Eagles aim for greater heights in NFC title game vs. Vikings

TSX / STATS

PHILADELPHIA -- The top-seeded Eagles are in search of their first trip to the Super Bowl since the 2004 season when they host the second-seeded Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagles (14-3) posted a 15-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round last Saturday and will participate in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 2008 season. They dropped a 32-25 decision to the Arizona Cardinals in that contest.

Philadelphia hasn't hosted an NFC Championship Game since recording a 27-10 win over the Falcons following the 2004 season.

The Vikings (14-3) advanced following a thrilling 29-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Stefon Diggs hauled in a 61-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Case Keenum on the final play of the game Sunday.

Like the Eagles, Minnesota has yet to win a Super Bowl. The Vikings have dropped five consecutive NFC Championship games.

Philadelphia will enter Sunday's game as an underdog, especially with quarterback Carson Wentz out with a torn ACL.

"It's about those players in that dressing room, whether we're three-point underdogs or three-point favorites. They really don't listen to that stuff," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. "Of course, they have been sort of force-fed for about two weeks now, three weeks now, the information, and they just stick together. They just stick together and find a way and it's been that way all season."

Backup quarterback Nick Foles did an admirable job against the Falcons, completing 23 of 30 passes for 246 yards and a 100.1 passer rating. In two career playoff games with the Eagles -- the other coming in a 26-24 loss to the Saints in 2014 -- Foles is 46 of 63 for 441 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 102.7 passer rating.

"I am very humbled to win this game and to be a part of this team," Foles said. "That's what it's always been about. I know there was a lot of people against us this last week. Just answering questions, and just hearing about it.

"... The biggest thing in our locker room is we believe in one another. Everyone believes, and that was shown on display. The city of Philadelphia obviously believes because they were here and loud. So we are grateful for that. Honestly, it's unbelievable to win this game and we are not finished."

The Vikings are in search of their first trip to the Super Bowl since the 1976 season -- Super Bowl XI.

During the regular season, the Vikings' defense ranked first in points allowed per game (15.8) and yards given up per game (275.9). Defensive end Everson Griffen was tied for fourth in the league with a career-best 13 sacks this season.

While the Vikings likely have seen video of Diggs' amazing catch a million times, another game awaits in the NFC Championship.

"We should celebrate this and enjoy this," tight end Kyle Rudolph told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "It's hard to win playoff games. There's a lot of guys in this locker room, including myself, this is our first playoff win. But it's just the beginning. We've still got a lot of work to do.

"It'd be a shame to let something like that go to waste by us not showing up."

The incredible final play will be etched in viewers' minds forever.

"I don't think it's still really sunk in as far as like what something like that's going to be," guard Jeremiah Sirles told ESPN.com. "That's the stuff that in 20 years, you turn on NFL Films and it's going to be the 2018 NFL Classic. Something like that that you can't take away from any player that's in this room right now. We'll always be a part of something that happened that was super special like that."

A win over the Eagles would not only clinch a trip to the Super Bowl, but it would also be the Vikings' first playoff victory against Philadelphia in four tries. The last time the teams met was in the 2008 wild-card round.

The Vikings are 0-4 all-time in the Super Bowl. In order to get a fifth shot, they'll have to travel to a hostile environment and knock out the No. 1 seed.

"They're a pretty resilient bunch," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told ESPN.com. "They're pretty determined in what they're always trying to get done. They're always trying to get better. They're a good group of guys that work really hard."

Who dat? Saints, Vikings different from first meeting

STATS, LLC

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – In most cases, the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings would take a strong look at their Week 1 matchup as they prepare for Sunday's NFC playoff game.

In this case, what happened in that Sept. 11 opener is indicative of the teams meeting in Minnesota for the second time this year.

Both teams underwent significant changes since the Vikings' 29-19 victory.

Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford completed 27-of-32 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Bradford played only a single half the rest of the season as Case Keenum replaced the injured Bradford and put himself in MVP consideration.

New Orleans jettisoned former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson after a miserable four-game run and thrived with Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara, becoming one of the league's most dangerous running back duos. The Saints' defense also started to find its way.

"They're a different team than they were Week 1, but so are we," said Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph, who scored a touchdown in the first game. "Everyone in the NFL is trying to find their identity early on. They're different from a personnel standpoint and they're also different from a team, like us, who has found their identity."

The teams found their identity but had plenty of personnel changes along the way. The Vikings' defense is healthy, but Keenum has taken hold of the starting quarterback spot and rookie running back Dalvin Cook, who ran for 127 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting, has been out since Week 4 because of a torn ACL.

"There are some similarities in regards to scheme, but I think when you go through a course of an NFL season and you look at the attrition that takes place, there are eight or nine of our starters that are playing in that game that aren't playing in this game, and I'm sure the same exists for Minnesota," New Orleans coach Sean Payton told reporters this week, according to the team's website. "And you begin to take shape as the season progresses to who you become and I think both teams have done that."

In the Saints' case, they altered their offensive identity to rely on Ingram and Kamara. New Orleans ranked fifth in the league in rushing this season as Ingram ran for a career-high 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. Kamara led the league with 6.1 yards per carry as the Saints had an NFC-best 4.7 yards per carry as a team.

Peterson had six carries for 18 yards in the first meeting in Minnesota. With the carries being split three ways, Ingram had six carries and Kamara touched the ball 11 times on offense.

"They got a little bit of everything," Vikings defensive end Brian Robison said. "Ingram's more of a downhill runner. Kamara is definitely a guy that can bounce to the outside. He's got speed to hit the edge and they're both really good in the screen game."

The Vikings were second in the league in run defense, allowing 83.6 yards per game. They've held two of their past three opponents to fewer than 46 yards.

Selling out to stop the run isn't a solid strategy either. In last week's win against Carolina, the Saints ran 22 times for 41 yards as the Panthers dared New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees to beat them.

Brees had 376 passing yards and two touchdowns, and receivers Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn each had more than 100 yards receiving against the Panthers.

"We've been telling y'all all year, man, don't sleep on Drew," Ingram told the New Orleans Times Picayune. "And if you're going to stack the box and try and stop the run and take us out the game, he's going to hurt you. We've been telling you he's the best quarterback in the league and he's still Drew Brees. He proved that (Sunday)."

Perhaps the biggest change for the Saints has been the development of the defense. After allowing 470 total yards to Minnesota in Week 1, New Orleans gave up 555 to New England the following week. Slowly, communication improved on the back end combined with the play of rookie Marcus Lattimore and Ken Crawley at cornerback.

The Saints were third in the NFL and first in the NFC with 20 interceptions in the regular season. Lattimore led the team with five.

"He's a good player," Vikings Pro Bowl receiver Adam Thielen said of Lattimore. "He's physical. He can run with anybody. He's playing with a lot of confidence right now. He's got great ball skills. He's pretty much got everything you need to be a really good corner in this league."

New Orleans also pressures the passer. Cameron Jordan tied Minnesota's Everson Griffen for fourth in the league with 13 sacks. As a team, the Saints' 42 sacks were tied for seventh in the NFL.

Like Brees, Keenum didn't make mistakes once replacing Bradford. He threw seven interceptions, one fewer than Brees, and the Vikings allowed the seventh-fewest sacks in the league behind a patchwork offensive line.

"He is playing well," Payton told the team's website of Keenum. "You can see him getting the ball to a lot of different guys. These guys, I think, have done a great job on offense. I think they are playing a game really that suits both sides of the ball."

Minnesota should head into Sunday healthy, including the return of rookie center Pat Elflein from a shoulder injury.

New Orleans is battered. Left guard Andrus Peat and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel were placed on injured reserve this week. Receiver Brandon Coleman also missed Wednesday's practice with a neck injury. Tight end Michael Hoomanawanui (back), left tackle Terron Armstead (thigh), defensive end Trey Hendrickson (ankle), defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (ankle) cornerback P.J. Williams (ankle), Jordan (knee) and defensive tackle David Onyemata (thumb) were limited in the week's first practice.

Vikings shut out Packers 16-0, keep eye on 1st-round bye

By GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Case Keenum stopped one last time before heading up the tunnel at Lambeau Field, clapping his hands above his head while Minnesota Vikings fans chanted "Skol! Skol!"

The Vikings' defense felt right at home Saturday night in Titletown.

