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Vikings notes: Defense helps Lacy to his first 100-yard day of 2015

By Jason Gonzalez

November 23, 2015 at 5:09AM

Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) during a run in the fourth quarter. (Tom Wallace — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Eddie Lacy continued his success against the Vikings by running for 100 yards on 22 carries in Green Bay's 30-13 victory Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium.

It was the first 100-yard day this season for Lacy, who has 534 yards in five career games against the Vikings.

"He ran the ball up our tail," Vikings defensive end Brian Robison said. "He's a big guy. He's hard to bring down. We've got to tackle better. He just made plays. … You don't want to give anyone a 100 yards rushing."

Lacy rushed for a total of only 78 yards in the Packers' past four games.

"I feel blessed," Lacy said. "I thank my teammates for believing in me when I had those bad games and wasn't playing to my standards.

"The line did a great job. Once we were able to hit it, we had to make a guy miss or break a tackle. That's when it's on me to make plays."

Rudolph's big day

Kyle Rudolph's career-long 47-yard touchdown reception was part of a six-catch, career-best 106 yard day for the Vikings tight end.

"It's Teddy [Bridgewater] having trust in me to throw the ball up in tight coverage and since it was such in tight coverage there was really nobody else behind, and I was able to get up out of the tackle and there was no one left," Rudolph said about his 47-yard grab. "I owed Teddy from last week after that drop [a sure touchdown vs. Oakland]. He just showed he never lost trust in me and he's going to still throw the ball to me."

Both Rudolph and Stephon Diggs were targeted nine times and had six receptions. Rudolph's 33-yard reception set up the Vikings' second touchdown of the day late in the third quarter to cut the Packers' lead to 19-13.

"My role can change every week and this week my role was to make plays in the passing game, and whenever that comes up I have to be ready," Rudolph said.

Running quarterback

Bridgewater's career-high 43 rushing yards were only two fewer than Adrian Peterson's 45 on the day. The Vikings quarterback's ability to scramble for big gains kept several drives alive. He averaged 10.8 yards per carry with a long of 18.

"That's Teddy making plays," Vikings guard Brandon Fusco said. "He doesn't see anything up field and sees a hole, he's done that multiple times this year, so he's playmaker."

Bridgewater's ability to scramble to keep plays alive was necessary with the Vikings offensive line struggling. He was sacked six times for 48 yards.

"We put that on our shoulders and to see Teddy run around like that getting hit doesn't make us feel good," Fusco said. "I thought we were getting better [as an offensive line], and [Sunday] we just didn't play as whole. I think the communication was there. We just didn't play our game. We weren't physical. Hats off to Green Bay. They had a great game plan, a lot of movement up front. We just didn't answer."

Lost chance

Any chance the Vikings had at a comeback ended with Peterson's fumble with 13:31 to play in the fourth quarter. The star running back fumbled after a 10-yard gain to the Green Bay 22.

Morgan Burnett forced the fumble, and Sam Shields recovered for Green Bay.

"It was just me doing what I do and trying to make a play," Peterson said. "I remember spinning out and my leg got wrapped up and the ball got away from me. … They caught me slipping on that one, and it really hurt us. We get seven points out of that and it's a different game. It's unfortunate, but I have to improve."

Injury report

Bridgewater left the game briefly in the second quarter after reinjuring his non-throwing shoulder when sacked by Julius Peppers and piled on by Mike Neal. Bridgewater jogged off the field to the locker room but returned for the final two snaps of the half.

Starting free safety Harrison Smith injured his left knee late in the first quarter and limped to the sideline. He was tended to and kept his knee loose on the bike before returning early in the second quarter.

Smith said he wasn't in the right mind-set to speak after the game and wouldn't comment about his knee. In response to his ability to return to the game, Smith said, "I was out there, that's about it."

Robison limped off the field late in third quarter and would eventually return. The injury was announced as an "illness," but after the game said "I was cramping."

Packers starting center Corey Linsley (ankle) and defensive back Micah Hyde (hip) both left the game with injuries and didn't return.

Crosby recovers

Mason Crosby was 5-for-5 on field-goal opportunities, with a long of 52 yards, for the Packers.

Crosby missed a 52-yard attempt as time expired in Green Bay's 18-16 loss to Detroit last Sunday.

"The kick against Detroit was just something that's not me. I just went back, watched the film, cleared my mind, and did what I do every week," Crosby said. "I worked really hard this week to make sure I could have a game like this and help us win. This was a big one, a good one."