Notes: Punt return TD negates Vikings' stats edge

GREEN BAY, WIS. - The Vikings outgained the Packers 355 yards to 317 on Monday night and didn't commit a turnover until the last minute of the game.

The difference between the teams in the Packers' 24-19 victory at Lambeau Field came down to one stunning special teams play: Will Blackmon's 76-yard punt return for a Green Bay touchdown in the third quarter.

That score gave the Packers a 17-6 lead.

Blackmon fielded Chris Kluwe's low, 49-yard punt at his own 24, with plenty of room to maneuver. Vikings cornerback Bennie Sapp, the "gunner" (outside cover man) on the right sideline, slipped on the turf. Blackmon cut by Sapp to the sideline, then made a dramatic cutback to the middle of the field and outran the remaining Vikings to the end zone.

Was it a great individual effort, a Vikings breakdown -- or both? "Honestly, I couldn't tell you," said linebacker Ben Leber, who was on the field for the play. "I know myself, I couldn't get down the field. I was fighting off blocks the whole time."

"It is what it is," said Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, who received a blindside block as he chased Blackmon. "We were all going after it, and it is one of those things where he got to the sideline, cut back across the field and it was open."

The Vikings felt they did some good things defensively but they were frustrated after giving up several big plays.

The defense gave up a 56-yard pass reception to Greg Jennings and a 57-yard run by Ryan Grant. Both of those plays set up touchdowns.

"It comes down to us playing consistent football," safety Darren Sharper said. "That's the thing that Coach [Brad Childress] said, and that's a true statement. We play at a high level at times, and at times we don't. We have to improve if we want to be a championship football team."

Vikings cornerback Charles Gordon was covering Jennings on the deep pass down the middle of the field after safety Tyrell Johnson bit on a play fake. Gordon, in because Cedric Griffin was shaken up, was in position, but Jennings won the battle and came down with the catch at the 6-yard line.

"I probably could have reached for it with my opposite arm -- my right arm instead of my left arm," Gordon said. "The ball was thrown inside. Just a technique issue right there. I could have batted the ball away."

Vikings coach Brad Childress seemed puzzled by his lost challenge on a would-be catch by tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, who dropped the ball after hitting the ground in the third quarter. The officials ruled it an incomplete pass, Childress challenged and lost.

"I understand that a catch is a process that you have to come up with the football," Childress said. "But after you take two steps, which I thought he took two steps; at least that's the way it looked to me. And then he got knocked to the ground by a defender. When you hit the ground, the ground can't cause a fumble."

Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian caught three passes for 38 yards and drew one pass interference penalty in his debut. Berrian played only three series in the preseason because of a toe injury.

"[My toe] held up pretty fine throughout the game," Berrian said. "Towards the end it got a little tired."

Tight end Garrett Mills was the Vikings' leading receiver with three catches for 49 yards. He was limited throughout training camp because of a high ankle sprain.

Mills, claimed off waivers from New England a year ago, was on the Vikings roster all of 2007 but played only one game, the season finale at Denver.

The teams combined for 21 penalties for 160 yards.

The Packers committed four penalties on their second offensive series alone. To recap: false start, too many men in the huddle, tripping and holding.

The Vikings committed penalties on three consecutive plays after the Packers moved the ball to the 6-yard line. To recap: offsides, holding, offsides.

Fullback Jeff Dugan and cornerback Marcus McCauley, who were both in uniform for all 16 games last season, were on the Vikings' inactive list Monday night.

With Dugan sitting, Naufahu Tahi served as the backup fullback to Thomas Tapeh. The Vikings' other inactives included rookies Erin Henderson (linebacker), Drew Radovich (offensive tackle) and Letroy Guion (defensive tackle).

Running back Maurice Hicks (sprained foot) and safety Madieu Williams (neck) also sat out. Williams is expected to miss at least the first three games of the season.

With Hicks inactive, running back Chester Taylor began the game returning kickoffs, returning one 21 yards.

Aundrae Allison was listed as the No. 1 punt returner, but Gordon took over that role. Gordon was a standout punt returner in college at Kansas but had not returned a punt in his first two NFL seasons. His first punt return Monday went for no gain.

Allison got into the return game after halftime. He returned the opening kickoff of the second half 17 yards and the first punt return of the second half for 3 yards.

• The last Packers quarterback not named Favre to start a game at Lambeau Field on "Monday Night Football" was Lynn Dickey in 1983. Dickey led the Packers to a 12-9 overtime victory against Tampa Bay on Dec. 12, 1983.

• Grant ran for 92 yards but failed to score a rushing touchdown for the first time in seven games. His streak of six tied for the second-longest streak in Packers history. Paul Hornung had a rushing touchdown in seven consecutive games in 1960.

• Griffin's block of Mason Crosby's field-goal attempt at the end of the first half was the first for the Vikings since defensive end Ray Edwards blocked one, also at Lambeau, on Dec. 21, 2006.

• Kicker Ryan Longwell's two field goals for the Vikings gave him 1,249 points, putting him past Jim Breech and into 24th place on the NFL's career scoring list.

• The game featured two of the three youngest starting quarterbacks in the NFC. Atlanta Falcons rookie Matt Ryan is the youngest at 23, followed by Rodgers (24) and Jackson (25).

• Center Scott Wells (back) was among the Packers' inactives, meaning right guard Jason Spitz moved to center and backup Tony Moll started at right guard.

JUDD ZULGAD, JIM SOUHAN AND CHIP SCOGGINS