A 16-0 victory over the injury-depleted Green Bay Packers gave Minnesota its first shutout in nearly a quarter-century and kept the NFC North champions in the hunt for a first-round playoff bye.

Stefon Diggs caught a 4-yard pass from Case Keenum just inside the back line of the end zone in the first quarter for the only touchdown. The Vikings (12-3) have already clinched the NFC North and can secure a bye if Carolina loses or ties on Sunday against Tampa Bay.

"Defense played absolutely incredible today, and we did enough. It doesn't matter how, it matters how many," Keenum said.

The Vikings forced an incompletion into the end zone on fourth-and-4 from the 14 early in the fourth quarter to turn away the Packers' last best effort to cross the goal line. Safety Harrison Smith ended another Green Bay drive with an interception at the Minnesota 5 late in the second quarter.

Minnesota left frigid Lambeau Field with its first shutout since a 13-0 win over Detroit on Dec. 5, 1993. It was the first shutout over the Packers (7-8) since Nov. 14, 1971.

The defense has "played pretty good all year long ... Proof will be in the pudding here in a couple weeks," said Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, referring to the playoffs.

The Packers managed to hold a 239-236 edge in total yards. They were still shut out twice in a season for the first time since 2006.

"I never felt more defeated, more embarrassed by a performance. Yeah, we had opportunities, and we didn't connect when we did," receiver Randall Cobb said.

In its defense, the team fielded a lineup that often looked like one that coach Mike McCarthy would send out for a game late in the preseason. The Packers have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

Starting outside linebackers Clay Matthews (hamstring) and Nick Perry (ankle/shoulder) missed the game, along with cornerback Damarious Randall (hamstring).

Brett Hundley was 17 of 40 for 130 yards with two interceptions in taking over at quarterback again for Aaron Rodgers, who returned to injured reserve this week after missing seven games earlier in the year with a collarbone injury.

The Packers didn't have leading receiver Davante Adams, who is in the concussion protocol, then lost wideout Jordy Nelson and tight end Richard Rodgers to shoulder injuries in the first half.

"Injuries are unfortunate. We had a lot of opportunities tonight. We didn't make the plays," coach Mike McCarthy said.

The hard turf at chilly Lambeau didn't help either, with some players having trouble with footing early in the game. Unable to connect on medium-to-long range passes, the Packers' best plays came when Hundley broke free for big gains on the run .

Not enough against the Vikings' stingy defense.

FROZEN TUNDRA

Fans bundled up in parkas, huddled under blankets and sipped on free hot chocolate to stay warm. Purple-clad Minnesota backers celebrated in the stands on a night in which temperatures hovered in the single digits.

Diggs finished with five catches for 60 yards. Keenum was 14 of 25 for 139 yards.

"I'm not sure we played our best game tonight ... We left some things out there offensively," Zimmer said.

THE LAST TIME

The Packers were also shut out this season 23-0 by the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 19.

HOME DOESN'T HELP

Hundley finished the season having thrown no touchdowns and seven interceptions in six games at Lambeau, with the Packers going 2-4 in that span.

INJURY REPORT

Vikings: The team said that LG Nick Easton will have surgery after breaking his right ankle in the first quarter. ... LS Kevin McDermott (shoulder) left late in the second quarter, with backup TE David Morgan taking over snapping duties.

Packers: RT Jason Spriggs was carted off the field with what appeared to be a left injury on the first play from scrimmage. Justin McCray, who was starting at right guard for Jahri Evans (knee), slid over to tackle with Lucas Patrick taking over at guard. ... Besides Rodgers and Nelson, RB Aaron Jones (knee) also didn't return after getting hurt in the first half.

"We battled ... I hope everybody walks out of here with their heads held high," Hundley said.

UP NEXT

Vikings: Finish regular season at home against the Chicago Bears on New Year's Eve.

Packers: Wrap up year with a visit to the Detroit Lions, also on New Year's Eve.

Vikings clinch NFC North title with win over Bengals

MINNEAPOLIS -- While his former team and mentor were on the other sideline with their futures looking cloudy, Mike Zimmer had his Minnesota Vikings looking like a Super Bowl contender.

With Zimmer's defense providing a dominating effort, two long-time friends were leading their teams on very divergent paths.

Case Keenum passed for 236 yards and two touchdowns, and Minnesota's defense dominated Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals in a 34-7 win on Sunday.

Latavius Murray added 76 yards rushing and a touchdown for Minnesota (11-3), which clinched the NFC North with its ninth win in the past 10 games.

"I know being a division champion isn't the final goal, but it's important to go out and win 11 games, win your division, get a chance to get in the playoffs and then go from there," Zimmer said.

Cincinnati was listless in front of a deafening U.S. Bank Stadium after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported before the game that head coach Marvin Lewis plans to step down after the season. Lewis has spent 15 years as the Bengals coach, going 123-112-3 as the all-time winningest coach in team history, but with losses in all seven playoff games.

After the game, Lewis said the report was inaccurate.

"It's nothing that's changed since August," Lewis said. "It's just speculation people keep throwing out there, and it makes ... we're all wasting time talking about it."

Lewis added: "I have not made any decisions about anything, I've told you how many times."

Lewis said he talked to his team about the report before the game and felt the report of his leaving didn't affect the team.

Dalton was 11-of-22 passing for 113 yards and two interceptions, and was replaced by backup AJ McCarron in the fourth quarter.

The Bengals (5-9) were limited to 46 yards rushing in their third straight loss. Giovani Bernard had 14 carries for 30 yards and converted a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

"It's the most disappointed I've been in the last couple years," said receiver A.J. Green, who finished with two catches on four targets for 30 yards. "It's been a tough season."

Brian Robison had two of the Vikings' three sacks on Sunday, and Eric Kendricks returned a first-quarter interception for a touchdown. Minnesota held Cincinnati to 161 yards and 1 of 13 on third down.

"It does feel good, but we understand this is part of a bigger picture," Robison said. "This is the start. We're not finished."

The Vikings left little doubt in Sunday's outcome. They drove 75 yards in nine plays on the opening drive, which was capped by Murray's 1-yard touchdown run. Minnesota had three plays of at least 20 yards on the drive.

On Cincinnati's second possession, Kendricks had his second career interception return for a touchdown and the first defensive touchdown by the Vikings this season for a 14-0 lead.

The Bengals failed to convert a first down in the first quarter, their third straight game with zero first downs in a single quarter. Minnesota held Cincinnati to 42 net yards in the first half, the fewest for a Vikings opponent since 2010.

"It's a good feeling," Minnesota defensive tackle Linval Joseph said of limited the Bengals in the first half. "The best feeling is a win and win at a high level in all phases of the game."

Keenum was 20-of-23 passing before giving way to Teddy Bridgewater for the team's first drive of the fourth quarter.

It was Bridgewater's first appearance in a game since a devastating knee injury before the first game of last season. A fan favorite, he received a standing ovation from the home crowd. Bridgewater was 0 of 2, with an interception that went off running back Jerick McKinnon's hands.

"It's just a great feeling," Bridgewater said. "You have a group of men in this locker room who uplifted their brother throughout a hard time in his life. To see them so supportive of me, it motivated me. Just a great experience, I'm glad I was able to experience it with this group of men in this locker room and we were able to clinch the division."

NOTES: Minnesota TE Kyle Rudolph was active after being listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report with an ankle injury. Rudolph's status improved the past two days and he finished with two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown. ... Vikings LT Riley Reiff missed his first game of the season with an ankle injury. ... CB Dre Kirkpatrick, RB Joe Mixon and LB Vontaze Burfict all were inactive for Cincinnati due to concussions. ... The Bengals lost S George Iloka (shoulder), LT Cedric Ogbuehi (shoulder) and LB Vincent Rey (jaw) during the game to injuries. ... Minnesota CB Terence Newman had a third-quarter interception of Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton. It was his 42nd career interception, which is second to DeAngelo Hall (43) for most among active players.

Stewart scores 3 TDs as Panthers beat Vikings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It's all about finishing strong for the Carolina Panthers.

It took that to pull out a 31-24 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon and it will take that across the next three weeks to remain in playoff position.

Jonathan Stewart's third touchdown run of the game was a 1-yard leap with 1:47 remaining, breaking a tie after the Vikings rallied during the last six minutes at Bank of America Stadium.

"Just getting the job done," Stewart said. "It's about finishing games."

