Dalvin Cook returned to the lineup — and the end zone — powering the Vikings 28-22 upset of the Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

It was once, twice, three times a rushing touchdown for Cook, who capped each of Minnesota's first three possessions with a score.

The Vikings running back followed his hat trick that gave him 10 rushing scores on the season (a franchise record through Week 8 of any season) with a 50-yard gain on a screen pass for another score.

Cook became the first Vikings player to score four touchdowns in a game since Ahmad Rashad in 1979.

The victory wasn't sealed, however, until the final minute when rookie D.J. Wonnum forced a fumble during a sack by Aaron Rodgers on the final play of the game. Eric Wilson recovered the ball as time expired, and an official review confirmed the play was a fumble instead of an incompletion.

he Vikings went punch-for-punch against the Packers in the first half with scoring drives on each of their first two possessions.

Minnesota came out of halftime with its best third quarter of 2020, scoring twice and keeping Green Bay off the scoreboard.

Minnesota earned seven first downs, compared to three for Green Bay in the third quarter.

Kirk Cousins was an efficient 3-of-5 passing for 78 yards and a passer rating of 143.8 during the third quarter. Aaron Rodgers was 5-of-12 passing for 88 yards and a passer rating of 67.4 during the pivotal period.

Green Bay was able to add a 7-yard touchdown with 2:42 left in the game thanks to a costly 12-men on the field penalty.

Rodgers alertly hustled to the line and got the snap off before rookie Troy Dye reached the sideline. The penalty negated a sack by Ifeadi Odenigbo that would have forced a fourth-and-12.

Cook finished with 163 yards on 30 carries in his first game with three rushing touchdowns. He added 63 yards on two catches and provided Minnesota's only pass play greater than 16 yards.

Cousins finished 11-of-14 passing for 160 yards and a passer rating of 138.1. Adam Thielen had three catches for 27 yards, and Justin Jefferson added 26 yards on three receptions.

Rodgers finished 27-of-41 passing with 291 yards and three scores to Davante Adams, who totaled 53 yards on seven catches.

Minnesota gained 11 first downs in the first half, compared to Green Bay's 12. A big key was keeping the chains moving. The Vikings only faced three third downs, converting two and then picking up a fourth-and-1 on their way to the end zone, in the first half.

The Vikings gained 140 net yards, and the Packers totaled 159.

Both teams relied on short passes throughout the first half, due in large part to the severe winds at Lambeau Field. Cousins completed seven of eight passes for 75 yards and a passer rating of 105.7. Aaron Rodgers was 11-for-12 with 78 yards and two scores (passer rating of 133.3) in the first half.

Five different Vikings caught at least one pass from Cousins in the first half, and six Packers recorded a reception in the opening 30 minutes.

Scoring Summary

Q1, 7:01 remaining

Packers 7, Vikings 0

Davante Adams catches a 5-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kicks PAT) [13 plays, 75 yards, 7:59 time of possession]

Another fourth-down conversion: The Vikings entered the game having allowed opponents to convert nine of 11 fourth downs, and the Packers made it 10-for-12 by converting a fourth-and-1 with a pass from Rodgers to tight end Jace Sternberger, who found an opening in the zone defense used by the Vikings.

Q1, 0:47 remaining

Packers 7, Vikings 7

Dalvin Cook rushes for 21 yards (Dan Bailey kicks PAT) [10 plays, 73 yards, 6:14 time of possession]

Hefty dose of Dalvin: In his return to the lineup from a groin injury suffered in Week 5, Cook showed he was back, rushing six times for 44 yards. His best work occurred when he turned a short swing pass on third-and-8 into a 13-yard gain on the play that preceded his touchdown run.

Q2, 6:53 remaining

Packers 14, Vikings 7

Adams catches a 1-yard pass from Rodgers (Crosby kicks PAT) [15 plays, 72 yards, 8:54 time of possession]

Off the hook: Minnesota allowed conversions of third-and-1, third-and-2 and fourth-and-1 during the possession, but the drive could have stopped long before the touchdown if the Vikings had done better after a holding penalty by the Packers created a first-and-20 at their own 30-yard line. Green Bay got 8 back with a run by AJ Dillon and then moved the chains on second-and-12 with a short pass to Dillon that gained 16 after a missed tackle.

Q2, 0:31 remaining

Packers 14, Vikings 14

Cook rushes for 1 yard (Bailey kicks PAT) [12 plays, 67 yards, 6:22 time of possession]

The great erase: The Vikings overcame a sack of Kirk Cousins by Dean Lowry for a loss of 9 that created a second-and-19 at the Green Bay 41. Minnesota got 12 with a pass from Cousins to Justin Jefferson, then 6 more on a pass from Cousins to Adam Thielen that avoided a blitz. Cook picked up fourth-and-1 with a 3-yard gain inside the 2-minute warning.

Q3, 10:00 remaining

Vikings 21, Packers 14

Cook rushes for 1 yard (Bailey kicks PAT) [10 plays, 85 yards, 5:00 time of possession]

Take the help: Cook started the drive with a 37-yard scamper and finished with a power run. In between, Minnesota picked up a pair of pass interference calls against Green Bay. The first resulted in 20 yards awarded on a third-and-6, and the second occurred on third-and-goal from the 6, giving Minnesota the ball at the 1.

Q3, 5:52 remaining

Vikings 28, Packers 14

Cook catches a pass from Cousins for 50 yards (Bailey kicks PAT) [4 plays, 63 yards, 2:06 time of possession]

Big pickup: Cook took a short screen pass from Cousins at the Minnesota 45 and followed well-timed blocks from Garrett Bradbury and Ezra Cleveland. He then juked safety Vernon Scott at the Green Bay 36 and mashed the gas to win a footrace to the end zone.

Q4, 2:42 remaining

Vikings 28, Packers 22

Adams catches a 7-yard pass from Rodgers (Jamaal Williams runs for 2-point conversion) [9 plays, 74 yards, 3:05 time of possession]