The magic number is six; as in six touchdowns and six Lambeau Leaps. The Green Bay Packers dominated the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football 42-10. Not only was this Pack attack the best game of the young season so far, but history was made.
In the rout, Aaron Rodgers threw his 200th career touchdown pass. That’s the second milestone in two weeks. Last week, he reached the 25,000 yard mark. In his 99th game, Aaron is the second fastest qb to reach 200 touchdowns behind Dan Marino (89 games).
It was like singin’ in the rain Thursday night at Lambeau Field. Rodgers threw three touchdowns in three quarters of play. That makes 12 td’s on the season for number 12 and just one interception as the Packers improved to (3-2).
Jordy Nelson's Lambeau Leap gives him a front row seat.A-Rod’s receivers made it look easy. Jordy Nelson caught just one ball, but what a beauty. Off play action, Rodgers had all day and night to throw. The Vikings didn’t know where the ball was until, Nelson’s double move left him wide open and walking into the endzone on a 66 yard bomb by Rodgers. Nelson is now the NFL’s leading receiver with 34 catches for 525 yards.
Nelson’s running mate Randall Cobb is also making headlines. Cobb caught three balls for 34 yards and one touchdown. He leads the league with six touchdowns.
Rookie Davante Adams got in on the action too. Catching his first career touchdown pass, Adams ran an easy slant route as the Packers cashed in after an interception by Jamari Lattimore. Adams’ teammates reminded the rookie to take his first Lambeau Leap.
Three down, three to go.
Eddie Lacy runs through Robert Blanton for the touchdown.Ah yes, Eddie Lacy, it’s about time. He finally reached his first 100 yard game of the season. It was his best outing so far; 105 yards on 13 carries. The offensive line played their most impressive game yet. They dominated the trenches. Lacy ran through holes that could fit a Mack truck. He ran angry. He ran hard. It was like a bulldozer with the ball. Lacy actually tackled the Vikings. The only reason he went down is if he lost his balance. Otherwise, he’d still be trucking them today. And let’s give the defense credit for sticking their chin in there, but that’s how people get hurt.
Most notably, Vikings safety Robert Blanton got his head knocked off, twice.
Lacy’s two touchdowns were of course both followed by Lambeau Leaps. On the first, he cuts back all the way across the grain and blasts through a wall of defenders. The crowd went crazy on his second score. Lacy carried Blanton into the endzone while popping off his helmet.
We saved the best for last. Dom Capers’ stingy defense recorded six sacks, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions; one of which highlighted by Julius Peppers in primetime. We’ve been waiting for the future hall of famer to make a big play. And he did on Thursday Night Football.
Julius Peppers' Lambeau Leap has room for improvement.Dropped back in a zone, Vikings’ quarterback Christina Ponder was pressured and threw a wobbler in the rain. The ball fell right into Peppers’ arms at midfield. He called blockers over and high-stepped his way for the 49-yard return. Teammate Morgan Burnett pointed towards the stands as the Lambeau faithful waited for him. Now Peppers may have been a bit tired at 34 years old. He did just run half the field. But the 6’7, 287 pound linebacker barely made it over the wall, and he’ll remember that moment forever.
Peppers became the first player in NFL history with 100 sacks and 10 interceptions in his career. And what a way to bust through the record books; Peppers 10th career interception was a pick-six and his first ever Lambeau Leap, but not the last.