Packers lose game, Rodgers
Green Bay’s star QB hit with broken collarbone in defeat to Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS — Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers arrived at the Super Bowl site for this season, with a realistic goal of returning to Minnesota in four months for a crack at another championship.
Their chance of returning in February took an awfully big hit when Rodgers broke his collarbone.
Harrison Smith led Minnesota’s defence in a thorough dismantling of the Packers after Rodgers left the field on a cart, taking a big piece of Green Bay’s title aspirations with him and paving the way for a 23-10 victory by the Vikings on Sunday that transformed the trajectory of the NFC North race.
The Packers said Rodgers could be done for the season.
Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen had one of four sacks of backup Brett Hundley after Rodgers fell on his throwing shoulder after being taken down by Anthony Barr during an incompletion on the second drive for the Packers.
Smith had 1 1/2 sacks on safety blitzes, a diving interception and two pass breakups, helping the Vikings (4-2) limit the injurydepleted Packers to a season-low 227 yards. The Packers had five first downs and only 102 total yards over the first three quarters.
Hundley completed 18-of-33 passes for 157 yards and his first career touchdown, to Davante Adams, but also threw three interceptions.
Barr, who later left with a concussion, was not penalized for the hit on Rodgers. The Packers didn’t make a fuss, clearly more concerned about trying to recover from the emotional setback and bring Hundley up to speed with the rest of the offence as quickly as possible.
Vikings backup Case Keenum made his fourth start and finished for the fifth time in place of Sam Bradford, who’s been waylaid by wear and tear in his twice-repaired left knee.
The drop-off from Bradford to Keenum hasn’t been nearly as steep for the Vikings as what the Packers are facing without the two-time NFL MVP. Coach Mike McCarthy dismissed a question about possibly signing a free-agent quarterback.
Keenum went 24 for 38 for 239 yards without top wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who was out with a groin injury. He threw 13 times to Adam Thielen, completing nine for 97 yards.
Keenum was intercepted for the first time this season, but he connected with Jerick McKinnon on a screen pass for a touchdown and again gave the Vikings a confident, energetic presence in the huddle. He wasn’t sacked.
PATRIOTS 24, JETS 17
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Brady set the NFL record for regular-season wins by a quarterback, getting his 187th. The Patriots (4-2) were playing their first game in 10 days after beating Tampa Bay 19-14 on Oct. 5, and appeared a bit rusty early as they fell behind 14-0 in the second quarter against the surprising Jets (3-3). New York had a chance to tie the game after getting the ball back with 1:53 remaining, but the Patriots’ 32nd-ranked overall defence held on — forcing Josh McCown to throw incomplete on a desperation heave on fourth-and-17 from the 50, and ending the Jets’ three-game winning streak.
Brady broke a tie with Peyton Manning and Brett Favre for the record.
STEELERS 19, CHIEFS 13
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Le’Veon Bell ran for 179 yards and a touchdown, Antonio Brown made an acrobatic touchdown catch in the fourth quarter and the Steelers handed the NFL’s only unbeaten team its first loss.
The Chiefs (5-1) still had a chance after Brown’s 51-yard reception made it 19-10, moving quickly downfield and getting a 33-yard field goal from Harrison Butker. And when their defence forced a quick three-and-out, Tyreek Hill’s 32-yard punt return gave them the ball with 1:48 to go. But after the Steelers (4-2) gave up a first down, James Harrison sacked Alex Smith on third-and-10, and the quarterback’s incomplete pass on fourth down left the NFL with no perfect teams.
Ben Roethlisberger was 17 of 25 for 252 yards for Pittsburgh, bouncing back from his abysmal five-interception performance against Jacksonville last week. His favourite target was Brown, who a few weeks ago was flipping over water coolers on the sideline but spent Sunday slinging high-fives. Brown finished with eight catches for 155 yards.