With the Vikings scoring on their first drive of the second half to narrow the Packers' lead to 10-6, the Packers were in need of a big play to give themselves some breathing room, and cornerback Will Blackmon provided that with his 76-yard punt return for a touchdown midway through the third quarter.
Blackmon fielded Vikings punter Chris Kluwe's kick at the Green Bay 24 and started off down the left sideline, just keeping his feet in bounds, before cutting across the field and running down the right sideline for the score to put the Packers up 17-6.
"That was a big, big play in the game," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "Big plays are important. Explosive gains, we talk about all the time, especially in big-time games. It's great to have him back healthy."
The third-year cornerback has shown flashes of his dynamic big-play ability early in his career, but has battled injuries throughout his first two seasons in Green Bay, playing in only 13 games.
As a rookie in '06, Blackmon broke his right foot in a May 21 mini-camp practice and was sidelined for the entire preseason and the first five games of the regular season. After playing in four games, he sustained a rib injury that ended his season.
Last year Blackmon broke the same foot again in an Oct. 3 practice and was inactive for seven games. He did make his presence felt in his limited opportunities as a punt returner in '07, bringing back eight punts for 106 yards, including a 57-yard return for a score vs. Oakland.
"I put everything behind me," Blackmon said. "I'm not even concerned about it (the injuries) or even talking about it, so I'm glad I got this one under my belt.
"It probably won't hit me until I get home, but it was crazy. It's awesome, and the cool thing is everyone at home got to see it too. Rivalry game, season opener, it was awesome."
After the Vikings capped their first possession of the second half with a 27-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell to bring them within four points, the Packers thought they had answered the Minnesota score on a 68-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to wide receiver Donald Driver on the next series, but the play was nullified by an ineligible man downfield penalty on guard Tony Moll.
The Vikings were able to get one first down on the next series, but Green Bay was able to get off the field after a 3rd-and-8 pass from quarterback Tarvaris Jackson intended for wide receiver Bobby Wade was incomplete, setting the stage for Blackmon.
After getting some key blocks early on in the return, Blackmon benefited from one final block from defensive end Jason Hunter, who drilled linebacker Chad Greenway around the 20-yard line as Blackmon went into the end zone untouched.
"That's kind of what special teams is all about," fullback Korey Hall said. "Finishing. It doesn't necessarily go as planned. Actually we were trying to get a punt block on that play, we weren't even thinking about returning. Those are the kind of things that you rally when they happen and take advantage of them."
Blackmon said players on the punt return unit had talked this week about trying to spring him for a long return.
{sportsad300}"They have just said they are going to work really hard to get me one because they knew I could run it back," Blackmon said.
"They gave me a great opportunity. The 10 guys up front did their main job. It wasn't any rocket science. It was just simple. They did their job and I did mine, and when that happens, you see the results."
Special teams had been a focus the entire week following the release of punter Jon Ryan and the knee injury suffered by long snapper J.J. Jansen in the preseason finale. The team signed veteran punter/holder Derrick Frost following his release by Washington, and signed snapper Brett Goode, who had spent time with Jacksonville the past two years but had never played in a regular-season game.
Frost had a strong debut, averaging 45.2 yards on five punts with a 42.6 net. Green Bay's coverage units limited the Vikings to 13 yards on four punt returns, as well as only a 20.0-yard average on three kickoff returns. Kicker Mason Crosby posted two touchbacks.
The lone negative for special teams came at the end of the first half when Crosby's 33-yard field goal as time expired was blocked by cornerback Cedric Griffin.
"We talked about it particularly before the game and we talked about it again at halftime," McCarthy said. "It was time for special teams to step up and make a big play. We thought we had some favorable matchups in our special teams units, and they played big tonight."
