MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings made it to the start of their 60th season, but it wasn't the opener that Minnesota envisioned.
Rival Green Bay claimed the day and an early lead in the NFC North with a 43-34 victory.
The Packers controlled the clock, moved the chains on third down and capitalized with a key stretch late in the first half turning an 8-7 lead into a 22-7 margin with a pair of touchdowns.
The Vikings answered quickly with a field goal as the first half ended, but the 12-point edge by the Packers proved insurmountable.
Green Bay scored on a 24-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams with 39 seconds remaining in the first half.
Minnesota tried to be aggressive on its ensuing possession, but Kirk Cousins was picked off by Jaire Alexander.
Rodgers fired a 45-yard touchdown to Marquez Valdes-Scantling two plays later for a 22-7 edge.
The game was played without any fans in attendance, and Rodgers seemed quite comfortable.
He finished 32-of-44 passing for 364 yards and four scores, totaling a passer rating of 127.5. He blended possession throws and more than enough explosive gains.
Davante Adams finished with 14 receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota's new-look defense that has three new starters on the back end (two outside corners and slot).
Valdes-Scantling added four receptions for 96 yards and a score, and Allen Lazard caught four passes for 63 yards.
Cousins finished 19-for-25 with 259 yards and two scores. His passer rating was 118.6. Adam Thielen led Minnesota with six receptions for 110 yards. Bisi Johnson added three receptions for 56 yards.
Dalvin Cook rushed 12 times for 50 yards and two scores, and Alexander Mattison added 50 rushing yards on six carries.
Green Bay outgained Minnesota 522 to 382 and converted six of 11 third downs, compared to three of six by Minnesota. The Packers possessed the ball a whopping 41:16.
Scoring summary
Q1, 7:27 remaining
Packers 3, Vikings 0
Mason Crosby kicks a 31-yard field goal [13 plays, 62 yards, 7:33 time of possession]
Stopping momentum: The Vikings were able to make a stand at their own 10 by forcing consecutive negative plays by the Packers.
Eric Kendricks tackled Jamaal Williams for a loss of 1 on a short pass, and Jalyn Holmes followed with a tackle for loss of Aaron Jones on another short pass attempt. Kendricks didn't give Aaron Rodgers a window to hit Jones in the end zone on third-and-12 to force the field goal.
Q1, 3:24 remaining
Vikings 7, Packers 3
Dalvin Cook rushes for a 1-yard touchdown (Dan Bailey kicks PAT) [8 plays, 75 yards, 4:03 time of possession]
Crisp start: Kirk Cousins opened with a pair of completions to Adam Thielen that included an impressive 25-yard strike on a play he extended with a scramble. Minnesota then ran the ball on six consecutive snaps.
Q2, 11:39 remaining
Vikings 7, Packers 5
Kirk Cousins is sacked by Jaire Alexander [2 plays, minus-1 yard, 0:40 time of possession]
Timely blitz: Alexander came in hot from the left edge, and the blitz wasn't slowed by the Vikings use of play-action. Cousins was blindsided.
Q2, 8:08 remaining
Packers 8, Vikings 7
Crosby kicks a 43-yard field goal [8 plays, 31 yards, 3:31]
Nice stop: The Vikings halted the Packers drive at the Minnesota 12-yard line by forcing a pair of incompletions and then an intentional grounding penalty. Ifeadi Odenigbo pressured Rodgers on third-and-10 to force an intentional grounding penalty.
Q2, 0:39 remaining
Packers 15, Vikings 7
Davante Adams catches a 24-yard pass from Rodgers (Crosby kicks PAT) [11 plays, 60 yards, 5:25 time of possession]
Third-down woes: The Vikings helped the Packers extend the drive early when Holmes was flagged for a neutral zone infraction. Green Bay gained 3 on an third-and 4, which was enough to set up Rodgers for a QB sneak on a fourth-and-1. The Packers also converted a third-and-6 with an 8-yard pass to Adams two plays before the touchdown.
Q2, 0:14 remaining
Packers 22, Vikings 7
Marquez Valdes-Scantling catches a 45-yard pass from Rodgers (Crosby kicks PAT) [2 plays, 45 yards, 0:11 time of possession]
Deep heave: It's no surprise to see Rodgers uncork a deep one. He was able to get the ball to Valdes-Scantling down the right sideline and defeat 1-on-1 coverage by rookie Cameron Dantzler.
Q2, 0:00 remaining
Packers 22, Vikings 10
Bailey kicks a 35-yard field goal [3 plays, 58 yards, 0:14 time of possession]
Quick strike: Alexander Mattison broke free for a 21-yard gain on first down, and Cousins followed with a 22-yard pass to Kyle Rudolph. A 15-yard penalty on Darnell Savage for lowering his helmet to initiate contact was added after Rudolph's catch.
Q3, 0:09 remaining
Packers 29, Vikings 10
Adams catches a 1-yard pass from Rodgers (Crosby PAT) [8 plays, 61 yards, 4:11 time of possession]
Q4, 13:53 remaining
Packers 29, Vikings 18
Adam Thielen catches a 37-yard pass from Cousins (Cook runs for 2-point conversion) [4 plays, 77 yards,
Pair of passes: The drive built on momentum after opening with a 29-yard completion to Bisi Johnson three plays before Thielen got behind the Packers defense.
Q4, 10:02 remaining
Packers 36, Vikings 18
Allen Lazard catches a 4-yard pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick) [7 plays, 75 yards, 3:51 time of possession]
The set-up and finish: Lazard put the Packers inside the 5 with a 38-yard catch two plays before the score. He was uncovered.
Q4, 7:55 remaining
Packers 36, Vikings 26
Cook rushes for 3 yards (Cook runs for 2-point conversion) [7 plays, 65 yards, 2:07 time of possession]
Q4, 3:19 remaining
Packers 43, Vikings 26
Jones rushes for 5 yards (Crosby kicks PAT) [8 plays, 75 yards, 4:36 time of possession]
Another deep one: Adams turned in the longest play of the drive, reeling in a 40-yard reception along the Packers sideline.
Q4, 1:21 remaining
Packers 43, Vikings 34
Thielen catches a 19-yard pass from Cousins (Thielen catches pass from Cousins) [9 plays, 75 yards, 1:58]
