Green Bay Packers fall to Minnesota Vikings 20-13 in NFC North Division championship game

GREEN BAY -- The Green Bay Packers faced the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, January 3rd at Lambeau Field -- and the Vikings were crowned the NFC North Division champions.

Heading into Sunday's game, the Vikings were coming off a prime time 49-17 victory over the New York Giants last Sunday in Minneapolis. The Packers lost to the Cardinals 38-8 in Arizona last Sunday, December 27th.

As play got underway at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, the Packers won the coin toss and opted to defer.

The Vikings would take the ball.

It was announced by the Packers that Josh Sitton will serve as the starting left tackle -- in place of David Bakhtiari (ankle). Lane Taylor was in at left guard for Sitton.

As play got underway, Packers linebacker Joe Thomas tackled Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon short of a first down. The Vikings then faked a punt, and Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen ran the ball for 41 yards for a first down on the Green Bay 21 yard line.

The Packers defense was able to hold the Vikings offense, and the Vikings tried for a field goal.

Vikings kicker Blair Walsh was successful in that field goal attempt, and the score was then Minnesota 3, Green Bay 0 with 10:45 left in the first quarter.

The Vikings scoring drive included 10 plays for 59 yards in 4:15.

The Packers, on fourth and one, opted to go for it, and running back Eddie Lacy was able to convert.

Packers running back James Starks was able to convert on third and one, to get the Packers into the red zone.

The Packers answered the Vikings field goal with a field goal of their own. Packers kicker Mason Crosby was good from 28 yards out -- tying the game at 3 with 2:02 left in the first quarter.

The Packers defense got a three-and-out during the Vikings next offensive drive, and the Vikings opted to punt for real this time.

As the first quarter came to an end, the Packers and Vikings were tied at 3.

CLICK HERE for a first quarter recap via Packers.com.

As play got underway in the second quarter at Lambeau Field, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked on third down, and Vikings cornerback and return specialist Marcus Sherels muffed the punt, and the ball went out of bounds.

The Packers answered with a sack of their own.

Packers linebacker Julius Peppers sacked Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater on third down.

The Packers offense went three-and-out during their next possession, and Marcus Sherels returned the Packers punt to the Minnesota 43 yard line.

Another sack of Bridgewater came courtesy Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, who sacked the Vikings QB on third down. The Vikings would then try for a field goal.

Vikings kicker Blair Walsh was good from 32 yards, bringing the score to Vikings 6, Packers 3 with 2:55 left in the second quarter.

The Vikings scoring drive included eight plays for 43 yards in 3:37.

At the two-minute warning for the first half, the Packers were at second and 11 from their own 43 yard line.

The Packers opted to go for it on fourth and five -- but a deep throw to James Jones was incomplete.

The Vikings would take over on their own 40 yard line with :46 left in the half.

The Vikings were stopped just short on third down, and it would then be fourth and two on the Packers 42 yard line.

The Vikings let the play clock run out, and punted the ball away with 15 seconds left in the first half.

The Vikings led the Packers 6-3 at halftime.

CLICK HERE for a first half recap via Packers.com.

As the second half began, the Packers announced defensive end Datone Jones has a neck injury, and his return was questionable.

The Packers offense began the second half with a three-and-out, and Tim Masthay punted the ball.

The first touchdown of the game came in the third quarter -- with a three-yard run by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

With the extra point, the score was then Minnesota 13, Packers 3 with 10:32 left in the third quarter.

The Vikings scoring drive included six plays for 58 yards in 2:55.

Early in the third quarter, the Packers announced defensive end Datone Jones was out of the game with a neck injury.

The Packers went three-and-out again on their next offensive drive, and would punt the ball.

The Minnesota Vikings announced wide receiver Adam Thielen was out of the game with a shoulder injury. His return was questionable.

Soon came a Packers interception via safety Micah Hyde and his one-handed snag.

The Packers announced linebacker Andy Mulumba was out of the game with a knee injury. His return was questionable.

The Vikings announced Adrian Peterson was out of the game with a lower back injury. His return was questionable.

Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers' hand was hit, and he fumbled the ball. The Vikings recovered that fumble, and Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn ran the ball back for a touchdown.

With the extra point, the Vikings then led the Packers 20-3 with 4:28 left in the third quarter.

A 32-yard catch by James Jones gave him 828 receiving yards this season -- a new career high.

A pass from Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb converted for the Packers on fourth and four.

The score was Packers 20, Vikings 3 as the third quarter came to an end.

CLICK HERE for a third quarter recap via Packers.com.

As the fourth quarter began Packers QB Aaron Rodgers scrambled for a first down to get the Packers into the red zone.

The Packers first touchdown of the game came early in the fourth quarter, with a 16-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Richard Rodgers.

Mason Crosby's extra point was good, bringing the score to Vikings 20, Packers 10 with 13:27 left in the fourth quarter.

The Packers scoring drive included 14 plays for 80 yards in 6:01.

The Packers defense was able to stop the Vikings offense near midfield, and wide receiver Jared Abbrederis was able to fair-catch a punt at the Green Bay 16 yard line.

Aaron Rodgers was sacked on third down -- pushing the Packers out of the red zone.

Mason Crosby was good on a 43-yard field goal -- bringing the score to Vikings 20, Packers 13 with 5:35 left in the fourth quarter.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson broke into the clear on the kickoff return, but fumbled the ball -- and the Packers recovered. The forced fumbled was thanks to Mason Crosby, and Hyde made the recovery.

Rodgers then threw to Cobb for 17, and to Jones for 37. The Packers were then on the Minnesota 23 yard line.

Packers fullback John Kuhn was able to leap for a catch for first and goal for the Packers on the 10 yard line.

At fourth and goal from the 13 yard line, the Packers opted to go for it.

The Packers were intercepted in the end zone by the Vikings.

The Packers had one timeout remaining, plus the two-minute warning and 2:09 on the clock.

Ahead of the two-minute warning, the Vikings muffed the handoff, but they were able to recover the ball. Adrian Peterson recovered a fumble that slipped out of QB Teddy Bridgewater's hand on the handoff attempt. It was then second and 10 for the Vikings.

Adrian Peterson ran for five yards -- and the Packers called their final timeout with 1:53 left in the game. It was third and five for the Packers.

Packers linebacker Jake Ryan was able to stop Adrian Peterson short of the sticks -- and the Vikings opted to let the clock run.

The Vikings would punt at fourth and three from the 27 yard line.

The Vikings called a timeout with 1:08 left in the game.

Hyde returned the punt to the Green Bay 42 yard line.

The Packers then had 58 seconds, no timeouts, and they needed a touchdown to tie this game.

After three incomplete passes, it was fourth and 10 for the Packers on the Green Bay 42 yard line.

A pass from Aaron Rodgers to Richard Rodgers converted for the Packers.

In the end, the Packers would fall to the Minnesota Vikings 20-13. The Minnesota Vikings are the 2015 NFC North Division champions.

The Packers will play the Washington Redskins on wild-card weekend next weekend. That game is set for 3:40 p.m. next Sunday, January 10th. It's a game you'll see ONLY ON FOX6!

CLICK HERE for an NFC North Division championship game recap via Packers.com.