Vikings flatten Rodgers, Pack

Green Bay QB suffers broken collarbone, could be out for season.

Harrison Smith

MINNEAPOLIS— led Minnesota’s defense in a thorough dismantling of Green Bay, as the Vikings knocked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers out of the game on Sunday with a broken collarbone during a 23-10 victory that drastically altered the course of the NFC North.

Smith had 1½ sacks on safety blitzes, a diving interception and two pass breakups, helping the Vikings (4-2) limit the injury-depleted Packers to a season-low 227 yards.

Anthony Barr, who later left with a concussion, delivered the game-changing hit on Green Bay’s

second drive when he took Rodgers hard to the turf as the twotime NFL MVP followed through on a pass.

Rodgers fell on his throwing shoulder, and the Packers (4-2) announced he could miss the remainder of the season.

Brett Hundley threw his first career touchdown pass in relief, connecting with Davante Adams in the second quarter after a 63-yard return by Clay Matthews of Jerick McKinnon’s fumble gave the

Packers the ball at the 18. Damarious Randall’s inter

ception of Case Keenum later in the first half put the Packers at the Minnesota 38, but a juggling catch by Ty Montgomery at the goal line was ruled incomplete by replay review reversal that forced a short field goal instead and kept the Vikings in front 14-10 at the break.

Hundley was picked off three times and sacked four times. He finished 18 for 33 for 157 yards. The Packers had five first downs and 102 yards over the first three quarters.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the club would stick with the 2015 fifth-round pick.

“Brett Hundley‘s my quarterback. Joe Callahan (currently on the practice squad) is the backup,” McCarthy said.

Keenum, making his fourth start in place of the injured Sam Bradford, went 24 for 38 for 239 yards, completing nine for 97 yards to Adam Thielen.

McKinnon made up for his turnover with 16 carries for 69 yards and a score and five catches for 30 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings, who have won three of their past four games against the Packers after a rough stretch against their biggest rival fueled mostly by the mastery of Rodgers.

Since Brett Favre took over for the injured Don Majkowski in the third game of the 1992 season, the Packers have had Favre or Rodgers for all but nine games.

Matt Flynn, Scott Tolzien and Seneca Wallace were forced to fill in while Rodgers missed seven games in 2013 because of a broken collarbone. Flynn started once in 2010 when Rodgers sat out with a concussion and again in 2011 when he rested during the regular-season finale.

JIM MONE / ASSOCIATED PRESS Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers lasted only two series against the Vikings on Sunday before being knocked out of the game with a broken right (throwing arm) collarbone.