Rodgers was up for the challenge again, and the defending Super Bowl champions still didn’t flinch. Rodgers kept Green Bay unbeaten with three touchdowns and 335 yards passing, holding off Minnesota 33-27 on Sunday.
“There’s not a lot of panic in this team. We’ve been down a couple times at halftime. Just a lot of focus,” said Rodgers, who completed his first 13 passes and finished 24 for 30 on another near-unstoppable afternoon against a depleted secondary.
“We expect nothing less,” said Greg Jennings, who had seven catches for 147 yards. He jogged in for a 79-yard score on the second play of the second half after an egregiously blown coverage, giving the Packers their first lead at 20-17. "It's tough to throw those. You don't want to under-throw it, overthrow it," said Rodgers. But, he added, "I like those gimmee ones."
Ponder was picked off twice in the third quarter by Charles Woodson, who almost grabbed a couple more interceptions, but he kept the Vikings in it from start to finish after completing a 71-yard pass play on his first snap.
The two interceptions in the third quarter both were made by Packers cornerback Charles Woodson. One was at the Minnesota 45; the other at the Vikings' 35. Both set up field goals, six points that proved pivotal.
Adrian Peterson helped him out by rushing 24 times for 175 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings (1-6), but James Starks put the game away with two big gains for first downs before the 2-minute warning and another one right after. He had 75 yards on 13 carries for the Packers (7-0).
“It’s frustrating to come out against the defending champs and be that close and not to come up with the win,” Peterson said. “Give credit to those guys. They made plays when they needed to, and we ended up on the wrong side of it.”
Mason Crosby had four field goals for the Packers, including a franchise record 58-yarder, one of many delights among some anxious moments for the thousands of Packers fans in attendance who made the trip across the border.
“We’re not going to swing from a rope around here as far as extremes, one way or another,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “We’re very happy being 7-0, stating the obvious, but to a man we know we can play better. That’s what’s exciting.”
This rivalry is still fierce, as evidenced by a couple of early skirmishes.
Vikings defensive end Brian Robison, frustrated by some unwelcome contact from Packers guard T.J. Lang during one second-quarter play, gave Lang a swift kick to the groin area, a caught-on-camera personal foul that drew a penalty and is likely to bring Robison a fine.
Ponder’s first foray against the Packers, despite the mistakes, showed flash and promise.
“They could be 0-14, 0-15. It doesn’t matter,” Jennings said. “When they play in this building, you’re going to get their best shot.”
Ponder went 13 for 32, but he never looked rattled and finished with 219 yards and two touchdowns. Ponder also ran four times for 31 yards. He found Michael Jenkins for a score with 7:49 left, after a rare three-and-out by the Packers, to cut the lead to six points. He had the ball back with plenty of time to win it before a couple of errant heaves effectively ended the comeback.
Despite the disparate records, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers found plenty of competition from Christian Ponder in the fearless rookie’s first start for the Vikings.
"Aaron gives you great confidence as a play caller," said Packers Coach Mike McCarthy. "And that is a great comfort to have as a coach with Aaron Rodgers running this offense."
Now the Packers have what Rodgers called a "nice, little" bye week. "I mean we've maxed out our wins so far and our opportunities," said Rodgers. "But I think we can play a little better."
Next up is the Chargers. Let's make it 8-0!