Cook leads Vikings to victory over Packers
Dalvin Cook ran for 163 yards and scored four touchdowns, including three on the ground, to lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 28-22 victory at NFC North-leading Green Bay on Sunday, snapping the Packers’ eight-game winning streak in the division.
Back in the lineup for the first time since suffering a groin injury in a Week 5 loss at Seattle, Cook scored on runs of 21 yards, one yard and one yard and also took a screen pass 50 yards for a score. Cook had 226 yards from scrimmage on 32 touches as the Vikings (2-5) played effectively on both sides of the ball following their bye week.
The Packers ( 5- 2) lost for the second time in three games, as they were unable to sustain much offensive momentum after the game was tied 14-14 at halftime.
Aaron Rodgers connected with Davante Adams for first-half touchdowns of five yards and one yard, as the rivals both capitalized on each of their two full drives in the first 30 minutes.
Adams caught a third scoring pass from Rodgers, a seven- yarder with 2: 42 to go, before Green Bay was successful on a two- point conversion to draw within the final margin. The Packers got the ball back in the final minute, but DJ Wonnum sacked Rodgers and forced a fumble on the final play.
Rodgers was 27- for- 41 passing for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Robert Tonyan had five receptions for 79 yards, Adams had seven catches for 53 yards while Jamaal Williams gained 75 yards on 16 carries.
Kirk Cousins completed 11 of 14 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings, who avenged a 43-34 home loss to the Packers in Week 1.
The game hinged on Green Bay’s failed fourth- down conversion attempt midway through the third quarter. With the Packers trailing 21-14 with the ball on the Minnesota 37, Rodgers’ deep pass for Equanimeous St. Brown was incomplete, the fourth successive incompletion to thwart the drive.
Minnesota took over possession and wasted little time in taking control, marching 63 yards on four plays in 2: 06. Cook punctuated the drive with a 50-yard catch and run, using savvy footwork and solid blocking for his fourth touchdown to give the Vikings a 28-14 lead.
CLAYPOOL HELPS UNBEATEN STEELERS
Chase Claypool’s eight- yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter gave the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers a 28-24 win over the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens.
Ben Roethlisberger found Claypool, of Abbotsford, B. C., on the right edge of the end zone with 7:29 remaining for the game’s fourth lead change.
Pittsburgh ( 7- 0), which is the NFL’S lone undefeated team, trailed 17-7 at halftime to Baltimore (5-2).
Roethlisberger finished 21 of 32 for 182 yards, with tight end Eric Ebron also making a touchdown catch. James Conner had a touchdown run.
Lamar Jackson completed 13 of 29 passes for 208 yards with two costly interceptions, including one returned by Robert Spillane for a touchdown. Miles Boykin and Marquise Brown each had a touchdown catch and Gus Edwards had a scoring run.
Baltimore All- Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley was carted off the field with an air cast on his left leg in the first quarter. Right guard Tyre Phillips left because of an ankle injury.
On the game’s third snap, Spillane picked off a pass and returned it 33 yards to the end zone to open the scoring. It was Jackson’s first career interception returned for a touchdown.
Willie Snead’s 34-yard reception set up Jackson’s six- yard scoring pass to Boykin to forge a 7-7 tie. The Ravens seized a 14-7 lead when Edwards plowed in from the oneyard-line to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive. Justin Tucker’s 51- yard field goal as time expired in the first half pushed Baltimore’s lead to 17-7.
Jackson’s second interception, by Alex Highsmith, set up the Steelers at Baltimore’s 21. Two plays later, Ebron was wide open coming across the middle and reeled in a Roethlisberger pass for an 18- yard touchdown to close it to 17-14.
The Pittsburgh offence found its rhythm on a 10- play, 77- yard drive that resulted in Conner’s one- yard scoring run for a 21-17 lead at 5: 38 of the third.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Jackson hit Devin Duvernay for 39 yards to the Steelers 18- yard- line, the key play in a 53- yard drive. Brown’s three- yard scoring catch put Baltimore back on top, 24-21.