The Panthers (9-4) pulled into a tie for first place in the NFC South with the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings (10-3) had an eight-game winning streak snapped, and with Green Bay and Detroit winning overtime games, they will have to wait another week before they can clinch the NFC North.

Carolina quarterback Cam Newton ran 62 yards on second down to take the ball to the Minnesota 8-yard line to set up the winning score.

"This whole game was a result of just persistence, persistence, persistence," Newton said.

That running play was one of many that irked the Vikings.

"He needed to do whatever it took to keep his team in the game," Minnesota cornerback Xavier Rhodes said. "He is the leader of the team and he needed to make plays, and he made them."

The Vikings failed to pick up a first down after Carolina's go-ahead score. That series began with defensive tackle Kawann Short registering a sack.

"They're trying to get a two-minute offense going and you get a sack that's going to (make a difference)," Panthers defensive tackle Star Lotulelei said. "To come out and get a win against a good team like that, a team that has been on a roll that means a lot. It wasn't perfect."

Newton completed 13-of-25 passes for 137 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Stewart gained 103 yards on 16 carries.

Vikings quarterback Case Keenum was 27 of 44 for 280 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Minnesota had a chance to take the lead late in the game, but it was thwarted by Carolina's goal-line stand.

Safety Andrew Sendejo's interception of a third-down pass off running back Christian McCaffrey's hands gave the Vikings the ball at the Carolina 6 following a 34-yard return with 4:36 remaining.

The Vikings lost 3 yards, settling for Kai Forbath's tying 27-yard field goal.

"I put it all on us," Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. "We had the opportunities."

The Vikings hadn't lost since Oct. 1, so there was no need to make a big deal about this result.

"It was just a game," Rhodes said. "That is all it was. It was not a playoff game. We are not going home, no one is going home. We have a game next week."

Trailing 24-13, Minnesota drove more than 50 yards in the fourth quarter. Then Diggs bobbled a pass that was intercepted by James Bradberry with 8:48 remaining to thwart a scoring chance.

The Vikings were back in business by the 5:36 mark, when Adam Thielen made a 52-yard catch and run for a touchdown. Keenum connected with tight end Blake Bell on a two-point conversion.

Carolina held a 21-13 lead after its first possession of the second half. Newton escaped pressure and threw 18 yards to receiver Devin Funchess for a touchdown.

A strange turnover on a fumble by Keenum, who was trying to throw a pass, gave Carolina the ball right back at the Minnesota 31. That resulted in Graham Gano's 41-yard field goal.

Keenum, who was sacked six times, took a third-down sack on the next possession that knocked the Vikings out of field-goal range, so there was a punt instead.

Another third-down sack in the opening minute of the fourth quarter came before a missed 54-yard field goal by Forbath.

The Panthers led 14-13 at halftime despite the Vikings compiling 200 yards of total offense.

Stewart scored from 1 yard out in the opening minute of the second quarter, capping a 14-play, 89-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes and included a pair of personal-foul facemask penalties. That put the Panthers on top 14-7.

Minnesota's first possession ended after one first down with Daryl Worley intercepting Keenum.

Three snaps later, Stewart burst up the middle for a 60-yard touchdown run.

The Vikings tied the game with tight end Kyle Rudolph's 18-yard catch from Keenum.

Forbath had second-quarter field goals from 30 and 22 yards for the Vikings, the latter of those with seven seconds left in the half on the play after Minnesota had a touchdown wiped out on an official replay review. Thielen was ruled to not have control of the ball in the end zone.

NOTES: It was 41 degrees at kickoff. ... Vikings RT Mike Remmers, a first-year member of the team after playing for Carolina, remained out of the lineup as he has missed more than a month. ... TE David Morgan (concussion) also remained inactive for the Vikings. ... Vikings backup LB Emmanuel Lamur didn't return after going out with a foot injury. ... Panthers LB Shaq Thompson was out with a foot injury, replaced in the starting lineup by LB David Mayo. ... Newly signed LB Spencer Paysinger was on the field for the opening kickoff as part of Carolina's coverage unit. ... The Vikings are home next Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. ... This was the beginning of a three-game homestand for the Panthers, who meet Green Bay next Sunday.

Keenum-led Vikings beat Lions 30-23, adding to division lead

By LARRY LAGE
Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Case Keenum stood in the pocket to take a hit, dipped his right shoulder to slip out of a sack and shuffled his feet in the pocket to give his receivers more time to get open.

Looking like a savvy winner, instead of a journeyman, he picked apart Detroit's defense with his arm and made plays with his legs to help the Minnesota Vikings beat the Lions 30-23 Thursday.

Keenum threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score in the first half to give the Vikings a double-digit lead and they went on to win a seventh straight game.

They took a huge step toward winning the NFC North by taking a three-game lead over the second-place Lions.

Keenum, undrafted out of Houston in 2012, is suddenly 7-2 this season after going 9-15 with the Houston Texas and the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.

"I want to be great and I have confidence in myself that I can be great," he said.

The Vikings signed him to be a backup and he has made the most of his opportunities with Sam Bradford injured and Teddy Bridgewater recovering from a knee injury.

Keenum was 21 of 30 for 282 yards with both TD passes going to Kyle Rudolph, giving the Vikings a 20-3 lead late in the second quarter.

"Case is amazing because he does so many small things to pick up first downs and keep drives alive," Rudolph said.

"Every time he finds a way to convert another third down, it means we've got three more plays to attack the defense. With the number of big-play guys we've got now, we can do a lot of damage with those three plays."

Detroit (6-5) made mistakes in every phase of the game and Minnesota took advantage. Keenum's 1-yard pass to Rudolph was made a little easier because the Lions had just 10 defenders on the field.

And, Keenum's 9-yard run came after Matthew Stafford was charged with a fumble while trying to hand off to Ameer Abdullah.

Instead of winning to pull within a game of Minnesota and having a potential tiebreaker, the Lions' loss hurts their chances of making a second straight postseason appearance.

"Don't count us out just yet," Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said. "We've got a lot of football yet to play."

FALLING SHORT

The Lions rallied to pull within four points early in the fourth quarter on Stafford's second TD pass to Marvin Jones, who leaped to beat two defensive backs for the 43-yard score as his quarterback was on the turf with an injured right ankle.

Xavier Rhodes sidetracked Detroit's comeback hopes with an interception at the Detroit 37 late in the game.

Detroit's Darius Slay blocked a field goal with 1:15 left and teammate Nevin Lawson recovered the ball and returned it 77 yards for an apparent TD, but it was negated by Slay being offside and that quieted a roaring crowd.

BY THE NUMBERS

Latavius Murray had 84 yards rushing and a 2-yard score, giving the Vikings a 27-10 lead early in the third quarter.

Minnesota's Adam Thielen had eight receptions for 89 yards and deflected credit to his quarterback.

"Case Keenum is one tough human being," he said. "When he's hanging in there — giving you time to get open — you feel like you're letting him down if you can't do it. He's willing to get crushed to make a play, and that makes us want to come though on our end."

Everson Griffen had two sacks, tying his career high with 12 on the season, for the Vikings.

Stafford struggled even before he was hurt late in the game, missing open receivers, and finished 20 of 35 for 250 yards with two TDs and an interception on fourth down with just under three minutes left. Jones had six catches for 109 yards and two TDs. The Lions were held to a total of 53 yards rushing.

INJURIES

Vikings: CB Trae Waynes left the game with an injured right shoulder, but was able to return. RT Mike Remmers was inactive with a concussion and Rashod Hill replaced him.

Lions: Stafford, with a lot of tape covering his right cleat, stayed in the game after hurting his right ankle on his second touchdown when DT Tom Johnson fell on him. S Tavon Wilson (shoulder) and C Travis Swanson (knee) left the game in the third quarter with injuries.

UP NEXT

Vikings: Play Dec. 3 at Atlanta.

Lions: Travel Dec. 3 to Baltimore.

Murray, Vikings trample Rams 24-7 in division leader matchup

By DAVE CAMPBELL
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Latavius Murray rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns, Adam Thielen turned a short catch into a 65-yard score and the Minnesota Vikings smothered the NFL's highest-scoring offense in a 24-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Case Keenum completed 27 of 38 passes for 280 yards and no turnovers against the team that benched him last season for No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff. He also guided the Vikings (8-2) to their sixth straight victory in a matchup of division leaders.

