Vikings deflate Packers hopes

Minnesota won again on a late field goal by Paul Edinger, 20-17.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings' offense awoke just in time to tear out the Packers' hearts as time expired -- again.
This kick was a tad easier.
A month after hitting a team-record 56-yarder to beat Green Bay at the Metrodome, Paul Edinger did it again from 27 yards Monday night to sink the Packers with a 20-17 victory that keeps Minnesota's season afloat.
Missing an injured Daunte Culpepper, rocked by lewd allegations from a boating trip and given up for dead a month ago, Minnesota is now 5-5 and still in the hunt for the playoffs after winning three in a row.
Season all but over
As for the Packers, their season is all but over after their division rival swept them for the first time since 1998.
"This one may be the worst because No. 1, it was Minnesota; No. 2, it was at home; and No. 3, it was Minnesota again," Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman said.
Minnesota has struggled mightily on offense since Culpepper was lost for the season with a knee injury, mustering just 137 yards last week in an unlikely win over the Giants.
But they put together a strong showing behind Brad Johnson's 196 yards and running back Mewelde Moore, who had 122 yards on 22 carries.
Led winning drive
The 37-year-old Johnson set up Edinger's kick with a nine-play, 58-yard drive in the final 3 minutes and three seconds after Green Bay tied it at 17.
"You can't get frustrated," said Johnson, who was 18-of-30. "Tonight we made the drives when we had to, especially in the second half. ... You just have to be patient and do what you've done in practice."
Minnesota coach Mike Tice shuffled his offensive line this week hoping to inject some life into the offense, starting 380-plus-pound Toniu Fonoti at left guard and Cory Withrow at center. It worked, for the most part.
Johnson was sacked five times, fumbling twice, and Minnesota couldn't muster much offense in the first half. But just like last week -- when the Vikings returned a punt, kickoff and interception for touchdowns -- they found another way.
Interception return
With Green Bay driving, Dovonte Edwards intercepted Brett Favre's pass and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown with a little more than a minute left in the first half.
"It was exciting," Edwards said. "I had a dream actually last night that I would do something big today and it came true. Mike Tice said you need to dream, dream about making plays and that's what I did last night and it happened for me tonight."
The play was reviewed after Edwards and intended receiver Andrae Thurman crashed to the ground at the same time. But officials ruled Edwards was not down by contact before he got up and scored.
Favre atoned for the mistake seconds later, hitting Donald Driver for a 53-yard touchdown pass after the receiver beat cornerback Antoine Winfield and outran former Packers safety Darren Sharper. Green Bay led 14-7 at the half.
Second half rally
It was the second half when Minnesota's offense came alive.
The Packers couldn't capitalize on Johnson's fumble early in the third quarter and were forced to punt, pinning the Vikings at their own 12. Minnesota then put together its best drive of the game, aided by two defensive penalties inside the Green Bay 10-yard line.
The second, a pass interference call in the end zone, put the ball at the 1-yard line. Ciatrick Fason plunged into the end zone on his second attempt -- Minnesota's first offensive touchdown in nine quarters.
The win puts the Vikings at .500 for the first time this season and keeps them in the postseason hunt, two games behind NFC North leader Chicago (7-3).
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