Vikings hold on to beat Packers 31-29 and improve to 4-0

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In the second quarter Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings had their biggest lead at Lambeau Field since 1973.

Despite the fact they forced two turnovers in the fourth quarter, they still needed to recover an onside kick to close it out.

But wins, whether they come through blowouts or one-score games, count the same, and the Vikings have now won two straight games at Lambeau Field. They held on for a 31-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in a game in which Kevin O’Connell won three challenges, Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns and the Vikings had four takeaways against Jordan Love.

Aaron Jones, who ran the apron around Lambeau Field to high-five Packers fans before the game, finished with 22 carries for 93 yards in his first game against his former team. Darnold went 20 for 28 for 275 yards and three touchdowns with an interception.

Why it happened: The Vikings were better in every facet of the game while building a 28-0 lead in the first half. Darnold dissected the Packers defense from clean pockets, while Green Bay forced Jordan Love into two first-half interceptions. The first real mistake of the game came when Jalen Nailor, returning punts while Brandon Powell was out with an injury, lost a punt in the sun and set up the Packers’ first touchdown. The Packers’ two second-half touchdowns came with the help of a Darnold interception, a play after he had been twisted down by Rashan Gary, but the Vikings came up with two more takeaways when they needed them.

What it means: The Vikings are 4-0 through the first month of a schedule that was supposed to contain its toughest stretch at the beginning of the season. They are up two games on the Packers in the NFC North and could have a two-game lead on everyone if the Detroit Lions lose Monday night. They’re 4-0 for the first time since 2016 and could be undefeated heading into their bye with another win. They will have some concerns to address with the way their defense played in the second half, but being undefeated after a month puts them in a great spot.

Play of the game: With the Vikings up 21-0 in the first half, the Packers continued to play man coverage on Justin Jefferson, who fought off a grab from Keisean Nixon to haul in Darnold’s third touchdown pass of the day. It put the Vikings up 28-0.

Turning point: The Packers made it a one-score game in the fourth quarter, after Love hit Tucker Kraft for a touchdown and a two-point conversion. But the Vikings answered with a field goal, and a play after Jordan Love hit Dontayvion Wicks for 36 yards on a corner route, Byron Murphy Jr. made the quarterback pay by catching an overthrown deep shot for Wicks. It was Love’s third interception of the game, and the first of two takeaways for Murphy, who would punch the ball out of Kraft’s hands for a fumble on the next possession.

Up next: vs. New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Oct. 6, 9:30 a.m. ET. The Jets fell to 2-2 with a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

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