Minnesota's defense started the second half by forcing four punts in a row by the Rams (7-3), whose four-game winning streak in which they scored 144 points was finished in convincing fashion. The Rams led the league entering the weekend with a third-down conversion rate of 46.7 percent, but were just 3 for 11 against the Vikings.

The Los Angeles defense was trampled in the second half for 288 yards, and Keenum went without a sack for the sixth game this season. Thielen handed him the longest touchdown pass of his career, by turning a simple curl route early in the fourth quarter into a game-breaking score after spinning past Rams cornerback Dominique Hatfield.

Injuries took two of their top three cornerbacks out of the game for the second half.

Thielen finished with 123 yards on six receptions, giving him 916 yards this season. The only player in Vikings history to reach 900 yards receiving by the 10-game mark was Randy Moss, who did it in 2000 and 2003.

Vikings safety Anthony Harris, starting for the injured Andrew Sendejo, single-handedly turned the momentum of the game by stripping the ball from Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp at the 1-yard line and recovering the fumble with 4:03 remaining in the second quarter. The game was tied 7-all at the time.

Goff went 22 for 37 for 225 yards and no turnovers, taking one sack. After the opening possession, Gurley ran the ball 11 more times for a net of 17 yards.

INJURY REPORT

Rams: CB Tayon Webster, who helped limit Vikings WR Stefon Diggs to one catch for 9 yards in the first half, sustained a concussion and didn't play after halftime. ... Nickell Robey-Coleman, the nickel CB, hurt his thigh in the second quarter and did not return.

Vikings: RT Mike Remmers (concussion) sat out for the second straight game and was replaced by Rashod Hill, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a leg injury. ... DE Brian Robison (back) was inactive for the first time since Dec. 23, 2012, a streak of 76 straight games including playoffs. ... CB Xavier Rhodes departed briefly for a calf injury in the second quarter.

UP NEXT

Rams: Host New Orleans next Sunday, their second consecutive matchup with an NFC division leader.

Vikings: Visit Detroit this Thursday, their second straight Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions, who have won five of the last seven games in the series including a 14-7 victory at Minnesota on Oct. 1.

Vikings coach Zimmer facing QB decision

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Look around the NFL long enough and you will realize the Minnesota Vikings have a good problem on their hands at quarterback.

On the one hand, they are 7-2 and riding a five-game winning streak with career journeyman Case Keenum playing all but six quarters in place of injured Sam Bradford.

On the other hand, Teddy Bridgewater is healthy and raring to go as the hardest part of the schedule continues with the Rams at home on Sunday followed by three straight road games at Detroit, Atlanta and Carolina.

On Monday, head coach Mike Zimmer said he has decided who will start on Sunday. Naturally, he's keeping that out of the public eye after addressing the full team on the subject the morning after a 38-30 win at Washington.

"I have a plan," he said again on Monday.

Bridgewater hasn't played since tearing multiple ligaments while dislocating his left knee in a non-contact injury in practice a week before the 2016 season. He also has had only three weeks of practice, but was deemed ready to serve as Keenum's backup on Sunday.

So it would make sense to stick with Keenum, right? Well ...

Keenum had a strange enough game Sunday to create some doubt. When the Vikings led 35-17 early in the third quarter, he had a perfect passer rating, four touchdowns and no turnovers.

Then he threw careless interceptions on consecutive throws to put the Redskins back in the game.

"I talked to him a little bit this morning about understanding the situation of the game, where we're at and sometimes a throwaway is a good thing," Zimmer said. "You know, the two turnovers were bad. They were back-to-back. We've got the game pretty much in hand. The rest of the game, he played pretty darn good.

"But he's a very excitable guy. Sometimes he gets off the reservation a little bit."

Ultimately, the Vikings want to return to Bridgewater at some point. The 2014 first-round draft pick was primed for a breakout season as the team's quarterback of the future when he was injured. But Zimmer also has to be careful not to disrupt the momentum that has the Vikings sitting in the NFC's No. 2 seed.

Again, look around the league. When your third-best quarterback is 5-2 as the starter and your former and possibly future franchise QB is healthy enough to return, this is a good problem to have.

--Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said he tried to hold back the tears. But as the national anthem played, he simply couldn't do it.

Bridgewater started thinking about the last 14 months and how far he has come since that horrific knee injury during a non-contact practice drill. He looked down and saw himself back in uniform and, well, the tears began to flow.

"I was trying to keep it together," Bridgewater said. "It's just, opportunities like these don't come around twice. So when you get that second opportunity, you cherish it. You hold it, and you never want to let it go. Today, it got the best of me."

Bridgewater didn't play. He served as backup to Case Keenum.

"If I play, I play," Bridgewater said. "I'm going to give it my all. I won't hold anything back. But right now, I'm going to be cherishing this moment. It's about the Vikings winning in Washington against a good team."

--The Vikings had only three penalties for 40 yards. But one of them was a 15-yarder that was easily avoidable. At a time when it seems anything goes for touchdown celebrations, wide receiver Stefon Diggs managed to get flagged when he used the goal post as a prop.

After catching a touchdown pass in the far left corner of the end zone, Diggs took off toward the goal post, his arms spread wide. Then he jumped onto the "Salute to Service" padding around the base of the goal post and held on.

The penalty also earned Diggs a stern talking to from head coach Mike Zimmer. The penalty helped give the Redskins the ball at their 40-yard line. They drove only 60 yards for a touchdown.

"I was thinking of a way to kind of 'Salute to Service.' I saw the bag, I jumped on it - poorly executed, but hopefully I got the message across: big hug," Diggs said. "It's something that won't happen again. I won't be giving out any more free hugs. They'll have to pay for it next time."

NOTES: DE Everson Griffen was a surprise inactive because of a foot injury he suffered against the Browns on Oct. 29. Griffen was listed as questionable, but was expected to play. The coaches changed their mind on his status after a pregame warmup. Griffen has 10 sacks, including one in each of the first eight games. ... MLB Eric Kendricks continues to be a force as the team's leading tackler. He had a game-high 10 tackles, including one for a loss. On the TFL, he read the sweep perfectly, got a jump on the blocking and knifed through to upend the ball-carrier. ... SS Andrew Sendejo returned after missing the Browns game while serving a one-game suspension for targeting Ravens receiver Mike Wallace's head. Sendejo had two of the team's seven passes defensed on Sunday. He turned a touchdown into a field goal when he punched the ball from Jamison Crowder's grasp in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 3. ... LG Nick Easton returned from a calf injury that had sidelined him for three weeks. He made it through the game and appears to be good to go for Sunday's game against the Rams. ... RT Mike Remmers (concussion) missed the game. Rashod Hill got his first start and played well as the line gave up no sacks and only two QB hits. ... QB Teddy Bridgewater was active for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in August of 2016. He didn't play, but served as Case Keenum's backup in the game.

REPORT CARD VS. REDSKINS

--PASSING OFFENSE: B - Case Keenum had a perfect passer rating of 158.3, four touchdowns and a 35-17 lead early in the third quarter. By the start of the fourth quarter, he had thrown interceptions on consecutive passes to help the Redskins get back into the game. He finished with a 117.0 passer rating. Receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs torched Washington's secondary with 12 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns. The offensive line was excellent again as Washington failed to record a sack for the first time in 32 games.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: B - The offensive line played better than the running backs. Latavius Murray finished with 68 yards, a 4.0-yard average and a touchdown. But he basically only took what the line gave him. With another gear, he could have turned some of his good runs into explosive plays. The Vikings ran for 102 yards on 31 carries (3.3).

--PASS DEFENSE: C-plus - The Vikings are capable of playing much better defensively than they did Sunday. They gave up season highs in passing yards (327), yards (394) and points (30). Nickel back Mackensie Alexander had his first career interception by being in the right place when Kirk Cousins overthrew a receiver near the end of the first half. Cousins had a 78.7 passer rating while completing 26 of 45 passes. The Vikings did play the game without their sack leader, Everson Griffen, who has a foot injury.

--RUSH DEFENSE: A - Washington had only one run longer than nine yards. Chris Thompson had a 14-yard run, but also was dropped for a 4-yard loss on fourth-and-1 in the second half. Tackle Tom Johnson read the guard leaning toward the direction of the play, shot the gap and made the tackle.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: A - No glaring errors and a perfect outing for kicker Kai Forbath. Forbath made all five extra points after missing four in the first eight games. He moved the spot of the kick from the middle of the field to the right hash and looked confident on all five attempts on Sunday. Meanwhile, he also made a key 53-yard field goal when the Vikings really needed it. Washington had closed to within eight points when the Vikings went on a 13-play drive that took 7:02 off the clock. Forbath made it a two-score game by nailing the kick. He's 36 for 37 on field goals in his 16 games as a Viking.

