Missed Field Goals doom Vikings and Packers; ends in tie
Muhammad Wilkerson (#96 Green Bay) celebrates as Daniel Carlson (#7 Minnesota) reacts to his missed field goal to win the game as Danielle Hunter (#99 Minnesota) watches on in Green Bay, Wisconsin on September 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
By Zach Throne
The Vikings versus Packers football game is one that many look forward to in the North Iowa area since most are a fan of one of the two teams. Neither team nor fan base are particularly fond of the other, making this matchup a rivalry.
The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers finished Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field in a tie, 29-29. Both teams had opportunities to seal the win, but missed field goals were the true difference, or lack of difference, in the game.
Vikings rookie kicker, Daniel Carlson, had the most difficult game a kicker can have in the NFL. He made zero of his three field goal attempts, including two in overtime (the game-winner on the last attempt).
Waldorf student-athlete and NFL fanatic, Drew Christianson said of Carlson, “It is his job to make those kicks. I feel that if an organization is going to take a chance on him, then he should be able to produce when called upon.”
Mason Crosby, veteran kicker for the Packers, also missed a game-winning field as the clock ran out at the end of regulation.
Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, had been questionable all week, but ended up playing on Sunday. He played well on a bum knee, throwing for 281 yards on 30 completions out of 42 attempts.
Kirk Cousins, the Vikings quarterback, outplayed Rodgers the whole second half and OT period. Cousins threw for 425 yards and four touchdowns, impressive to fans all around the league.
First quarter, it did not look like the Vikings were ready to play. A blocked punt for a touchdown and stagnant offensive play in the first half dug Minnesota into a 20-7 hole.
Cousins rose to the challenge and orchestrated a magical comeback capped by an Adam Thielen (12 catches, 131 yards) touchdown and Stefon Diggs two-point conversion with less than a minute to play, forcing overtime.
Carlson opened overtime play by missing a 49-yard field goal that would have given the Vikings a lead. After that, the two teams traded several drives with no points scored, which led to the eventual 35-yard miss as the clock hit zero.
This resulted in an anti-climactic end to this exhilarating football game.
“It doesn’t feel right when NFL games end in ties,” said Packer fan Dakota Jahnke, “they go through the wear and tear of an NFL game and have no win to show for it. NFL games should end with a winner and loser.”
Because of the tie, both teams are currently sitting 1-0-1.
Minnesota plays their next game against the Buffalo Bills on September 23 at noon, while Green Bay faces off against the Washington Redskins at the same time.