Fansided
Fansided

The Top 10 NFL season finale games of the past decade

By Erik Lambert

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 30: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints is almost grabbed by Charles Johnson #95 of the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 30, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 30: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints is almost grabbed by Charles Johnson #95 of the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 30, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 10
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 30: Michael Jenkins #84 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers on December 30, 2012 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Packers 37-34. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 30: Michael Jenkins #84 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers on December 30, 2012 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Packers 37-34. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

04. Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (2012)

The stakes in this contest were about as high as they could get. The Vikings needed a win over the Packers in order to make the playoffs. Something they hadn’t done since their failed Super Bowl bid three years before. A loss would hand that playoff spot to Chicago who’d already finished with a 10-6 record. Not only that but Green Bay had already beaten them earlier in the year AND running back Adrian Peterson was in striking distance of the single-season rushing record.

So yeah. Lots on the line. It was an enthralling game. The Vikings jumped out to an early lead, riding a surprisingly strong performance by their young QB Christian Ponder who threw three touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers was his usual self, throwing four of his own. Green Bay actually came back to tie it twice in the 4th quarter, evening it at 34-34 with just under three minutes to play. The defense just needed a stop to get Rodgers the ball one more time.

Peterson didn’t let that happen. He ran for 36 yards on the final drive, capping a 199-yard performance that put him just eight short of the record and sending Minnesota to the playoffs on a 29-yard field goal to win it.

Home/Power Rankings