prepare myself as if I’m going to start,” Webb said after the game. “Green Bay is a good team, we came out fought hard, put up a great effort, that’s all we could do.
“I felt like our team came here expecting a victory. It was a great learning experience.”
To see Webb’s comments in their entirety, via Vikings.com, CLICK HERE.
Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson had 22 carries on the day, rushing for 99 yards. In two previous games against the Packers, the potential league MVP ran for 210 yards and 199 yards.
“Winning a championship was one of my goals in my comeback from surgery,” Peterson said. “Unfortunately that didn’t happen.”
