Vikings beat Pack to clinch NFC North

Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis.

The Minnesota Vikings are the new kings of the NFC North.

Adrian Peterson ran for a touchdown and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn returned a fumble 55 yards for a score in a 20-13 win on Sunday night over the Green Bay Packers.

The Vikings (11-5), claiming their first division title since 2009, will host the Seattle Seahawks for a wild-card playoff game on Sunday. The Packers (10-6) will travel to Washington, also Sunday, after watching their four-year reign atop the NFC North end.

The upstart Vikings survived despite a shaky finish in hostile territory. The defense knocked away a desperation pass in the end zone from Aaron Rodgers on fourth down as time expired.

Packers kicker Mason Crosby forced a fumble on Cordarrelle Patterson’s potentially field-flipping 70-yard kickoff return with 5:21 left. But the Packers’ next drive ended with Rodgers being intercepted in the end zone by Xavier Rhodes.

The Vikings got the sterling defensive effort needed on the road to win their first game at Lambeau Field since 2009. Coach Mike Zimmer smiled and raised both arms in the air after Rodgers’ pass was knocked down in the end zone.

A handful of Vikings later came back on to the field to take pictures. They’ll remember this night for a while.

Peterson ran for 67 yards on 19 carries.