The Minnesota Vikings had two main goals as they prepared to play the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Beat the Packers to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive. And hope that rookie quarterback Jaren Hall could light a fire under the offense that had staggered so badly in the past few weeks.

When the final gun sounded on the 33-10 Minnesota defeat, two grim realities were apparent for the Vikings and their fans. Jaren Hall was clearly not ready for primetime. And the Viking’s playoff hopes were on triple life support. Also, their much-heralded defense had a third straight disappointing performance.

Problems from the Start

In truth, the Purple were never in this one. After the Packers kicked a field goal on their second possession of the game, the Vikings committed a costly turnover. On third and seven, Hall attempted to hit tight end Johnny Mundt over the middle for a short gain. The ball deflected off of Mundt’s hands and was picked off by the Packers Corey Ballentine at the Minnesota 35-yard line.

Two plays later, Packer quarterback Jordan Love would hit a streaking Jayden Reed in the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown reception. With that, the Packers jumped off to a quick 10-0 lead.

Vikings Add a Field Goal

Early in the second quarter, Vikings’ kicker Greg Joseph would hit on a 54-yard field goal to cut the Packers lead to seven. But the Packers would come back with a scoring drive of their own.

Green Bay would move down the field on the strength of running back Aaron Jones’ legs and the accurate arm of Love. A highlight of the drive was a Love 15-yard pass to Reed on the left sideline. Then on the very next play, he would hit Tucker Kraft on a 13-yard pass to bring the ball down to the Vikings 33-yard line.

Packers Score Twice

Vikings

Minnesota Vikings Ss Josh Metellus (44) Camryn Bynum (24) – Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

A short time later, Love would crash into the end zone on a two-yard run and Green Bay would extend their lead to 14 points. But before the half ended, Green Bay would once again take advantage of a Vikings miscue.

With 31 seconds left in the half, Hall dropped back in an attempt to get the Vikings in field goal position. Before his arm went forward, Packers’ edge Preston Smith knocked the ball out of his hand. The ball was recovered by Green Bay tackle Karl Brooks at the Minnesota 37-yard line. Green Bay had one more golden scoring opportunity before the half ended.

Sure enough, Love would hit Reed in stride as he ran past the Minnesota defenders. Near the goal line, he would drag Vikings’ safety Josh Metellus into the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown reception. Green Bay kicker Anders Carlson would miss the extra point, but the Packers would go to the locker room with a 23-3 halftime lead.

Vikings Pull Hall

Mercifully, at the start of the second half, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell would pull Hall in favor of Nick Mullens. And the switch seemed to ignite the Minnesota offense. Mullens would lead his team on 13 play, 58-yard march. Sparked by a couple of Justin Jefferson first-down receptions, the Vikings would take the ball down to the Packers 9-yard line.

Unfortunately for Minnesota, Mullens’ fourth down pass would fall short of Jefferson at the goal line and Green Bay took over the ball on downs. And that more or less sealed the Vikings fate.

Melton Scores for Packers

But Love would lead the Packers on a 14-play, 90-yard drive that would consume eight precious minutes of the game clock. Green Bay would consummate the drive with a Love to Bo Melton nine-yard touchdown play as Vikings fans headed to the exits.

Melton’s is a good back story as he had just been elevated from the practice squad. For the game, he caught six passes for 105 yards and the score. He thus became the first Packers receiver to reach 100 yards receiving in a game this season.

Vikings Finally get on the Board

The rest of the game is just a faded memory. Early in the fourth quarter, the Vikings would recover a muffed punt at the Green Bay seven-yard line that would lead to their only touchdown of the night. Two plays later, Mullens would flip the ball to Mundt for a six-yard scoring pass.

The Packers would add a late Carlson field goal and would head home with a dominating 33-10 victory keeping their playoff hopes alive. Their final game of the regular season is against the Chicago Bears next week at Lambeau Field.

Slim Playoff Chances Remain

As for the Vikings, there are a myriad of things that need to occur for them to gain entry into the playoffs. And it all starts with a victory over a Detroit Lions squad that is all fired up after a questionable call led to a loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

And the Vikings approach that game embroiled in another quarterback controversy. All the while, Minnesota fans are getting a greater appreciation for the much-maligned Kirk Cousins.