Vikings Kick-Start Their Playoff Hopes

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Minnesota’s offense isn’t dead. With the steady hand of Brad Johnson, neither is the Vikings’ season.

For the second time this year, Paul Edinger kicked a winning field goal against Green Bay, a 27-yarder as time expired that gave the Vikings a 20-17 victory Monday night and kept their playoff hopes alive with their third straight win.

After struggling since quarterback Daunte Culpepper was lost for the season because of a knee injury, the Vikings were solid behind Johnson with 196 yards passing and running back Mewelde Moore, who had 122 yards in 22 carries.

Johnson set up Edinger’s kick with a nine-play, 58-yard drive in the final 3:03 after Green Bay tied it at 17-17.

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 ways to score.

With Green Bay driving, Dovonte Edwards intercepted Brett Favre’s pass and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown with 1:15 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. [Coach] 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.”

Favre atoned seconds later, hitting Donald Driver for a 53-yard touchdown pass.

The Vikings (5-5) stayed afloat in the playoff chase, two games behind NFC North leader Chicago (7-3). Meanwhile, the Packers (2-8) are on the verge of ending an impressive streak -- they haven’t had a losing season since Favre became the starter in 1992, a run of 13 years that’s best in the league.