GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A few thoughts on the Minnesota Vikings' 42-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field:
What it means: It's difficult to imagine Thursday's game would have gone the same way if Teddy Bridgewater had started at quarterback instead of sitting out with a sprained ankle, but there was plenty of blame to go around on a night when the Vikings trailed 28-0 before halftime. Their defense was battered early by Packers running back Eddie Lacy, and they registered just two sacks against a Packers team that had allowed 10 before Thursday. Still, the story of the night was quarterback Christian Ponder, whose performance gave the Vikings virtually no shot of moving the ball against the Packers and keeping up with Aaron Rodgers.
Stock Watch: Vikings coaches have insisted Ponder has improved, and that he didn't deserve to be treated so harshly by Vikings fans who booed him in a preseason game in August. Presented with an opportunity to establish that point on Thursday, Ponder turned in the kind of dreadful performance Vikings fans have seen too many times. He threw two ugly interceptions to Packers linebackers, including one that Julius Peppers returned for a 49-yard touchdown, and was stuck under 100 passing yards until less than 10 minutes remained in the game.
Lacy gashes defense: The Packers had struggled to get Lacy going before Thursday night, but the powerful second-year back set the tone for Green Bay in this game, gaining 53 yards on the Packers' first touchdown drive and trucking Robert Blanton on his second touchdown. The attention the Vikings paid to Lacy also opened up the Packers' play-action game, which set up Rodgers' 66-yard touchdown to Jordy Nelson in the first quarter. Lacy finished with 13 carries for 105 yards.
Game ball: Harrison Smith recorded his third interception of the season once Matt Flynn came into the game, and he gutted his way through a blowout loss that saw him on the trainer's table to get his injured left ankle re-taped between several defensive series. Smith had played 96.7 percent of the Vikings' defensive snaps before Thursday night, and while he got turned around on a double move on Rodgers' long touchdown to Nelson, he deserves some credit for fighting through a tough night at Lambeau Field.
What's next: The Vikings (2-3) return home to face the Detroit Lions a week from Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium.
