The Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers Match Player Stats have one of the fiercest rivalries in the NFL, a clash that never fails to deliver excitement, drama, and unforgettable moments. Known as the “Border Battle,” this matchup between two NFC North powerhouses is a fan favorite, drawing millions of viewers each season. In this article, we’ll dive into the player stats from their most recent encounters in the 2024 NFL season, specifically focusing on their Week 4 and Week 17 games. We’ll break down the numbers, highlight standout performances, and provide an easy-to-read table summarizing key player stats. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just curious about the matchup, this guide is designed to be clear, engaging, and accessible to readers of all ages.
The Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers Match Player Stats Rivalry: A Quick Overview
Before we get into the stats, let’s set the stage. The Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers Match Player Stats have been facing off since 1961, with Green Bay leading the all-time series 66–60–3 as of the 2024 season. Their games are often close, with both teams showcasing high-powered offenses and stout defenses. In 2024, the Vikings swept the Packers for the first time since 2017, winning both matchups: 31–29 in Week 4 at Lambeau Field and 27–25 in Week 17 at U.S. Bank Stadium. These games were pivotal, as the Vikings (14–2) clinched a shot at the NFC North title, while the Packers (11–5) secured a playoff spot but settled for the No. 6 or 7 seed.
Now, let’s dive into the player performances that defined these thrilling games. We’ll look at key stats for quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, and defensive players, with a focus on clarity and engagement.
Week 4: Vikings 31, Packers 29 (September 29, 2024)
The first meeting of the 2024 season was a high-scoring affair at Lambeau Field. The Vikings jumped out to a commanding 28–0 lead by the second quarter, but the Packers mounted a furious comeback, falling just short in a 31–29 thriller. Let’s break down the standout performers.
Quarterback Performances
Sam Darnold (Vikings): Darnold had a stellar game, proving why he’s been a revelation for Minnesota in 2024. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 275 yards, throwing three touchdowns and one interception. His passer rating was an impressive 123.4, showcasing his ability to make precise throws under pressure. Darnold’s touchdowns included a 29-yard strike to Jordan Addison, a 2-yard pass to Josh Oliver, and a 14-yard touchdown to Justin Jefferson. His lone interception came in the third quarter, but it didn’t derail the Vikings’ momentum.
Jordan Love (Packers): Love returned from a two-game absence due to a knee injury and had a rollercoaster performance. He completed 32 of 54 passes for 389 yards, throwing four touchdowns but also three interceptions. His passer rating was 83.0, reflecting a game of highs and lows. Love’s touchdowns went to Jayden Reed (15 yards), Dontayvion Wicks (6 and 17 yards), and Tucker Kraft (13 yards). Despite the turnovers, Love’s 389 yards marked a career-high, and his late-game heroics nearly brought the Packers back from a 28-point deficit.
Running Back Highlights
Aaron Jones (Vikings): Facing his former team, Jones ran with purpose, carrying the ball 22 times for 93 yards. While he didn’t score a rushing touchdown, his consistent gains kept the Vikings’ offense balanced and set up play-action passes for Darnold. Jones also added 46 receiving yards on four catches, showing his versatility.
Josh Jacobs (Packers): Jacobs was the focal point of Green Bay’s ground game, rushing nine times for 51 yards. He fumbled early in the game, which led to a Vikings scoring opportunity, but he bounced back with a 6-yard run that set up a key first down. Jacobs also caught four passes for 27 yards, contributing to the Packers’ late rally.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Justin Jefferson (Vikings): Jefferson, one of the NFL’s premier receivers, had six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. His 14-yard score in the second quarter helped Minnesota build their massive lead. Despite heavy coverage from the Packers’ secondary, Jefferson made clutch plays, including a 13-yard catch on third-and-12.
Jordan Addison (Vikings): Addison was a surprise star, scoring twice—once on a 29-yard receiving touchdown and once on a 7-yard end-around rush. He finished with three catches for 72 yards, showing his explosiveness as a complementary weapon.
Jayden Reed (Packers): Reed led the Packers’ receiving corps with seven catches for 139 yards and a touchdown. His 15-yard score in the second quarter was Green Bay’s first points of the game, sparking their comeback. Reed’s 139 yards were a career-high, and he reached 100+ receiving yards for the second time in 2024.
