PRO FOOTBALL : Green Bay Makes a Run for It : Packers Pass Up a Field-Goal Try, Beat Vikings, 16-10

With victory just a kick away, the Green Bay Packers refused to settle for a field goal.

Instead, Kenneth Davis ran seven yards for a touchdown Sunday with 1:09 left to give the Packers a 16-10 victory over Minnesota, slowing the Vikings’ drive toward the playoffs.

“The big difference was that the offense decided we didn’t want just a field goal,” Davis said. “I think it was a big surprise to them especially that we ran it from the shotgun.

“The only thing I was worried about was when I got in the end zone, I didn’t want the guys jumping on me and hurting my ankle.”

The Packers (5-7-1) drove 72 yards in 10 carries, starting with a 33-yard pass from Randy Wright to Ed West. Davis also had a 12-yard pass reception before breaking into the end zone on third and seven.

The Packers were penalized for a personal foul on the extra point, and Max Zendejas missed the conversion kick from 35 yards.

The Vikings (7-6) had one last chance. But out of timeouts, Minnesota was stopped on a fourth-and-one at its own 40 when Darrin Nelson was thrown for a loss with 39 seconds left.

“We didn’t play like a playoff team,” said Viking Coach Jerry Burns. “You’ve got to win these games to get into the playoffs. It’s the poorest performance we’ve had in a long time.”

Minnesota’s Chuck Nelson, who missed 7 of his last 10 attempts--including a 35-yarder in the first half--kicked a 34-yard field goal to tie the game, 10-10, with 9:15 left.

Zendejas’ 47-yard field goal with seven seconds to go in the third quarter put Green Bay ahead, 10-7, after a 7-7 halftime tie.

For the fourth straight week, Wade Wilson replaced Tommy Kramer at quarterback for the Vikings. Kramer reaggravated a pinched nerve in his neck late in the first half.

Kramer lofted a 40-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Carter with 32 seconds to go in the first quarter to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead.

The Packers came right back on the next series, driving 73 yards in 11 plays to tie the game on Paul Ott Carruth’s 1-yard dive. Wright’s 40-yard pass to West was the drive’s big play.

Kramer completed 7 of 9 passes for 111 yards, while Wilson was 7 of 12 for 57 yards. Wright completed 18 of 31 passes for 192 yards.