McMahon Keeps Vikings’ Playoff Hopes Alive : NFC: Minnesota quarterback passes for three touchdowns in 21-17 victory over Green Bay.

The Green Bay Packers’ postseason push was muddled by nemesis Jim McMahon, whose passing revived the Minnesota Vikings’ chances of repeating as NFC Central champions.

McMahon passed for three touchdowns--matching his season total entering the game--in leading the Vikings to a 21-17 victory Sunday over the Packers. It was his 10th consecutive winning start against Green Bay.

“This keeps our hopes alive,” McMahon said. “But if we lose, we’re done.”

The Packers (8-6) had won six consecutive at County Stadium, including five under Coach Mike Holmgren. But Holmgren left the game with an 0-4 mark against Viking Coach Dennis Green.

“I really don’t get too wrapped up in these rivalries. It’s just frustrating not to win the game,” said Holmgren, who was an assistant coach along with Green at San Francisco from 1986-88. “We still have a chance to meet our goals.”

The Packers, seeking their first playoff berth in a non-strike season since 1972, play host to the Raiders before finishing at Detroit.

Scottie Graham rushed 30 times for 139 yards--only 35 fewer than he had gained in his NFL career--as Minnesota (7-7) moved into a third-place tie with Chicago. The Vikings host Kansas City next week and finish at Washington.

Graham, working in a pharmacy a few months ago after the New York Jets cut him, became Minnesota’s starter after injuries to Terry Allen and Robert Smith.

McMahon also finally did what the Vikings expected when they signed him as a free agent in the off-season. He completed 22 of 31 passes for 207 yards in Minnesota’s first three-touchdown game of the season before leaving late because of a foot injury he said wouldn’t keep him from starting next Sunday.

“This is Jim’s style, a running game with some passing,” Green said. “We’ve had to work hard to find the running game. This is the kind of game we envisioned when we brought Jim in here. Jim was accurate and had good control of the game.”

As well as McMahon played, Green Bay still had a chance to take the lead with 2:30 to play, when it had the ball at Minnesota’s two-yard line. But the Vikings’ NFC-leading defense held.

Darrell Thompson was tackled for a five-yard loss by Bobby Abrams on first down, Carlos Jenkins stopped Sterling Sharpe for no gain on a second-down catch, Jack Del Rio batted away Brett Favre’s third-down pass, and Vencie Glenn knocked down Favre’s pass in the end zone with 1:14 remaining.

The Packers had one more chance to win the game with 53 seconds left, but Glenn intercepted Favre’s pass on the first play of the possession.