--COACHING: A - This was the kind of game the Vikings typically trip over when things are going well. They were the better team, but they were coming off a bye and going on the road. That's where their 2016 season began to go south. They were 5-0 and went to Philadelphia and began their 3-8 slide. Head coach Mike Zimmer has this year's team better prepared and fresher. Of course, it helps that the rebuilt offensive line is a strength and not the drain that last year's line was. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is able to be creative and balanced with a line that can pass protect and open holes.

Vikings good enough to beat winless Browns

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings looked bad, but might have proven exactly how good they really are by surviving an ugly game heading into what should be the much more challenging second half of the season.

"It was a good team win (Sunday)," head coach Mike Zimmer said after the 33-16 victory over the Browns at Twickenham Stadium in London. "We started out a little slow, and it wasn't the way we anticipated coming out. But our guys fought and battled and I thought our offense had some great drives."

The Vikings trailed 6-0 early after Case Keenum had a tipped pass intercepted. The Browns needed two plays to notch a 26-yard touchdown run and led at the half for the first time all season. But the Vikings proved too strong for a Browns team that has lost 26 of its past 27 games.

"Everybody is going to have games like this," safety Harrison Smith said. "You have to be able to win them."

The Vikings head into the bye week at 6-2 and comfortably atop the NFC North. They need the rest, particularly on the offensive line, which has gone from biggest weakness last season to one of the top strengths this year. Left guard Nick Easton has missed the past three games because of a calf injury, while right tackle Mike Remmers left Sunday's game early in the first quarter because of a concussion. Both players are expected back when the Vikings resume play at Washington on Nov. 12.

The Vikings have beaten six teams with a combined 17-24 record. After the bye week, they'll play four of five on the road, while their only home game is against the 5-2 Rams.

Although quarterback Case Keenum is 4-2 as a starter subbing for Sam Bradford, the Vikings will be using the bye week to give much thought to their quarterback situation.

They'll practice twice during the bye. The Wednesday after the bye, they'll have to make a decision on whether to activate Teddy Bridgewater or keep him on PUP for the rest of the season.

Bridgewater has not played since the third preseason game of the 2016 season. He dislocated his left knee, tearing multiple ligaments in a horrific injury in practice a couple days after that game. He returned to practice two weeks ago.

There's also the possibility, according to Zimmer, that Bradford's injured left knee could allow him to return shortly. He hasn't played since Oct. 9 at Chicago. When it was obvious that he couldn't move on the injured knee, he was pulled shortly before halftime.

When asked if he'll have to choose a starter among his three quarterbacks, Zimmer said, "I don't know that yet. We'll sit down and we'll evaluate everything. Case has done an unbelievable job. He's done what we've asked him to do; he's come out and kept things rolling. We'll figure it out as we go. We'll see; I hope I have to make a decision."

--The BBC named receiver Adam Thielen the "Man of the Match" for catching five balls for 98 yards and a touchdown in the 33-16 win over the Browns at Twickenham Stadium in London.

"That's pretty cool," Thielen said.

Of course, it helped that Thielen also got one of the loudest cheers of the day when his touchdown celebration was one of those running double-knee slides that soccer players do after they score.

"I always played FIFA and stuff like that growing up, and seeing those guys celebrate, I kind of got inspiration from that," said Thielen, sporting an Arsenal jersey he bought while attending Saturday night's match against Swansea City. "Supposedly, I stole it. Kyle (tight end Kyle Rudolph) did it in practice the other day and I must have saw it and wanted to do it, too, but I beat him to the punch, I guess."

In the third quarter, Thielen drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone, setting up a touchdown for a 23-16 lead on the next play.

Quarterback Case Keenum laughed about the interference penalty, suggesting that Thielen might have been acting a little.

"Well, (Thielen) had his soccer celebration going, so maybe he had to work on his flop, too," Keenum said.

--Defensive end Everson Griffen was a hit with the British media on Friday and after the game on Sunday. He went on about how much he loves London and got everyone laughing by making funny noises to describe how the TV in his hotel room appeared from a compartment at the push of a button.

But Griffen probably didn't make any friends when asked whether he thinks a London-based NFL franchise will ever work.

"Honestly and truthfully, I don't think you can have a team here," Griffen said. "That's not up to me. I don't make big bucks to make decisions like that. But having a team here, me, I don't think they could."

The difficult travel to and from the U.S., obviously, is the biggest logistical problem facing a London-based team.

Many Vikings, including head coach Mike Zimmer, also said the NFL needs a better field for this international series. Several players slipped during the game.

NOTES: RT Mike Remmers suffered a concussion on the first series of the game and didn't return. He was replaced by Rashod Hill, who had a holding penalty but otherwise held his own. ... DE Everson Griffen tied the franchise record with a sack in eight consecutive games. He now has 10 sacks on the season. He is tied with Jim Marshall (1969) and Jared Allen (2011). ... LG Nick Easton was inactive despite running some first-team reps in Friday's practice. The Vikings were wise to hold him out of his third straight game. This gives him the bye week as extra time to rest his calf injury. Rookie Danny Isadora got his first career start in place of Easton. ... WR Stefon Diggs, who had missed the past two games because of a groin injury, returned to the starting lineup on Sunday. He caught only four passes for 27 yards, but helped divert some attention away from Adam Thielen. ... WR Adam Thielen caught five passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. He is the only player in the league with at least five catches in every game this season. ... RB Jerick McKinnon had 20 touches for 122 yards and a touchdown. He had 14 carries for 50 yards and a 1-yard score.

REPORT CARD VS. BROWNS

--PASSING OFFENSE: C - Case Keenum helped give the Browns their first halftime lead of the season when he was intercepted off a tipped pass on the first drive of the game. The Browns turned it into a 6-0 lead two plays later. Keenum and the screen game struggled in the first half as the Browns batted down multiple passes. The second half was much better as the Vikings finally asserted control of the game. Keenum finished with an 88.1 passer rating with two touchdowns and the one interception. Receiver Adam Thielen was the player of the game with five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: D - The Vikings couldn't force their will against a Browns defense that's pretty stout against the run. After rushing for 113 yards a week ago, Latavius Murray was held to 39 yards on 19 carries (2.1). The Vikings rushed for only 88 yards on 34 carries (2.6). Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur did come up with a solid play-call and design that enabled running back Jerick McKinnon to take a jet sweep and score from the 1-yard line.

--PASS DEFENSE: B - The Vikings didn't intercept rookie DeShone Kizer. And they didn't sack him until the closing minutes of the game. So they didn't do what everyone expected, which was destroy Joe Thomas' backup at left tackle (Spencer Drango) and add to Kizer's interception total of 11. The Vikings gave up two 38-yard passes on a drive that put them down 13-9 in the second quarter. But Kizer finished with a 68.1 passer rating because he and the Browns couldn't generate much of anything in the second half.

--RUSH DEFENSEL: C - The Browns' first carry of the game was a 26-yard touchdown by Isiah Crowell on the Browns' second offensive snap of the game. Crowell finished with 64 yards on just 11 carries (5.8), but his first carry of the second half resulted in a fumble forced by defensive end Danielle Hunter. The Browns ran for 115 yards on 22 carries, but managed only 89 yards on their final 21 carries.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: D - Kicker Kai Forbath missed yet another PAT and the kick coverage unit gave up a 71-yard return that could have been a serious shift in momentum had the Browns not stalled out offensively and missed a 35-yard field goal. Punter Ryan Quigley punted six times with only a 35-yard net.

--COACHING: C - The Vikings were ripe for a loss. Fortunately, they played a Browns team that appears incapable to winning. The offense started off stagnant, while the defense appeared to be a step slow. In a blink, the Vikings were down 6-0 thanks to an interception and poor run defense that allowed a 26-yard touchdown jaunt right up the middle. Fortunately for the Vikings, the coaches and the team settled in and played a much better second half, outscoring the Browns 21-3 for a victory that wasn't as comfortable as the final score indicates.

