2009 NFC Playoffs - Round Two: New Orleans at Minnesota

Minneapolis (EP)

The Green Bay Packers traveled to Minnesota to take on the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2009 NFL Playoffs.

Green Bay advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a win over the Arizona Cardinals while Minnesota earned a first round playoff bye as the #2 seed in the NFC this year.

The Packers received the opening kick-off and immediately moved down the field and capped off the drive with a Ryan Grant 7-yard TD run. The extra point was good and the Packers took a 7-0 lead.

The two teams exchanged punts before the Vikings took over in decent field position half way through the First Quarter. Just like that, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson jetted 44 yards for a game tying touchdown. The extra point was true and the score stood at 7-7 with a little over six minutes left in the First Quarter.

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen ended the next Packer drive with a sack of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Minnesota kept things simple and gave the ball repeatedly to Peterson. Their diligence paid off as they used up the clock and moved inside the 10 yard line before Peterson found the end zone again on a 6-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good. The Vikings had taken the lead 14-7 at the end of the First Quarter.

Green Bay took the ball again but were again thwarted when Minnesota's Ray Edwards sacked Rodgers on third down.

The Vikings got the ball back on a punt and moved the ball well before stalling. Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell nailed a 41-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 17-7 lead.

Mason Crosby answered Longwell's field goal with one of his own, a 29 yarder to draw the Packers to within seven points, 17-10 with six minutes of the Second Quarter.

Minnesota kept grinding the ball on the ground with Toby Gerhardt and Peterson. Unable to contain the All-Pro, the Packer defense was gashed by Peterson once again for 34 yards and another long touchdown run. The extra point was good. Suddenly, the Vikings went ahead by a score of 24-10.

Rodgers and the Packer offense gutted out a drive, trying to climb closer before Half Time. Minnesota's defense stiffened and Crosby was left to attempt a 44 yard field goal. The kick fell surprisingly short. The Packers went into the locker room down 24-10 to the Vikings.

Minnesota's offense began the Third Quarter with the same determination on offense, banging the ball ahead on the legs of Peterson. The Vikings failed to reach the end zone, but Longwell salvaged some points with a 32 yard field goal. Minnesota lead 27-10 with only a few minutes gone in the Third Quarter.

The Packers carefully moved the ball into Vikings territory but where stopped abruptly once again by a sack of Rodgers on third down that moved Green Bay out of field goal range.

The Vikings punted back to the Packers on their next drive. Green Bay broke through the Minnesota defense with a few long runs before cashing in with a 7 yard Rodgers to Greg Jennings touchdown pass. Crosby put through the extra point and the Packers climbed back to with 27-17.

The Packers' momentum built right away on the next Viking drive. Cornerback Charles Woodson stepped in front of an ill-advised Brett Favre pass and gave the ball back to the Rodgers and the Green Bay offense. Just as the Third Quarter came to a close, Grant broke through the Viking defense for a 7-yard touchdown run to tighten the game. Crosby punched in the extra point to move the score to 27-24.

Favre and the Vikings responded with a calm, deliberate drive mixing short passes with Peterson runs. Finally, Favre connected with wide receiver Sydney Rice on a 8-yard slant who fell into the end zone. Minnesota put some space between themselves and the surging Packers. Longwell added the extra point and made the score, 34-24.

The Packers regained the ball with ten minutes to go in the game. A sharp drive engineered by Rodgers moved the ball into Vikings territory. This time the drive was ended not by a third down Vikings' sack, but by a third down Green Bay holding penalty that led to a failed effort to make the first down on third down and long. The Packers were had too far to go on fourth down, and punted to the Vikings late in the Fourth Quarter.

Minnesota kept with their game plan and ran the ball in an attempt to grind out yards and grind down the clock. Peterson and Gerhardt continued to find room and soon the Vikings were knocking on the door once again. Green Bay was forced to use all of their time outs as Minnesota continued to runs the ball right at them. Ultimately, the Packers were out of time outs and out of gas when Peterson found the end zone a final time for his third touchdown of the game. Longwell booted the extra point making the score 41-24, Minnesota

The Minnesota Vikings advanced to the NFC Championship Game with a 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers.