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Packers rout Vikings to stay perfect

Nov 15, 2011 - 6:04 AM Green Bay, WI (Sports Network) - Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers had little trouble staying perfect with a 45-7 drubbing of the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field.

Rodgers spread the ball to 10 different receivers, hitting 23-of-30 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns for Green Bay (9-0), which has won 15 straight including last season's Super Bowl run.

"We needed a significant win, and I was proud of the way we accomplished that tonight," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. "It was our best win because of the final margin and the fact we won all three phases of the game."

Jordy Nelson caught two touchdowns for the Packers, who had a tough time against Minnesota three weeks ago before pulling out a 33-27 decision despite allowing 175 rushing yards to Adrian Peterson.

This time around, Peterson was held to 51 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Christian Ponder passed for just 190 yards with an interception on 16- of-30 attempts in the loss.

"They are 9-0 for a reason," Ponder said.

The Vikings (2-7) were coming off a bye after defeating the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, but they were simply outmatched from beginning to end on Monday en route to their ninth straight division loss.

"It just was not a very good performance on our part," Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said. "They showed why they are defending champions. ... We just didn't play well in any phase."

The rout started early, with the Vikings going three-and-out on their first possession and Randall Cobb returning the ensuing punt 80 yards for a score.

Cobb fielded the punt at the left hashmark and ran a half-circle around Minnesota's coverage team before turning it upfield for the score, becoming the first Packer to return a kickoff and a punt for TD in his rookie year.

The first time Green Bay's offense touched the ball resulted in an 11-play, 70-yard drive that Rodgers capped by hitting Greg Jennings over the middle for a 24-yard touchdown.

The Vikings had a chance to get on the board later in the opening quarter, but a false start penalty turned a 47-yard field goal try into a 52-yarder, and Ryan Longwell's attempt fell short on a windy night.

Mason Crosby's 25-yard field goal proved to be the only points of the second quarter, and Nelson scored on a 17-yard reception after breaking Cedric Griffin's tackle along the right sideline early in the third.

Cobb's muffed punt led to Minnesota's only points, a three-yard Peterson run up the middle midway through the third.

"They've taken some heat in the media, but they only gave up seven points tonight and that was on a short field," Rodgers said of Green Bay's defense.

Cobb atoned for the mistake with a 55-yard kickoff return to midfield, and five plays later, Rodgers found John Kuhn in the back of the end zone for a nine-yard score.

Rodgers' final throw was a four-yard scoring strike to Nelson four minutes into the fourth, and backup quarterback Matt Flynn got into the act with a three-yard TD run to cap the blowout.

Game Notes

The Packers swept the season series for the second straight year...With a 140.3 quarterback rating, Rodgers became the first player in NFL history to start a season with nine games in row with 110-plus rating...Nelson caught a team-high five passes for 63 yards...Percy Harvin led the Vikings with six catches for 52 yards...Peterson has scored in five straight games...The Packers host Tampa Bay next week before heading to Detroit for a Thanksgiving Day test against the Lions.