Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) lays on the ground after being sacked by Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday.
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Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur owned the NFC North early in his career.
LaFleur was 24-8 inside the division during his first six seasons, but went 1-5 last year. That played a huge role in Green Bay slipping to third place in the NFC North in 2024.
The Packers took an important step towards taking back the division on Sunday.
Green Bay held Minnesota to just 145 total yards and whipped visiting Minnesota, 23-6. The Packers sacked Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy five times, intercepted him twice and got a career game from running back Emanuel Wilson.
The Packers snapped a two-game losing streak at Lambeau Field and improved to 7-3-1. The Vikings fell to 4-7 and are in grave danger of missing the playoffs.
“Division games are the biggest games,” Green Bay cornerback Keisean Nixon said. “It’s playoff atmosphere. It’s playoff games for sure.”
Here’s the ‘Good, Bad and Ugly’ from Green Bay’s win.
THE GOOD
EMANUEL WILSON: Green Bay’s third-year running back made his first career start a memorable one.
Wilson set career-highs in carries (28), rushing yards (107) and added a pair of touchdowns. Wilson also became the first Packer running back this season to post a 100-yard rushing day.
“There was a lot to learn coming from where he came from to where he is now,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said of Wilson. “But I think he’s embraced that, he’s embraced the challenge, and then he’s maximized his opportunities.”
Wilson grew up in Charlotte, NC, played at North Mecklenberg High School and began his collegiate career at Division II Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina.
After a redshirt season and a big freshman year (1,040 yards, 13 TDs) at JCSU, Wilson transferred to Division II Fort Valley State in Georgia. Wilson ran for 835 yards in 2021, then had a huge 2022 season where he had 1,371 rushing yards, 239 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns.
Wilson participated in Fort Valley State’s pro day ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds, posted a vertical jump of 34.5 inches and had a 10-foot broad jump.
Wilson went undrafted in 2023, had a brief stop in Denver, then signed with Green Bay on May 22, 2023. Wilson then had a big training camp and surprised many by making the Packers’ 53-man roster.
Wilson was the No. 3 back behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon in 2023, then moved up to No. 2 in 2024 behind Jacobs and ran with the opportunity, posting 502 rushing yards on 103 carries (4.9 average) and scored four touchdowns. He also had 11 receptions and a receiving touchdown.
Wilson entered Sunday’s game with 220 rushing yards on 53 carries (4.2) and 11 receptions through 10 games this season.
“I just believe in myself more, so I got more confidence now than like my rookie year,” Wilson said. “To now, it’s a huge difference. I mean, y’all guys can go watch film to see how I play differently now. I just feel good.”
SACK ATTACK: Green Bay’s pass rush made life miserable for Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy, posting five sacks and several pressures.
Defensive end Micah Parsons had two sacks, three quarterback hits and two tackles for loss. Parsons now has 10 sacks this season and joined Reggie White as just the second player in NFL history with double digit sacks in each of his first five seasons.
Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt had two sacks, while tackle Warren Brinson and linebacker Isaiah McDuffie shared a sack.
ABOUT TIME: Green Bay entered Sunday’s game with just four interceptions all year, then they had two against Minnesota — both in the fourth quarter.
Linebacker Isaiah McDuffie had a terrific interception after Rashan Gary hit McCarthy’s arm. Safety Evan Williams then had his second interception in the last two weeks when he picked McCarthy off late.
THAT’S MORE LIKE IT: Green Bay kicker Brandon McManus made all three of his field goals.
McManus missed Weeks 6-7 with a right quadriceps injury, then went just 4-of-8 on field goals the next three games.
McManus missed last week’s game at the New York Giants with the same quadriceps injury, but shined in his return Sunday.
“I think now he has confidence he can kick the ball the way he wants to and hopefully it’s gonna do what he wants it to do,” Green Bay special teams coach Rich Bisaccia said of McManus.
ZAYNE ANDERSON: Green Bay’s special teams ace made arguably the play of the game.
The Packers punted on their first drive of the second half, and Daniel Whelan dropped a beauty inside the Vikings’ 10-yard line. The ball spun backwards and hit Minnesota return man Myles Price in the helmet.
Anderson was quick to pounce on the ball, won a scrum and recovered at Minnesota’s 5-yard line. Two plays later, Wilson plowed in for a 1-yard TD that gave Green Bay a 17-6 lead.
BIG STOP: Minnesota drove to Green Bay’s 17 early in the second quarter and seemed poised to cut into the Packers’ 7-3 lead. Instead. Green Bay’s defense stiffened.
On third-and-1, the Vikings ran tight end T.J. Hockenson up the middle, but linebacker Isaiah McDuffie stuffed him for no gain. Then on fourth-and-1, defensive end Kingsley Enagbare stopped Jordan Mason for no gain and the Packers took over.
QUITE A DRIVE: The Packers put together a 14-play, 68-drive midway through the second quarter that gobbled up 8:01 and ended with a 32-yard field goal by Brandon McManus that gave Green Bay a 10-3 lead.
The 14 plays tied Green Bay’s season-long for most plays on a drive. And the 8:01 was the Packers’ longest of the season.
THIS AND THAT: Isaiah McDuffie made a terrific tackle on tight end T.J. Hockenson, limiting him to a 5-yard gain on a third-and-9 play to kill the Vikings’ second drive of the day. … McDuffie sacked McCarthy late on the first half, dropping him for a 7-yard loss and forcing the Vikings to eventually settle for a 59-yard field goal from standout kicker Will Reichard. … Romeo Doubs had a 16-yard punt return.
THE BAD
LOOK OUT: Emanuel Wilson was dumped for a 2-yard loss by Eric Wilson on a third-and-1 midway through the third quarter.
Eric Wilson shot the ‘A’ gap untouched, drilled Emanuel Wilson in the backfield and killed Green Bay’s drive.
THIS AND THAT: Tight end John FitzPatrick was hit with two false start penalties. The first one helped kill Green Bay’s second drive of the day. … Green Bay allowed 4.7 yards per carry.
THE UGLY
ZILCH, ZIPPO, ZERO: This might have been Green Bay’s cleanest game since a Week 1 win against Detroit.
And for the first time this year, there was nothing to put into this category.
Green Bay heads to Detroit for a Thanksgiving Day game after arguably its most complete game of the season.