Dontayvion Wicks (Packers): Wicks had a breakout game, catching five passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns (6 and 17 yards). His third-and-1 slant for a 6-yard score in the fourth quarter brought the Packers within two scores.
Tucker Kraft (Packers): The tight end added two catches for 31 yards and a 13-yard touchdown, plus a two-point conversion, keeping Green Bay in the fight.
Defensive Standouts
Pat Jones II (Vikings): Jones II recorded a 10-yard sack on Love, disrupting a Packers drive in the second quarter. His pressure was key in forcing Green Bay into a 21–0 hole.
Xavier McKinney (Packers): McKinney intercepted Darnold in the third quarter, his fourth pick in four games with Green Bay. The turnover set up a critical scoring drive for the Packers.
Kamu Grugier-Hill (Vikings): Grugier-Hill picked off Love in the first quarter, marking his second interception of the season. The Vikings’ defense capitalized on Green Bay’s early mistakes.
Key Takeaways
The Vikings’ early dominance came from Darnold’s precision and a balanced attack featuring Jones and Jefferson. The Packers’ defense struggled to contain Minnesota’s passing game, while Love’s interceptions dug a deep hole. However, Green Bay’s late surge, led by Reed and Wicks, showed their resilience, setting the stage for a heated rematch in Week 17.
Week 17: Vikings 27, Packers 25 (December 29, 2024)
The rematch at U.S. Bank Stadium was another nail-biter, with the Vikings holding off a late Packers rally to win 27–25. Both teams had already clinched playoff berths, but the stakes were high: a Vikings win kept them in contention for the NFC North title, while the Packers aimed to improve their playoff seeding. Let’s look at the stats.
Quarterback Performances
Sam Darnold (Vikings): Darnold had a career day, completing 27 of 43 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. His passer rating was 115.9, and he spread the ball to eight different receivers. Darnold’s touchdowns included a 31-yard deep post to Jalen Nailor, a 9-yard pass to Jordan Addison, and a 10-yard screen to Cam Akers. His poise under pressure was crucial in maintaining Minnesota’s lead.
Jordan Love (Packers): Love completed 19 of 30 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown, earning a 91.7 passer rating. His lone touchdown was a 3-yard pass to Malik Heath in the fourth quarter. Despite a cleaner game with no interceptions, Love was sacked twice, including a critical takedown that forced a punt in the fourth quarter.
Running Back Highlights
Aaron Jones (Vikings): Jones was steady again, rushing 15 times for 64 yards and adding three catches for 24 yards. His 7-yard run in the first quarter set up Minnesota’s first touchdown, and his consistent gains kept the Packers’ defense honest.
Josh Jacobs (Packers): Jacobs had a heavier workload, rushing 17 times for 71 yards. He fumbled early, recovered by Cam Bynum, but redeemed himself with a 13-yard run in the second quarter. Jacobs’ physicality kept Green Bay’s offense moving despite their passing struggles.
Emanuel Wilson (Packers): Wilson provided a spark, rushing four times for 28 yards and scoring a 5-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, narrowing the score to 27–18.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Jalen Nailor (Vikings): Nailor stole the show with two catches for 54 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown. His speed outran the Packers’ secondary, giving Minnesota an early 7–3 lead.
Jordan Addison (Vikings): Addison had four catches for 62 yards and a 9-yard touchdown, continuing to thrive as a secondary option behind Jefferson.
Justin Jefferson (Vikings): Jefferson was quieter, with five catches for 58 yards, but his presence drew coverage, opening opportunities for Nailor and Addison.
T.J. Hockenson (Vikings): The tight end had six catches for 68 yards, including an 11-yard grab on third-and-2 that kept a scoring drive alive.
Romeo Doubs (Packers): Doubs led Green Bay with seven catches for 58 yards, including a two-point conversion that made it 27–18 in the fourth quarter.
Tucker Kraft (Packers): Kraft had two catches for 53 yards, with a 39-yard reception setting up a scoring drive.
Dontayvion Wicks (Packers): Wicks added four catches for 43 yards, continuing to be a reliable target for Love.
Defensive Standouts
Cam Bynum (Vikings): Bynum recovered Jacobs’ fumble in the first quarter, setting the tone for Minnesota’s defense. His instincts were key in disrupting Green Bay’s early drives.
Karl Brooks (Packers): Brooks sacked Darnold for a 5-yard loss late in the second quarter, but it wasn’t enough to slow Minnesota’s offense.