Browns QB Kizer named starter for London game

The Cleveland Browns are staying with rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, naming him the starter for Sunday's game in London against the Minnesota Vikings.

Coach Hue Jackson announced Wednesday that Kizer, who was benched in the second half after throwing two interceptions last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, will make his second straight start.

"I am sure he doesn't want the yo-yo," Jackson said about Kizer. "But it goes both ways. Developing quarterbacks, they still have to do what you asked them to do. In that process of developing a quarterback, I want them to not turn the ball over."

Kizer was pulled for the second time in three games. Cody Kessler took his place in Sunday's 12-9 overtime loss to the Titans. Kizer also was benched in Week 5 for Kevin Hogan, who started the sixth game for the winless Browns.

"It is another opportunity to go out there and get it right for once," Kizer told reporters about Sunday's game at Twickenham Stadium. "For me, it is about taking these opportunities that Coach has been able to give me in a league where not a lot of guys get these, and maximizing it for once.

"I feel like I am definitely getting better and I am on the path of evolving myself into a guy who can win in this league, but it is about eliminating, obviously, the turnovers and the plays that are stopping us from winning games and finally going out there and competing in a game. It has been a good three weeks since I have been able to go out there in the fourth quarter and attempt to win a game, and I am looking forward to having a complete game."

Kizer, who is last in the NFL with a 47.8 quarterback rating, will make his seventh start of the season.

Kizer, who was drafted in the second round, is 93-of-179 passing (52 percent) for three touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has been sacked 12 times.

Murray, Vikings defense plow through Ravens, 24-16

By JOHN KRAWCZYNSKI
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Even though he was signed to help the Vikings replace Adrian Peterson, Latavius Murray has been behind nearly from the day he stepped foot in Minnesota.

Plowing through the Baltimore Ravens as he did on Sunday should help him catch up in a hurry.

Murray rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown and Kai Forbath kicked six field goals to lift the Vikings to a 24-16 victory over the Ravens.

After making the decision to move on from the face of the franchise, the Vikings signed Murray away from the Oakland Raiders to help fill the void. But ankle surgery kept him out of the entire offseason program, all of training camp and most of the preseason and buried him on the depth chart behind Dalvin Cook, who was lost for the season with a knee injury on Oct. 1, and Jerick McKinnon.

"I just think it was a matter of me just trying to find my rhythm, try to get a groove going," Murray said after averaging 6.3 yards per carry. "I said eventually I know I would have some success. I knew I had to continue to keep doing what I do and continue to keep working, and hopefully like today, those big runs will pop."

Forbath made kicks of 52, 51, 43, 43, 34 and 32 yards to back another suffocating effort from the defense for the Vikings (5-2).

Minnesota sacked Joe Flacco five times and allowed just 208 yards. Everson Griffen had two sacks and has nine for the season.

Justin Tucker kicked three field goals for the Ravens (3-4), including a 57-yarder in the first half. Flacco completed 26 of 38 passes for 186 yards and a 13-yard touchdown to Chris Moore as time expired.

"Those clichés like 'worn down' and 'gap control,' it's just all meaningless chatter," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said after his team gave up 169 yards rushing. "We've got to do a better job against the run and get them stopped. They did a good job and we didn't."

The nine combined field goals tied an NFL record for most made field goals in a game.

Murray was off to a slow start this season with just 97 yards rushing through the first six games. But he burst through a big hole in the third quarter, made one cut andsurged to the end zone to give the Vikings an 18-6 lead.

"It's good to see him going," coach Mike Zimmer said. "It adds a dimension on the offense with a guy like Jerick and a guy like him."

Case Keenum had an erratic afternoon, completing 20 of 31 passes for 188 yards and one interception for the Vikings.

Flacco, who entered the day with a 66.1 rating that was good for 31st in the league, was stuck under 100 yards passing until well into the fourth quarter.

BACK AND FORBATH

The performance Sunday from the Vikings kicker was indicative of his short career here since being brought on last season to replace Blair Walsh. His six makes were one off the Vikings single-game record and he made two of at least 50 yards in the same game for the first time in his career.

"It's a big momentum boost," Forbath said of his two from 50-plus. "I'm just trying to help the team however I can."

But Forbath also missed an extra point, hitting the right upright after Murray's run. It was his sixth missed extra point in 14 games for Minnesota. He is 12 for 12 on field goals of 40 yards or longer.

BRIGHT SPOT

Ravens CB Brandon Carr made a brilliant play to nullify the momentum Minnesota had gained by a 46-yard punt return by Marcus Sherels in the first quarter. Keenum's first play was a deep ball to Laquon Treadwell, but Carr jousted with the 6-foot-2 receiver all the way down the field. Treadwell tried to keep the ball alive, but Carr snatched it out of the air for an interception .

INJURY REPORT

Ravens: WR Mike Wallace left the game with a concussion in the first quarter, further depleting an already thin receiver group that was missing Jeremy Maclin, Breshad Perriman and Chris Matthews.

"Once he went out we weren't able to really take any deep shots over the top of them for whatever reason, whether it was personnel or what they were giving us up front," Flacco said. ... DT Brandon Williams played after missing the previous four games with a foot injury.

Vikings: LT Riley Reiff left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and was replaced by Rashod Hill. ... G Jeremiah Sirles, filling in for the injured Nick Easton, hobbled off in the second quarter and did not return because of a knee injury. Danny Isidora played the second half in his place. ... WRs Stefon Diggs and Michael Floyd were both inactive.

UP NEXT

The Ravens have a short turnaround, hosting the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.

The Vikings are off to London, where they will play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday before getting a bye the following week.

With Rodgers out, Vikings cruise past Packers 23-10

By DAVE CAMPBELL
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aaron Rodgers has engineered many a last-minute comeback for the Green Bay Packers. He has a dozen victories over the rival Minnesota Vikings in 10 years as the starter.

This time? No chance. Rodgers was long gone, and so was Green Bay's division lead.

Harrison Smith led the Minnesota defense's thorough dismantling of the Packers, who lost Rodgers to a broken collarbone and left with a 23-10 defeat to the Vikings on Sunday that transformed the trajectory of the NFC North race.

Smith had 1½ sacks on safety blitzes, a diving interception and two pass breakups, helping the Vikings (4-2) limit the injury-depleted Packers to a season-low 227 yards.

"I don't think we altered a whole lot," Smith said. "We had a game plan, and we pretty much stuck to it."

Anthony Barr, who later left with a concussion, delivered the game-changing hit on Green Bay's second drive when he took Rodgers hard to the turf as the two-time NFL MVP followed through on a pass. Rodgers fell on his throwing shoulder, and the Packers (4-2) announced he could miss the remainder of the season .

"I'm not into the soothsaying stuff," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said, when asked if he thought the momentum in the division had shifted toward his team. "Obviously he's a great player. It's different when he's not in there. There's no doubt about it. But that's just the way it is."

Brett Hundley threw his first career touchdown pass in relief, connecting with Davante Adams in the second quarter after a 63-yard return by Clay Matthews of Jerick McKinnon's fumble gave the Packers the ball at the 18.

Damarious Randall's interception of Case Keenum later in the first half put the Packers at the Minnesota 38 with a prime opportunity to tie the game at the break, but a juggling catch by Ty Montgomery at the goal line was ruled incomplete by replay review reversal that forced a short field goal instead and kept the Vikings in front 14-10.

The Packers had five first downs and 102 yards over the first three quarters.

"That was a hard day," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "All the players that we lost to injury, it was difficult. We all understand the magnitude of what Aaron means to our football team."

The Vikings have won three of their past four games against the Packers after a lopsided five-year stretch against their biggest rival fueled mostly by the mastery of Rodgers. Now the Packers must move forward with Hundley, who has 44 attempts in three NFL seasons.

"We've been put through a lot of tests in the past," Adams said. "So just bounce back, figure it out and rally. We've got a lot of faith in Brett."

Hundley was picked off three times and sacked four times. He finished 18 for 33 for 157 yards.

"I love Aaron to death. I let him know I love him and I've got him," Hundley said, "and we'll go from here."

VALUABLE BACKUPS

McKinnon made up for his turnover with 16 carries for 69 yards and a score and five catches for 30 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings, who have so far survived the absence of Bradford and running back Dalvin Cook, who's out for the season with a knee injury.

Keenum, making his fourth start in place of Sam Bradford, went 24 for 38 for 239 yards without top wide receiver Stefon Diggs. He threw 13 times to Adam Thielen, completing nine for 97 yards.

