MINNEAPOLIS - The Packers lead the NFL with 16 interceptions this season, all from their secondary, and their three interceptions on Sunday against the Vikings at the Metrodome were crucial as they helped an offense that struggled to move the ball consistently in Sunday's loss.
It was the third time this season the Packers have posted three interceptions in a game, and Green Bay also limited Minnesota's wide receivers to just four catches for 27 yards on the afternoon, including none from Bernard Berrian. He entered Sunday's game with 100-yard receiving games in three of the last four contests, and had scored touchdowns in four straight games.
With the Packers trailing 7-0 in the first quarter and the offense posting their second straight three-and-out to start the game, cornerback Charles Woodson intercepted quarterback Gus Frerotte's pass over the middle intended for wide receiver Bobby Wade and returned the pick to the Minnesota 48.
The Packers utilized that field position to even the game up at seven, posting a six-play, 48-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run from Ryan Grant.
Green Bay trailed 14-7 late in the first half following a 54-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell and two safeties by the Vikings, and once again got a spark from their secondary.
With just under 30 seconds remaining in the half, cornerback Tramon Williams picked off Frerotte again, this time jumping in front of his pass intended for Berrian over the middle. The Packers were able to move the ball down to the 29 with Aaron Rodgers' passes to running back Brandon Jackson and wide receiver James Jones, setting up a 47-yard field goal from Mason Crosby as time expired to narrow the halftime deficit to 14-10.
"We've got some young ballhawks back there that know how to make plays, and they're making more and more plays every week," cornerback Charles Woodson said. "We gave our offense opportunities. Maybe we could have made a few other plays to help win the game, but it didn't happen."
The Vikings opened up the second half with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Frerotte to running back Chester Taylor to increase their lead to 21-10. After two three-and-outs from the offense, the Vikings took over at their own 45, looking to take advantage of the good field position and build on their lead.
On the first play, the defense produced its biggest play of the game, this time a 59-yard interception return from safety Nick Collins, who had left the game briefly in the first half with a turf toe injury but returned to the field.
Collins stepped in front of tight end Visanthe Shiancoe on Frerotte's pass deep down the middle, and weaved through the Vikings offense for the score.
"I played running back in high school so I have great vision," Collins said. "I saw a cutback lane, so I took it. He was just staring down the receivers. Once you see a quarterback doing that, you have a great chance and a great possibility to pick a ball off, so we took advantage of that today."
{sportsad300}With the score, the Packers tied a team record with their sixth defensive score of the season, most recently achieved by Vince Lombardi's 1966 championship team, winners of the first Super Bowl.
For Collins it was his career-high fifth interception of the season, matching Woodson's total of five, and also his third for a touchdown this season, which leads the league. The duo is atop the NFL leaderboard with their five interceptions each.
Collins became only the second player in franchise history to post three touchdowns on interception returns in a season, matching Herb Adderley's mark set in 1965.
It is also the first time since 1996 that the Packers have had two players each record five-or-more interceptions in a season. In '96, safety Eugene Robinson registered six and safety LeRoy Butler and cornerback Doug Evans each had five.
Despite the productive day from the defensive backfield, it was the 69-yard game-winning drive that Green Bay's defense allowed late in the fourth quarter that was the focus in the locker room following the game.
"We've just to dig deeper," Collins said. "We've got to find some kind of way to win the close games. The five losses that we have, we were winning the game. At the end, we just can't pull it off. I don't know what we need to do but we have to find a way to get the job done."
