The Green Bay Packers fell behind early and were unable to complete the comeback in the fourth quarter in a 27-25 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Despite scoring 15 fourth quarter points, the Packers didn’t get the final stop down two points late.
The loss dropped the Packers to 11-5 and eliminated any chance to get the No. 5 seed. The Vikings improved to 14-2 and kept open the door to winning the NFC North and securing the No. 1 seed.
Here is an instant analysis of the Packers’ loss to the Vikings in Week 17:
Final score: Vikings 27, Packers 25
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| GB (11-5) | 3 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 25 |
| MIN (14-2) | 0 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
Live scoring
First quarter
GB 3, MIN 0: Brandon McManus 22-yard field goal (1:47)
Second quarter
MIN 7, GB 3: Jalen Nailor 31-yard catch (11:52)
MIN 10, GB 3: Will Reichard 25-yard field goal (2:16)
MIN 13, GB 3: Will Reichard 50-yard field goal (0:00)
Third quarter
MIN 20, GB 3: Jordan Addison 18-yard catch (9:44)
MIN 20, GB 10: Josh Jacobs 2-yard run (5:07)
MIN 27, GB 10: Cam Akers 9-yard catch (0:57)
Fourth quarter
MIN 27, GB 18: Emanuel Wilson 5-yard run (6:12)
MIN 27, GB 25: Malik Heath 3-yard catch (2:18)
It was over when…
… Cam Akers corralled Sam Darnold’s low throw on 3rd-and-2 with under two minutes to go, which gained the first down and allowed the Vikings to kneel out the remaining clock.
Game balls
Offense — TE Tucker Kraft: He had an 18-yard catch-and-run setting up the Packers’ first score, and his 35-yard catch was the Packers’ only play over 20 yards in the game.
Defense — LB Edgerrin Cooper: The rookie linebacker produced four tackles for losses and a team-high 11 tackles overall.
Special teams — K Brandon McManus: He made all three of his kicks.
Key stat
33 for 377: Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 33 passes for a career-high 377 yards against the Packers’ injury-riddled secondary. Four different players had 60 or more receiving yards for the Vikings. Darnold threw three touchdown passes and had a 116.1 passer rating despite throwing an interception. The Vikings passing game dominated the game.
Deciding factor
Another slow start against top team: The Packers lost a fumble in Vikings territory, settled for a 22-yard field goal in the red zone, failed on fourth down after the Vikings went up 7-3 and then sat idlily as Kevin O’Connell’s team rattled off three consecutive scoring drives to build a 20-3 lead early in the second half. The Packers trailed 28-0 and 20-3 in two losses to the Vikings this season.
Jordan Love watch
Love hit his first two passes — a pair of completions to Dontayvion Wicks on the drive — but struggled for the first three quarters, producing only 64 passing yards entering the fourth quarter. He led back-to-back touchdown drives in the fourth quarter and finished 19 of 30 passing for 185 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t have a turnover but did take three sacks. The passing game wasn’t nearly good enough for three quarters, leading to a big deficit.
Play of the game
YESSSIR!#GBvsMIN pic.twitter.com/cpYeaPRATd
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 29, 2024
Carrington Valentine’s interception in the third quarter gave the Packers a pulse. Pressure from Arron Mosby helped create a hurried throw, and Valentine made the leaping interception. Credit Karl Brooks for following the play and recovering Valentine’s fumble.
Injury updates
Safety Zayne Anderson and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt both exited for concussion evaluation and did not return to the game.
What’s next
The Packers will host the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field next Sunday in the season finale. Chicago has lost 10 straight games since starting 4-2. The Bears haven’t won in Green Bay since 2015.