Packers’ comeback falls short in 31-29 loss to Vikings
Jacobs moved the chains with an 11-yard pickup on third-and-2. On second-and-7, Love found an open Bo Melton for a 28-yard gain to the Vikings’ 27.
Malik Heath gained nine yards on a second-and-7 stop route to move inside the red zone. After a 9-yard checkdown to Jacobs, Love threw a 6-yard touchdown to Wicks on a third-and-1 slant to pull the Packers within two scores, 28-14, with 11:38 left.
The 11-play, 89-yard scoring drive was Green Bay’s longest of the year.
Keisean Nixon recorded a blindside strip sack of Darnold, which Edgerrin Cooper recovered at the Vikings’ 20. After a 7-yard Jacobs run, Kraft fought through the first would-be tackler for a 13-yard touchdown with 10:16 remaining.
Green Bay pulled within six after a successful two-point conversion on a pass to Kraft.
The Vikings charged back with a seven-play, 55-yard scoring drive that included a 27-yard pass to Justin Jefferson.
After an errant Darnold throw on third-and-7, Will Reichard made a 33-yard field goal to push the Vikings’ lead back to two possessions, 31-22, with 6:50 remaining.
Love opened the next drive with a 36-yard pass to Wicks to the Vikings’ 34 but was then intercepted by Byron Murphy in the end zone on a deep pass intended for Wicks with 6:13 left.
The Vikings went three-and-out, punting the ball back to Green Bay with 4:40 left in the game. Murphy forced a fumble on Kraft to get the ball back at the Packers’ 42.
On third-and-12, Jefferson completed a 13-yard catch after a successful challenge by Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Green Bay 4, with Nailor being stopped short of the first down on a stretch play.
The game reached the two-minute warning after a 6-yard Wilson run and Doubs catching a 10-yard out. Love established a new career-high with his 30th completion on a 21-yard pass to Reed. He then scrambled out to hit Reed for 42 yards to the Minnesota 17.
Love found Wicks in the end zone for a 17-yard TD to make it 31-29 with 56 seconds left. It was Love’s first four-TD game. Daniel Whelan tried a drop-kick but Josh Oliver recovered it to secure the win.
