Packers vs. Vikings score, takeaways: Green Bay defense stomps all over Kirk Cousins in blowout revenge game

Jaire Alexander called the Vikings' explosive Week 1 rout of the Packers a "fluke" in the lead-up to this week's anticipated NFC North rematch. It turns out the Green Bay star didn't go far enough in his remarks. With a chance to remain in contention for the conference's No. 1 playoff seed, not to mention sweep and eliminate Aaron Rodgers and Co., Minnesota hardly even put up a fight at Lambeau Field. Folding in every phase of the game, the Vikings trailed early due to a special teams blunder, failed to stop the Aaron Jones-led ground game, then got manhandled by Green Bay's resurgent defense as the Packers claimed a 41-17 rout that was even more lopsided than the score indicates.

The Vikings (12-4) already clinched an NFC North title earlier this season. But Sunday's Week 17 rematch was all Packers (8-8), who can now clinch a wild card berth with a win against the rival Lions in Week 18. While Rodgers himself didn't post gaudy numbers working against a vulnerable Minnesota defense, Kirk Cousins had a particularly head-scratching performance, tossing three interceptions while failing to connect with Jefferson.

Here are some additional takeaways from Sunday's blowout:

Why the Packers won

Early on, it was because the defense and special teams came to play: Joe Barry's unit limited Minnesota to 14 plays for 20 yards on the Vikings' first four drives, and Keisan Nixon made a 105-yard kick-return TD look easy. As the game wore on, it was chiefly the "D," which has been the driving force for the Packers' resurgence as a playoff hopeful. Jaire Alexander flat-out dominated in coverage against Justin Jefferson, setting the tone early with physicality. And the rest of the secondary was opportunistic as ever, getting hands on receivers and Kirk Cousins throws on key downs, with Adrian Amos, Rasul Douglas, Darnell Savage and T.J. Slaton all logging at least a pick or multiple pass deflections.

Offensively, Rodgers mostly leaned on Aaron Jones, who seized on one open lane after another, but also sealed the game with a TD scramble of his own, relocating to the sidelines with more than seven minutes left as Jordan Love took on mop-up duty. Mason Crosby, meanwhile, chipped in with a perfect 56-yard field goal to keep Green Bay in front.

Why the Vikings lost

Despite apparently having destiny on their side in close games with equal or lesser opponents, they know how to fold against the big dogs. An early punt block seemed to set the stage for an upset, but immediately afterward, they failed to punch the ball in from the 1-yard line, getting no push for Dalvin Cook on a night the running back was largely nonexistent. Cousins, meanwhile, did almost nothing through the air while bulleting passes into a tight secondary, hitting only T.J. Hockenson with any regularity. Once the Packers took a sizable lead, it got worse, with Green Bay simply bullying them on every level. Ed Donatell's "D" was actually better than expected against the pass, but ended up being a total sieve against the run. Greg Joseph kept with the program by sailing a pair of field goals wide of the uprights. Their only real points came after the game had been decided.

Turning point

Just over halfway through the first quarter, the Vikings seemed to be gaining steam after Dalvin Tomlinson sacked Aaron Rodgers on fourth-and-1 for a loss of 16. Minnesota took over in Packers territory with a chance to retake the lead. Four plays into the series, however, Cousins rocketed one over the middle to Hockenson and Green Bay corner Rasul Douglas tipped the ball into the air -- and the waiting hands of Darnell Savage, who proceeded to race it 75 yards for the score. The Packers went up 14-3 thanks to the takeaway and never looked back.

Play of the game

Pretty much every third snap from the Packers' secondary belongs here, but the pick-six from Savage took the cake among difference-making plays in coverage:

What's next

The Packers (8-8) will stay at Lambeau Field in Week 18, when they'll battle the rival Lions (8-8) in a showdown that will decide the NFC's final wild card. The Vikings (12-4), meanwhile, will visit Chicago to take on the Bears (3-13), who got routed by Detroit on Sunday.

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Ballgame, folks:

 
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AJ Dillon pounds his way into the end zone, and if it wasn't clear already, this is a blowout. It's now 34-3, Packers. The Vikings, once again, are folding on the big stage against big-time competition.

