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Minnesota keeps playoff hopes alive with last-gasp drive

Brad Johnson engineered a last-minute drive capped by Paul Edinger's game-winning 27-yard field goal on Monday as Minnesota beat Green Bay 20-17 to keep alive their National Football League playoff hopes.

With the victory, the Vikings improved to 5-5 and remained within two games of the NFC North Division-leading Chicago Bears (7-3).

The Vikings have won their last three games with Johnson filling in at quarterback for Daunte Culpepper, who is out for the remainder of the season with torn knee ligaments.

A 12-year veteran who started his career in Minnesota, Johnson completed 18-of-30 attempts for 196 yards.

The Vikings trailed by seven at halftime but used a stifling defense and a patient running attack to snap their six-game regular-season losing streak at Lambeau Field and sweep the season series from their division rival.

Ryan Longwell drilled a 24-yard field goal to tie the score at 17-17 with just over three minutes remaining, but Johnson directed a nine-play, 58-yard drive which consumed the rest of the clock and set up Edinger's second game-winning field goal against the Packers this season.

Mewelde Moore carried three times for 18 yards on the drive, including a 10-yarder on 3rd-and-2 that pushed the ball into Green Bay territory.

Johnson took over from there, hooking up with tight end Jermaine Wiggins for eight yards on first down before completing a 35-yarder to a wide open Koren Robinson, placing the ball at the Packers 6 with 40 seconds remaining.

Minnesota kneeled on three consecutive downs to set the stage for Edinger, who easily converted the 27-yard kick as time expired.

After a strong first half, Brett Favre struggled.

The future Hall of Famer completed 20-of-33 passes for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but he was intercepted twice and was ineffective in the second half.
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