44. Packers 23, Vikings 17 (2006)

After losing three of their first four under new head coach Mike McCarthy, Green Bay was looking to win three of four to improve to 4-5. The Packers were trying to end a losing streak of three games (including playoffs) to the Vikings. In the 2005 game in Minnesota, Green Bay blew a 17-0 lead and lost on a Paul Edinger field goal. This was the second Packers game I had ever attended and the first Packers win.

The start of the game was much like the start of the 2005 game at the Metrodome. After a field goal by Dave Rayner put the Packers ahead 3-0, Brady Poppinga sacked Brad Johnson and forced a fumble and the Packers recovered. That led to a Packers touchdown on a Brett Favre pass to Noah Herron from five yards out to give the Packers a 10-0 lead.

On the first play of the second quarter, the Vikings were able to break through. Johnson found Billy McMullen for a 40-yard score to cut it to 10-7. After a three-and-out was forced by the Minnesota defense, the Vikings offense went back to work.

On a 3rd-and-10, Johnson found Chester Taylor, who ran it down the 1 before the ball was knocked out. But Bethel Johnson was in the right place at the right time, and he recovered the fumble in the end zone for the score to give the Vikings their first lead of the game.

It would stay that way until late in the second quarter. Green Bay started the possession at its own 3, but in two plays moved up to the 18. On 2nd-and-7, Favre threw a slant to Donald Driver, who split the defenders and raced untouched for the 82-yard score to give the Packers the lead before halftime. Driver would have a career-high 191 yards on the day and the touchdown.

There would only be three points scored in the third quarter, with that being by the Packers. On a 3rd-and-10, Favre would find rookie Greg Jennings for a first down, but not satisfied with just the first down, the rookie pitched it back to Driver, who raced down the right sideline down to the Vikings 15. Minnesota challenged whether Jennings was down, but the play was upheld and the Packers would get three points on the drive.

After an interception by Patrick Dendy on a deep pass from Johnson, Green Bay went on a five and a half minute drive that would seal the game. The Packers would go on a 10-play drive, spanning 66 yards and the drive would end on a short Rayner field goal to put the green and gold in front by two scores.

Minnesota would drive down and kick a field goal to cut it to 23-17, but the onside kick went out of bounds and the Packers held on for the win.

The good times would not last long for the Packers, though, as Green Bay would lose its next three by an average of 24 points before rebounding to win its last four to end the season at 8-8.