Carrington Valentine (Packers): Valentine’s interception in the third quarter of the Week 4 game was a highlight, though he was quieter in Week 17.
Key Takeaways
Darnold’s career-best 377 yards and three touchdowns showcased his growth as Minnesota’s QB, while the Vikings’ defense made critical stops, including Bynum’s fumble recovery. The Packers’ slow start, compounded by early mistakes, proved costly, but their late rally, fueled by Wilson’s touchdown and Doubs’ two-point conversion, showed their fight. Minnesota’s ability to secure first downs late, including a clutch catch by Cam Akers, sealed the victory.
Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers Match Player Stats Table
Here’s a clear and concise table summarizing the key Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers Match Player Stats from both games:
|
Player |
Team |
Game |
Passing Yards |
Passing TDs |
Rushing Yards |
Receiving Yards |
TDs (Rush/Rec) |
Notable Plays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sam Darnold |
Vikings |
Week 4 |
275 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
29-yd TD to Addison |
|
Sam Darnold |
Vikings |
Week 17 |
377 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
31-yd TD to Nailor |
|
Jordan Love |
Packers |
Week 4 |
389 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
15-yd TD to Reed |
|
Jordan Love |
Packers |
Week 17 |
185 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3-yd TD to Heath |
|
Aaron Jones |
Vikings |
Week 4 |
0 | 0 | 93 | 46 | 0 |
22 carries |
|
Aaron Jones |
Vikings |
Week 17 |
0 | 0 | 64 | 24 | 0 |
7-yd run |
|
Josh Jacobs |
Packers |
Week 4 |
0 | 0 | 51 | 27 | 0 |
Fumble |
|
Josh Jacobs |
Packers |
Week 17 |
0 | 0 | 71 | 0 | 0 |
13-yd run |
|
Justin Jefferson |
Vikings |
Week 4 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 1 |
14-yd TD |
|
Justin Jefferson |
Vikings |
Week 17 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 0 |
5 catches |
|
Jordan Addison |
Vikings |
Week 4 |
0 | 0 | 7 | 72 |
2 (1 rush, 1 rec) |
29-yd TD |
|
Jordan Addison |
Vikings |
Week 17 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 1 |
9-yd TD |
|
Jalen Nailor |
Vikings |
Week 17 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 1 |
31-yd TD |
|
Jayden Reed |
Packers |
Week 4 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 139 | 1 |
15-yd TD |
|
Dontayvion Wicks |
Packers |
Week 4 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 2 |
17-yd TD |
|
Dontayvion Wicks |
Packers |
Week 17 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
4 catches |
|
Romeo Doubs |
Packers |
Week 17 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 0 |
Two-point conversion |
|
Tucker Kraft |
Packers |
Week 4 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
13-yd TD |
|
Tucker Kraft |
Packers |
Week 17 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 |
39-yd catch |
Why These Stats Matter
The stats tell the story of two closely contested games. The Vikings’ success hinged on Darnold’s efficiency and the explosive plays from Addison and Nailor, while Jefferson’s presence forced defenses to adjust. The Packers leaned on Love’s big-play ability in Week 4 and Jacobs’ physical running in both games, but turnovers and slow starts cost them. Defensively, both teams had moments of brilliance—Bynum’s fumble recovery and McKinney’s interception stand out—but Minnesota’s ability to limit Green Bay’s pass rush in Week 17 was a difference-maker.
Looking Ahead: Playoff Implications
The Vikings’ sweep positioned them for a winner-take-all NFC North title game against the Detroit Lions in Week 18, with a chance at the No. 1 seed. The Packers, despite the losses, showed they can compete with top teams, setting them up as a dangerous wildcard in the playoffs. Players like Love, Reed, and Jacobs will need to step up, while Darnold, Jefferson, and Jones aim to carry Minnesota deep into the postseason.
Conclusion
The 2024 Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers Match Player Stats were a showcase of talent, with Darnold’s resurgence, Jefferson’s reliability, and Love’s grit stealing the spotlight. The stats reflect the intensity of this rivalry, with both teams trading blows in high-scoring affairs. Whether you’re rooting for the purple and gold or the green and yellow, these games delivered unforgettable moments. Keep an eye on these players as they head into the playoffs, where their performances could shape the NFC’s road to the Super Bowl.