Kirk Cousins has triumphant return as Vikings sack Jordan Love 8 times in 30-10 win over Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes to start his second stint with Minnesota and Levi Drake Rodriguez had two of the Vikings’ eight sacks in a 30-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Cousins went 21 of 31 for 207 yards just five days after rejoining the Vikings, who acquired him from the Las Vegas Raiders at Tuesday’s trade deadline.

The last time Cousins had played at Lambeau Field or suited up for the Vikings, he tore his Achilles tendon in a 24-10 Minnesota victory on Oct. 29, 2023. Cousins missed the rest of that season and then played for Atlanta from 2024-25 and Las Vegas the first half of this year.

Cousins rejuvenated an offense that had stalled under quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz, scoring 16 points or fewer in each of its last three games. He helped the Vikings snap a two-game skid as they beat the Packers for the fifth time in six meetings. And he reestablished his connection with top receiver Justin Jefferson, who had season highs in catches (nine) and targets (13) while finishing with 74 yards.

Minnesota (7-2) had scored 49 straight points against Green Bay (6-4) before Jordan Love’s 32-yard touchdown pass to J. Michael Sturdivant in the third quarter cut the Vikings’ lead to 20-7. The Vikings scored the final 29 points of a 39-22 season-opening victory.

Myles Price and Gavin Bartholomew each had their first career touchdown catches for Minnesota. Cousins threw a 38-yarder to Price in the first period and a 20-yarder to Bartholomew in the fourth.

Each of Minnesota's three touchdown drives included a third-and-long completion from Cousins.

Minnesota faced third-and-23 when Price caught a pass around the Green Bay 13, bounced off cornerback Brandon Cisse and ran into the end zone. Cisse injured his rib on the play and missed the rest of the game.

Cousins completed a 24-yard pass on third-and-15 to set up an Aaron Jones 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Bartholomew's touchdown followed a 16-yard pass to Jefferson on third-and-12.

Love went 17 of 27 for 220 yards with a touchdown and an interception while facing constant pressure as the Packers lost for the second time in their last seven games. Love hadn’t been sacked more than five times in any of his 56 previous starts, but the Vikings got their sixth sack Sunday on the first play of the second half.

Minnesota finished with its most sacks in a game since it had nine in a victory over Miami in 2018. The Packers hadn’t allowed that many sacks since giving up nine in a loss to Arizona in 2015.

Virtually nothing went right for Green Bay.

The Packers entered the game with a plus-8 turnover margin that ranked second in the NFL, but they lost three fumbles — each leading to a Minnesota field goal — and Love was intercepted in the end zone by Harrison Smith.

An apparent Cousins interception got overturned after replays showed his knee was down before he threw the ball, and the Vikings scored a touchdown two plays later. Cousins was later picked off by Xavier McKinney, the safety's sixth of the season.

Vikings: OLB Bo Richter left with a foot injury in the first quarter. WR Jeshaun Jones hurt his shoulder in the third.

Packers: CB Brandon Cisse (rib), WR/KR Skyy Moore (ankle) and WR Bo Melton (thight) left in the first half. Moore had been activated from injured reserve Saturday after missing four games with an ankle issue.

Vikings: At San Francisco next Sunday night.

Packers: At the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 25.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Green Bay Packers' J. Michael Sturdivant catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Minnesota Vikings' Kirk Cousins throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Minnesota Vikings' Aaron Jones Sr. celebrates his touchdown run with fans during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Minnesota Vikings' Dallas Turner recovers a fumble by Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love during the second half of an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Minnesota Vikings' Kirk Cousins runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns as the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans 40-23 on Sunday for their sixth victory in seven games.

The Jaguars (7-2) also won a franchise-record fifth straight against their AFC South rivals, and this was their eighth win in 11 games in the series.

Lawrence completed passes to nine Jaguars with the fourth-highest passing yardage total of his career.

Parker Washington had a career-high 148 yards receiving by halftime and finished with 152. Cam Little kicked field goals of 46, 48, 36 and 40 yards. Bhayshul Tuten added a 6-yard TD run with 1:10 left, padding the score off Tennessee's turnover on downs.

Travis Hunter had an interception as the Jaguars held Tennessee to 327 yards of total offense even with new trade acquisitions safety Jessie Bates III and defensive tackle Jordan Davis inactive.

The depleted Titans (1-8) remain winless at home as they lost their fifth in their final season at Nissan Stadium. After trading their top two defensive players in tackle Jeffery Simmons and safety Amani Hooker, the Titans put two more on injured reserve Saturday in left guard Peter Skoronski and punter Tommy Townsend.

Tennessee scratched three more starters, with rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate and linebackers Cody Barton and rookie Anthony Hill Jr. sidelined by injuries. Chandler Zavala, signed from the practice squad Saturday, started at left guard.

The Jaguars took the lead from the opening drive and never trailed after Lawrence hit Washington for a 2-yard TD.

Cam Ward found Elic Ayomanor for a 50-yard catch-and-run that was the longest completion of the quarterback's young career, and Ward capped the drive with a 2-yard TD pass to Daniel Bellinger, pulling the Titans within 13-10. Little's 36-yard field goal made it a 16-10 halftime lead.

Joey Slye kicked a 54-yarder and a 50-yarder in the second half to keep the Titans within range.

Jacksonville answered with a 10-play drive, capped by a 3-yard TD pass by Lawrence to Brenton Strange on fourth-and-2 at the Titans 3. Titans coach Robert Saleh was furious officials missed a pick on his defender, leaving Strange wide open for the TD catch and a 23-13 lead. Lawrence made it 30-16 with a 25-yard TD pass to Josh Cameron early in the fourth quarter.

The Titans answered with Tony Pollard taking a dump-off pass from Ward 32 yards to the end zone pulling them within 30-23 with 8:21 remaining. That was as close as they would get.

Jaguars DE Danny Striggow was evaluated for a concussion in the first half and did not return. Jaguars C Robert Hainsey hurt his left knee early in the third quarter and did not return.

Titans safety Tony Adams suffered a concussion that sidelined him.

The Jaguars visit the New York Giants.

The Titans visit Dallas.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) is pressured by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro (99) during the first half an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh yells at an official during the second half an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen yells on the sideline during the second half an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws against the Tennessee Titans during the first half an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, right, celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during the first half an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)