"There's no drop-off," McKinnon said, "and I think we're confident in whoever steps up at any position."

QUARTERBACK DOMINANCE

Since Brett Favre took over for the injured Don Majkowski in the third game of the 1992 season, the Packers have had Favre or Rodgers for all but nine games.

Matt Flynn, Scott Tolzien and Seneca Wallace were forced to fill in while Rodgers missed seven games in 2013 because of a broken collarbone. Flynn started once in 2010 when Rodgers sat out with a concussion and again in 2011 when he rested during the regular-season finale with the Packers having clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

INJURY REPORT

Packers: With three starting DBs already out with injuries (Morgan Burnett, Davon House and Kevin King), backup CB Quinten Rollins (ankle) was also lost during the game. For the first time this season, the starting offensive line was intact. That lasted about half of the game. RT Bryan Bulaga (concussion) was knocked out of action, and LT David Bakhtiari's hamstring injury flared up. He missed the past four games.

Vikings: WR Michael Floyd (calf) was hurt during the game, with LG Nick Easton (calf) already out. SS Andrew Sendejo (groin) didn't play, either.

UP NEXT

The Packers host New Orleans, before a well-timed bye week.

The Vikings play Baltimore at home, then travel to London to play Cleveland.

___

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ACL fears for Vikings RB Cook; Mariota, Carr hurt in losses

Associated Press

Dalvin Cook limped off the field and the Minnesota Vikings fear he may not get back on it this season.

The Vikings lost their top running back Sunday to what could be a torn knee ligament, which would end his rookie year.

Tennessee and Oakland finished losses without their starting quarterbacks, and the Atlanta Falcons lost their two leading receivers, but the most serious injury was Cook's.

He had 13 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown before his knee buckled on a third-quarter run and he went down and fumbled. Cook was scheduled for an MRI to determine the extent of the damage, but he was on crutches afterward with a bulky brace on the knee.

"I told him he's not the first great running back to have an ACL, if it is one, and come back pretty good," coach Mike Zimmer said. "Dalvin will have a great career."

He was having a good first season, entering the week ranked second in the league in rushing. He has 354 yards on 74 carries and two touchdowns.

"Dalvin's a really explosive player, and he has such good big-play ability," Zimmer said. "So we'll have to look at things differently. But if you lose a guy like him, you lose a lot of firepower."

The Falcons lost plenty of it when Julio Jones left in the second quarter with a hip flexor injury. Mohamed Sanu was then ruled out with a hamstring injury in the third quarter, and the defending NFC champions lost for the first time this season when the Buffalo Bills beat them 23-17.

Coach Dan Quinn said Jones, who was limited during practice this week with a lower back injury, wanted to return but could not have played with his usual explosiveness.

Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews said losing the team's top two receivers was no excuse.

"We know we're good enough to score even if we're missing a couple guys," Matthews said.

The Bills lost safety Colt Anderson to an arm injury in the first quarter, along with linebacker Ramon Humber (thumb), receiver Jordan Matthews (thumb), and cornerback E.J. Gaines (groin).

Marcus Mariota had two rushing touchdowns — the first Titans quarterback to do that in a game since Steve McNair in 2003 — but injured his hamstring and didn't play after halftime of the Tennessee's 57-14 loss in Houston. He will have an MRI on Monday.

The Raiders didn't have Derek Carr to try to lead them back in Denver after he was shaken up on sack in the third quarter of their 16-10 loss. He was sacked by Shelby Harris and was hit by Adam Gotsis as he twisted awkwardly. Coach Jack Del Rio said Carr suffered from back spasms.

Seattle starting running back Chris Carson sustained a left leg injury late in the Seahawks' 46-18 home victory over Indianapolis in the night game. Trainers immediately placed an air cast on Carson's leg and he was carted off the field. Coach Pete Carroll said Carson's injury was significant.

Devin Funchess caught a touchdown pass in Carolina's 33-30 victory at New England, but limped off late in the fourth quarter. Safety Kurt Coleman left in the second quarter with a knee injury and receiver Damiere Byrd departed with a forearm injury. The Patriots' Eric Rowe and Elandon Roberts left with groin injuries.

___

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Dominant defense leads Lions to 14-7 victory over Vikings

By DAVE CAMPBELL
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With Detroit defending a seven-point lead and third-and-goal from the 3, Anthony Zettel zoomed unblocked into Minnesota's backfield to sack Case Keenum with 2:19 remaining in the game.

The protection plan went awry for the Vikings on that particular play. Their problems against the Lions persisted all afternoon.

Zettel led a ferocious performance by Detroit's defense with two sacks, four hurries and a fumble recovery, as the Lions forced three turnovers while holding Minnesota scoreless in the second half on the way to a 14-7 victory over the Vikings on Sunday.

"We're just tough. We're gritty. We get after it," Zettel said. "This year, everybody's pulling the right direction."

The Lions turned two fumbles lost by the Vikings in the third quarter into 11 points, taking the lead on Ameer Abdullah's 1-yard touchdown run five plays after rookie Dalvin Cook fumbled at the Minnesota 29.

The Vikings (2-2) lost more than just possession. Cook limped off with an injury to his left knee , and the Vikings were bracing for a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a promising rookie season cut painfully short.

Tahir Whitehead recovered that fumble for the Lions, plus one by Adam Thielen with 1:43 left forced by Glover Quin at the Detroit 45 that ended the last-chance drive for the Vikings.

The Lions (3-1) lead the NFL in turnover margin, at plus-9. They've forced 11 turnovers, a full-schedule pace for 44. They had only 14 takeaways all of last season.

"They're really helping us win games," quarterback Matthew Stafford said.

Case Keenum started in place of the injured Sam Bradford at quarterback for the Vikings for the third straight game, going 16 for 30 for 219 yards. He took the blame for Zettel's red zone sack, with a pre-snap decision to change the protection assignments and send right tackle Mike Remmers left on a double team with right guard Joe Berger.

Keenum then didn't make the right read against the rush, going down for an 11-yard loss on Zettel's team-leading fourth sack of the season.

"I got fooled," Keenum said. "That's a huge play in the game, obviously, and that's one I want back."

Keenum's fourth down heave into the end zone sailed over Thielen's head. The Vikings had only 120 yards in the second half.

Matt Prater's second field goal of the game was made possible by a botched play that started with a direct snap to running back Jerick McKinnon, who faked an inside handoff to Cook and tried to take off on an option play before fumbling.

ALMOST THERE

Abdullah came close to ending a four-year stretch by the Lions without a 100-yard rusher, finishing with 94 yards on 20 carries before leaving the game with an injury to his right foot. Coach Jim Caldwell said Abdullah could have returned to action.

"It's a marathon, not a race. I just want solid outputs every game," Abdullah said.

THE OTHER 'D'

Stafford was sacked six times for 55 yards, but he dodged the turnover trouble that dogged the Vikings and completed 19 of 31 passes for 209 yards plus the key 2-point conversion to T.J. Jones to give the Lions a seven-point lead.

As dominant as their defense was, they still made some costly mistakes. Xavier Rhodes, Anthony Barr and Trae Waynes each had their hands on passes by Stafford that could've realistically been intercepted.

On the last play of the first quarter, Stafford found Marvin Jones open in a hole in the zone coverage for a leaping 38-yard completion on third-and-17 that set up the first kick by Prater.

"The defense played their hearts out today. We didn't tackle in some certain situations as well as I would've liked, but they had their backs to the wall after those first two turnovers," said Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, who fell to 2-5 in against the Lions, who have won nine of the past 14 meetings with their NFC North rival.

FORBATH'S FIRST

Kai Forbath's streak of 21 straight made field goals since joining the Vikings for the final seven games of last season ended with a bonk off the right goalpost at a critical time, in the final minute of the third quarter.

Prater's 59-yard field goal on the final play of the first half fell short for his first miss of the season. Prater has four makes from 50-plus yards this season.

LINEBACKERS DOWN

Lions rookie middle linebacker Jarrad Davis, the team's leading tackler through two games, sat out for the second straight time. He's recovering from a concussion, and he had a neck injury added on Friday.

Another starter, outside linebacker Paul Worrilow, limped off with a left knee injury on the defense's first play. Nick Bellore and Steve Longa filled in. Whitehead left briefly with an injury, too, but he quickly returned.

