Vikings Ups and Downs: Week 16 vs. the Green Bay Packers

The Bad vs. the Packers

1. Nick Easton done for year with ankle injury

As the Vikings were driving down the field in towards the end of the first quarter, Minnesota running back Latavius Murray took a carry and turned it into an eight-yard gain. But Murray’s carry was not the most significant part of the play as Vikings left guard Nick Easton injured his ankle and had to be carted into the locker room.

Easton did not return to the game and Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer revealed in his postgame presser that the Vikings offensive lineman fractured his ankle and will require surgery. It is not the worst player for Minnesota to lose on their offensive line, but it is still obviously something the team did not want to happen at this point in the season.

2. Vikings forced to use backup long snapper

After a weird sequence of plays thanks to the chain gang not knowing what down it was, Minnesota was forced punt the ball back to Green Bay towards the end of the first half. Following a 46-yard punt, Vikings long snapper Kevin McDermott was seen on the broadcast holding his arm.

McDermott was later ruled out for the remainder of the evening with a shoulder injury and tight end David Morgan was forced to takeover Minnesota’s long-snapping duties for the rest of the game. Morgan did a pretty decent job filling in as the team’s long snapper, so much so that he got a game ball from Zimmer later in the locker room.

3. Vikings opponent rushes for more than 100 yards, once again

After giving up 100 rushing yards in a game just three times in the first 12 weeks of the season, Minnesota’s defense has allowed three of their past four opponents to rush for 100 yards or more on the ground. Against the Packers on Saturday night, the Vikings gave up a total of 113 rushing yards. It has not become a significant problem for Minnesota in the past few weeks, but it is definitely something to pay attention to.