 
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Vikings have been so-so defending the run this year, but the Packers are paving lanes almost every snap tonight. Aaron Jones is already up over 100 yards on just 11 carries, averaging almost 10 yards per touch.

 
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No way. Vikings have another shot at points before half, and Greg Joseph is no good from 50. Obviously not a gimme kick at Lambeau in cold weather, but everything that could swing the Packers' way is doing so. And just to cap it all off, Mason Crosby comes out immediately afterward and drills it from 56. Packers going into halftime up 27-3. The place is absolutely rocking.

 
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Rodgers to Tonyan as the Packers cruise at home:

 
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Packers running away with this thing now. The Adrian Amos pick sets Green Bay up well, Aaron Jones goes off carrying off the edge, and then Aaron Rodgers delivers a signature back-foot floater to the end zone, where Robert Tonyan is easily in the clear for a 21-yard score. It's now 24-3 Packers, with 2:41 left in the first half.

 
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Adrian Amos hands Kirk Cousins his second pick of the night:

 
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This game packs a punch. Man. Packers just got flagged as Quay Walker and Rudy Ford picked up and slammed K.J. Osborn to the grass. The very next play: Kirk Cousins floats one downfield to Justin Jefferson, who slips halfway through the route and sets up an easy pick for Adrian Amos. Another takeaway for the Green Bay "D." Jefferson removes his helmet in anger on the way off the field. This game belongs entirely to the Packers so far.

 
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The Aaron Jones-AJ Dillon show is back, with both backs getting heavy work on a 14-play drive that ends with a 26-yard Mason Crosby field goal. Packers extend their lead to 14 points almost halfway through the second quarter. Both sides really struggling to move the ball with chunk plays, but the special teams and defensive TDs have Green Bay with a clear edge.

 
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Kirk Cousins is fighting through pressure to keep the Vikings on the move. Picked up 19 on a scramble on Minnesota's latest series. The drive ends in disappointment, however, with Greg Joseph sailing a 46-yard field goal try wide right. It's still a 14-3 Packers advantage at Lambeau. Lots of feistiness in this first quarter.

 
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Jaire Alexander is all the way into this rivalry. Gets handsy with Justin Jefferson on an outside target, forces an incompletion, then does the "Griddy" dance right in front of the Vikings' star receiver. Minnesota goes for it on fourth-and-3, and the Pack are all over Kirk Cousins' bullet pass over the middle into traffic. Rasul Douglas tips it, Darnell Savage picks it, then takes it 75 yards for the score! Packers suddenly up 14-3 and have all the momentum.

 
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Like the Packers' decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Vikings' 39. Don't like Aaron Rodgers' decision to hold the ball after failing to find someone downfield. Tried to roll out and ended up getting sacked for a 16-yard loss to Dalvin Tomlinson. Lost the ball, too, but refs blew him down. So Minnesota takes over in Packers territory.

 
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Kirk Cousins takes a shot on third-and-short, but the pass is just beyond the outstretched arms of T.J. Hockenson, who's yet to log a catch halfway through the first. Cousins is now 0 for 4 throwing the ball on the Vikings' three drives. 10 plays, 12 yards for Kevin O'Connell's offense to start the day against an increasingly stingy Green Bay "D."

 
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Huge stop by the Packers, who stuff Dalvin Cook on third-and-goal to force a field goal. Vikings had a prime opportunity to go up seven, getting the ball literally at Green Bay's 1-yard line and failing to push it over. Instead, they take a 3-0 lead, then watch as the Packers quickly steal the lead, with Keisan Dixon taking the ensuing kick 105 yards for the touchdown. Lambeau is wild!

 
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The punt block that sets up first-and-goal for Minnesota:

 
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Almost a huge third-down play for the Packers, with Aaron Rodgers rolling out and floating a deep one to Aaron Jones, but the ball is just too far for the running back, and Green Bay has to punt it away. Except the Vikings block it! Minnesota is now set up with a first-and-goal after Josh Metellus gets his second punt block in as many weeks.

 
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Squib kick on the opening kickoff from the Packers. Vikings start off with a couple of Dalvin Cook carries, and then Kirk Cousins tries a short third-down throw to Adam Thielen, who is tightly covered by Rasul Douglas. Green Bay's "D" gets off the field quickly with a deflection there. Already a lot of physicality and emotion in this one.

 
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