This is the live report of the Vikings’ Week 4 game against the Green Bay Packers (CBS, noon). Check back here often for live updates and analysis from Lambeau Field:
Live: Vikings lead Packers 21-0 in second quarter at Lambeau Field
Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love will play through a knee injury that caused him to miss two games and limited him in practice, but top cornerback Jaire Alexander is out.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
September 29, 2024 at 5:58PM
12:50 p.m.: Addison’s second TD increases lead to 21
The Vikings made it a 21-0 game, with another dissection of the Packers’ defense.
Sam Darnold, who’s now 9 of 10 for 115 yards, took advantage of extraordinary protection from a Vikings offensive line that has also opened up enough space for the Vikings to gain 53 yards on 11 rushing attempts. The run that finished the drive was a jet sweep to Jordan Addison, who scored his second touchdown of the day by making Keisean Nixon whiff on a tackle and turning upfield for the score.
The Vikings’ work in the red zone has been much improved this season; they’ve had few issues finishing drives at Lambeau today. — BEN GOESSLING
12:45 p.m.: First-quarter analysis
The first 15 minutes of this game have been a beatdown.
Sam Darnold, with ample time to throw, has already hit eight different receivers. He’s 8 of 9 for 104 yards and two touchdowns early in the second quarter. The Vikings’ coverages have caused Jordan Love to second-guess things, and Kamu Grugier-Hill created another turnover when Love threw into triple coverage for Christian Watson, who was injured on the play. Even special teams has favored the Vikings so far; embattled Packers kicker Brayden Narveson missed his only field goal attempt off the upright from 37 yards out.
The Vikings took a 21-point lead at Lambeau Field last year; they’ve got a chance to do the same early in the second quarter. — BEN GOESSLING
12:30 p.m.: Darnold strikes again
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold now has 10 touchdown passes this season, after hitting Josh Oliver on a 2-yard pass near the end of the first quarter for a 14-0 lead. The Vikings benefited on two penalties on back-to-back plays called on Packers defensive backs working against Justin Jefferson. The first, a pass interference call on Eric Stokes, brought the Vikings to the Green Bay 3.
12:20 p.m.: Packers miss field goal
It was the Packers’ rookie kicker who ran into the first problem Sunday as Brayden Narveson missed a 37-yard attempt, doinking the right upright. The Packers were driving well until a false start penalty at the Vikings 14. As Vikings fans know, it is Minnesota rookie kickers who historically have struggled at Lambeau. Mark Craig talked to Vikings rookie kicker Will Reichard last week about the specter of Daniel Carlson.
12:08 p.m.: Addison scores in Vikings return
The Packers won the toss and deferred and the Vikings took the opening drive 73 yards in six plays, the first three going to Aaron Jones in his return to Lambeau Field. The big play was a 31-yard completion from Sam Darnold to Jalen Nailor on third and 14 from the Minnesota 40. On the next play, Darnold hit Jordan Addison for a 29-yard TD. Addison is playing his first game since sustaining an ankle injury in the season opener against the Giants three weeks ago.
11:30: a.m.: Vikings-Packers predictions
The Vikings will try to get to 4-0 with Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback after losing Kirk Cousins to an Achilles injury at Lambeau last October. With a win, the Vikings would stay in sole possession of first place in the NFC North before heading to London next week. The Packers, who have won two games in a row without Jordan Love, have their quarterback back from a knee injury in time to face the frenetic Vikings defense.
10:49 a.m.: Packers QB Love to return; Alexander out
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The grills are lit, the drinks are flowing, and the purple jerseys are mixing with the green and gold outside of Lambeau Field. And Packers quarterback Jordan Love arrived to the stadium on Sunday morning wearing a Brett Favre jersey.
Among many possible interpretations, one is Love will tough it out and play through a knee injury that has sidelined him the past two games.
Love is officially active and expected to make his return from an MCL sprain he suffered Sept. 6 during the Packers’ season-opening loss against the Eagles. He remained limited in Packers practices this week. Green Bay’s defense won’t have top cornerback Jaire Alexander (quad/groin). He’s officially inactive.
Love’s Favre jersey is likely a show of support for the 54-year-old Packers Hall of Famer who told a congressional committee last week that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The Vikings are near full strength. Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. will miss his second straight game, but receiver Jordan Addison and edge rusher Dallas Turner are back. Addison will not have any limitations, head coach Kevin O’Connell said Friday, while returning from a Sept. 8 ankle sprain. Turner missed one game due to a Grade 1 right knee sprain suffered Sept. 15 vs. the 49ers.
Running back Aaron Jones, who spent his first seven seasons in Green Bay, spent time before kickoff chatting with former Packers teammates, coaches and executives, including team president Mark Murphy.
Edge rusher Bo Richter and tight end Robert Tonyan, the former Packers starter, are available to play after the Vikings elevated them from the practice squad on Saturday. The team has one elevation left before either player must be signed to the 53-man roster to play. Teams can elevate players up to three times per season.
Vikings’ inactives: Pace (ankle), WR Trishton Jackson, CB Fabian Moreau, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, CB Dwight McGlothern, OT Walter Rouse
Packers’ inactives: Alexander (quad/groin), G/T Jordan Morgan (shoulder), DL Colby Wooden, DL Brenton Cox Jr., S Kitan Oladapo, CB Carrington Valentine, OT Travis Glover
— ANDREW KRAMMER
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Green Bay starting quarterback Jordan Love returned from a two-game absence as the 3-0 Vikings face the 2-1 Packers in their first NFC North game of the season.