UP NEXT

The Lions host Carolina next Sunday, before traveling to New Orleans for a game on Oct. 15 that precedes their bye week.

The Vikings play at Chicago on Oct. 9, their second Monday night game in the first five weeks. They return home to host Green Bay on Oct. 15.

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Bradford, Vikings cruise past Saints 29-19 in opener

By DAVE CAMPBELL
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Bradford set the NFL record for completion percentage for Minnesota last season, his accuracy aided by the volume of short passes under heavy pressure.

With protection from the rush, he showed Monday night he can throw the ball down the field with the best of them.

Bradford started his second year with Minnesota in style, passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns to help the Vikings beat New Orleans 29-19 and spoil Adrian Peterson's first game with the Saints.

"When I've got time to sit back there and kind of evaluate things, I've got all the confidence in the world that our guys outside are going to win," Bradford said.

Stefon Diggs had seven receptions for 93 yards, two for scores and all in the first half, and Adam Thielen racked up 157 yards on nine catches as Bradford carved up a Saints defense that looked again like one of the worst in the league despite a major renovation. Rookie Dalvin Cook rushed for 127 yards on 22 carries in the formal takeover from Peterson.

Peterson was limited to 18 yards on six carries, in a time share with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara and an afterthought once the Saints fell behind. Drew Brees was quiet, too, with 291 yards on 27-for-37 passing padded by the late push to catch up.

"We didn't do anything different or try to out-trick them," Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr said. "You know, line up and play, do your job."

Coby Fleener caught the only touchdown toss, after the 2-minute warning. Will Lutz made four field goals, three under 25 yards.

"The bottom line," Brees said, "is you've got to score touchdowns."

Brees and Bradford are both in the final year of their contracts, with the same agent, Tom Condon, who is sure to cash in on both clients. Brees has by far the better resume, nine seasons further into his career, but Bradford stole the show on this prime-time stage.

Behind mostly clean pockets created by a remade offensive line, Bradford completed 27 of 32 passes without a turnover. With three rookies and three free agents in the starting lineup, the Saints tried hard to better a defense that has held Brees and company back since the Super Bowl title eight years ago. The first performance left a lot to be desired, with Diggs and Thielen consistently finding favorable matchups underneath and along the sideline.

"I just try to run a route, catch the pass, but Sam, you know, he's a slinger," Diggs said.

FLAGS FLY

The Saints had three unnecessary roughness calls in the first half. Two of the personal fouls extended a drive that ended with one of three field goals by Kai Forbath. The other 15-yarder was on safety Kenny Vaccaro for head-hunting Diggs during an acrobatic catch in the closing seconds of the first half. Diggs came right back with another highlight-reel grab to give the Vikings a 16-6 lead at the break after a 10-play, 95-yard drive.

Cameron Jordan and A.J. Klein each had their hands on a tipped pass in the end zone that fluttered off Cook's hands, missing a critical opportunity to thwart that drive and keep the deficit at four points.

DECENT DEBUT

Cook became the first Vikings rookie running back to start a season opener since Michael Bennett in 2001. Despite trouble hanging onto a couple of passes thrown his way, he helped salt away the game in the second half. Bradford and Cook were the primary beneficiaries of the work done by an offensive line with four new starters and plenty of old external skepticism after a lackluster 2016 performance.

"In the building, we felt great about those guys," Bradford said. "We've seen what we're capable of doing."

BACK AGAIN

Ten years and two days after Peterson made his NFL debut in purple with 103 yards rushing and a 60-yard touchdown reception on this same block of downtown Minneapolis, albeit in a different stadium, he returned in black, white and gold as a part-time player for the pass-first Saints.

The crowd was really fired up for the reunion with another former Vikings great. Former wide receiver Randy Moss, already on site as an analyst for ESPN, became the 22nd member of the team's Ring of Honor in a halftime ceremony punctuated by a passionate speech and shout-out to the fans.

TACKLE TROUBLE

With Terron Armstead still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, rookie Ryan Ramczyk started at left tackle for the Saints. Then right tackle Zach Strief injured his left leg in the second quarter, forcing Senio Kelemete into action. Vikings defensive ends Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter caused havoc.

UP NEXT

The Saints play Sunday against New England, their only home game in the season's first five weeks.

The Vikings visit Pittsburgh on Sunday, their only road game over the first four weeks of the schedule.

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Fant's injury cast shadow over Seahawks' win over Vikings

By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Just when the Seattle Seahawks were getting settled on its shaky offensive line, it's once again their biggest question with the regular season approaching.

Russell Wilson looked just fine throwing for 206 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and the Seattle Seahawks suffered a significant injury to left tackle George Fant in their 20-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night.

Fant suffered a torn ACL in his right knee when he was injured midway through the second quarter. Fant was rolled into by teammate Justin Britt and immediately fell to the turf in pain. The team training staff attended to Fant on the field and placed an air splint around his lower right leg before he was taken away.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Fant will need surgery and expected to be done for the season.

"It's heartbreaking. It's so unfortunate for George," Carroll said. "There are other things that follow that but my first thoughts are for George."

Fant's injury likely means significant changes for Seattle's offensive line. Luke Joeckel was set to be the starting left guard, but may be an option at left tackle with the entire right side of the line still unsettled.

Fant took over at left tackle midway through last season and spent the offseason reshaping his body to be stronger going into this season. Earlier this week offensive line coach Tom Cable said Seattle was set on the left side of the offensive line.

Fant's injury overshadowed what was an otherwise solid performance by the Seahawks. Wilson picked apart a Vikings secondary that played without starting cornerback Trey Waynes and safety Andrew Sedenjo, completing 13 of 18 passes. He hit Kasen Williams on a 1-yard touchdown pass and found Mike Davis on a 22-yard catch-and-run TD late in the first half.

Williams continued to make a bid for a roster spot with an acrobatic 27-yard catch, followed by his 1-yard TD on Seattle's opening drive. He nearly had a second TD but couldn't haul in a deep pass from Wilson near the goal line in the second quarter.

"I've been on practice squad for two years now and quite honestly I'm tired of it," Williams said.

Minnesota's Sam Bradford was 7 of 11 for 95 yards, leading three drives for the Vikings before calling it a night. Taylor Heinicke threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Bucky Hodges in the fourth quarter.

"It was progress from last week to this week, we moved the ball well," Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said. "We still have to score in the red zone that was the bad part, but I felt good about the way we were moving the football."

BENNETT SITS

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett sat during the national anthem for the second straight preseason game.

Bennett was alone sitting on the Seahawks bench during the "The Star-Spangled Banner." But teammates showed support for Bennett with center Justin Britt standing alongside with his hand on Bennett's shoulder. Defensive back Jeremy Lane also stood next to Bennett.

"I'm going to continue talking with Mike and exploring and just continuing to understand. I wanted to take a first step tonight and that's what I felt like I did," Britt said.

KICKER REVENGE

Walsh took great joy in having success against his former team that released him last season. Walsh made a pair of 52-yard field goals in the second half and made gestures toward the Minnesota sideline after each kick. Walsh pointed at the sideline after his first make and walked toward the bench and appeared to say something after the second.

Walsh nearly had three made kicks of beyond 50 yards but a 53-yard attempt in the first half hit the crossbar. Zimmer said he did not see any of Walsh's gestures.

"When they're out there kind of yelling at you and taunting you on kicks it's just I've been in the league a little while, I didn't really like that," Walsh said. "I hope it was in jest because my response was in jest. I could see guys smiling so I hope nobody took it too seriously."

START COOKIN'

Vikings' rookie Dalvin Cook ran well in the first half against most of Seattle's starting defense. With the Vikings bringing back Latavius Murray slowly from ankle surgery in March, Cook had seven carries for 40 yards in the first half, including a 15-yarder. Cook also had one reception for 10 yards.

KICKIN' IT

Both of Minnesota's kickers converted their opportunities in the first half. Marshall Koehn hit from 29 yards in the first quarter and Kai Forbath was good from 51 yards just before halftime. That was the only opportunities for either kicker as the Vikings had only two drives inside the Seattle 40.

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES

Davis' touchdown was his first since signing with the Seahawks in the offseason and he had a unique celebration. Davis ran into the end zone then laid down using the ball as a pillow as his teammates joined him to celebrate. It was the most extensive of any of the touchdown celebrations.

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