me forward, and put me in positions where I have to gro

MINNEAPOLIS -- Aaron Rodgers has the Green Bay Packers rolling, even without three of his best receivers. Theres a powerful running game on his side now, as if Rodgers needed any more help. Ignoring the injuries around him, Rodgers picked apart whats left of Minnesotas depleted defence by throwing two first-half touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson and guiding the Packers to a 44-31 victory Sunday night. "I think this is really shaping up to be one of Aarons best years," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "Aarons had a lot of challenges Monday through Saturday that dont show up on the stat sheet, just trying to get on the same page with younger players and trusting the game plan." Missing Randall Cobb, James Jones and Jermichael Finley, Rodgers finished 24 for 29 for 285 yards to help the Packers (5-2) stay in first place in the NFC North. "We expect greatness out of our guys," Rodgers said. Christian Ponders encore went poorly for the Vikings (1-6), who sent out a different starting quarterback for the third straight week. Adrian Peterson gained a quiet 60 yards on 13 carries, Greg Jennings had just one catch against his old team and the Vikings offence counted only three plays in the third quarter as the Packers pulled away in their final game at the Metrodome, now known as Mall of America Field. Ponder didnt turn the ball over, but he was again out of sorts under pressure in the pocket all night. He finished 14 for 21 for 145 yards against a defence missing three starting linebackers to injury and added a late touchdown run. Coach Leslie Frazier said he wasnt sure yet whether Ponder would keep the job for another game. The Vikings beat the Packers 37-34 last December to make the playoffs. But they needed 199 yards rushing from Peterson and the best game of Ponders career to do it, because Rodgers has rarely found resistance from this defence in purple. In his last eight games against the Vikings, he has 22 touchdowns and only three interceptions while completing roughly three-quarters of his passes. The Packers have won seven of those. "I wasnt going to let this team beat us," Rodgers said, adding: "A lot was on my shoulders." Micah Hyde had a punt return for a touchdown for the Packers, who never punted and held the ball for more than two-thirds of the game to counteract Cordarrelle Pattersons opening 109-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Packers have won 15 of their last 16 games against NFC North teams. "Weve got a great team, very well-coached," Rodgers said. "Guys are ready to play. It was loud in here. It was a tough environment, but guys stepped up." The Packers scored on their first two possessions, running a total of 31 plays for 160 yards that drained 15 minutes and 48 seconds off the clock. Eddie Lacy finished with 94 yards and a touchdown and James Starks ran for 57 yards and a score. "Everybody wants a 1,500-yard rusher. Ive always wanted an 1,100-yard rusher, because I plan on being in the playoffs, so I want him running the same way in January and February as he is in September and October," McCarthy said. The way Lacy has been pounding the ball, as the leading NFL rookie rusher, Rodgers hasnt had to come up with as many clutch throws with his top targets missing. Lacy and Starks took turns trampling an exhausted Vikings defence, with each guy contributing a touchdown on the ground and the Packers reaching a season-high 182 yards rushing. "When the heck is the last time the Green Bay Packers rushed for 200 yards on somebody?" defensive end Jared Allen said, slightly exaggerating the total. "If thats not a punch in the gut and a wake-up to people, something needs to be." The Packers converted 13 third downs and two fourth downs. The only time they had the ball and didnt score was the kneel-down at the end of the game. "These are the guys we have," Frazier said. "So weve got to figure out schematically what we can do with the guys that we have to be better." NOTES: The two longest plays in NFL history have happened here: Pattersons plus a 109-yard return by Antonio Cromartie of a missed field goal for San Diego in 2007. ... The Vikings finished 16-15 here against the Packers. ... Rodgers and Jennings embraced on the field after the game. Jennings made some critical comments about the quarterback in the off-season but Rodgers said Sunday night: "We had a lot of good memories together." Wholesale Air Max 90 Australia . 1. CAVALIERS: At 19-20, theyre a mess. Watched the game Tuesday night vs. Phoenix and their defence was poor (107 points and 52 per cent for Suns). Where is the high level play from Kyrie Irving and LeBron James (13 turnovers!)? Kevin Love looks like a man thats wondering what he got himself into. Air Max 90 Australia Online . The Blue Jackets got goals from Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and R.J. Umberger and Curtis McElhinney posted his first shutout since 2011 in a 4-0 victory on Friday night. http://www.wholesaleaustraliaairmax90.com/ .com) - Driphus Jackson had three touchdown passes, including two in a 19-second span in the opening quarter, to guide Rice to a 30-6 rout of Fresno State at the Hawaii Bowl. Cheap Air Max 90 Australia . -- Fresh off their surprising run in the playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers have signed head coach Terry Stotts to a multi-year contract extension. Cheap Air Max 90 Wholesale . -- Dane Fox scored his 61st and 62nd goals of the season and Brendan Gaunce had a goal and three assists as the Erie Otters downed the Kitchener Rangers 7-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action.TORONTO -- With Toronto FCs 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, TFC has now won as many games as it did all of last season and is firmly entrenched in a playoff position in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. But there was no celebrating after the final whistle blew. And that speaks volumes for how far Ryan Nelsens squad has come. Jermain Defoe scored on a penalty shot as Toronto FC entered the World Cup break on a high note with the win. "Another box ticked," as Nelsen put it. "And we moved on." "Were winning games now, we won that game 1-nil and were a wee bit disappointed to tell you truth with how we played," Nelsen said. "Thats where I hoped wed get to was to start to get the wins and the crowd would be going, We won but we didnt play very well. I was praying for that time to happen. Most of the time in the past it was just praying for wins." Toronto, now undefeated in four MLS games, improved to 6-4-1 and jumped from sixth to fourth in the East with several games in hand. Defoes goal came in the 27th minute, awarded when Nick Hagglund was pulled down in the box. The former Tottenham Hotspur star stepped up and slotted the ball to the far left corner, to the delight of the capacity crowd of 22,591 at sun-soaked BMO Field. It was Defoes seventh goal with Toronto and fourth game winner, one shy of the franchise record. "Ive enjoyed it," Defoe said, reflecting on his time in the MLS. "As a forward, I try to get off to a good start and hopefully relax and enjoy my football, and then I know the goals will come. Luckily the goals have come. "Before you come you can never imagine what its going to be like. But its just been amazing, lucky to be at such a good club, where the players get treated right, playing with good players, a lot of young players, theres a good team chemistry, team spirit which is always important. And I believe that we can do something special this year." It was a strong afternoon for Hagglund, a 21-year-old rookie drafted 10th overall by TFC last year. The former Xavier University defender had several scoring chances, including two in less than a minute midway through the first half. On the first, he forced the Jon Busch to make a diving save. The second, he stretched for a volley that he fired just wide of the net. "I think hes icing his groin at the moment from that volley," Nelsen said, laughing. ";Hes just a lovely guy whos not afraid of any occasion.dddddddddddd He kind of puffs his chest and just goes for it. Hes just that type of personality. Those types of personalities go a long way not just in soccer but in life. Thats why hes just a pleasure to have around the place." Nelsen said they spotted something special in the defender, which is why the club moved up in the draft to acquire him. "Just that fearlessness, which in my opinion, gets you a long way in life," Nelsen said. "We saw that in him when we interviewed him, we saw that in him when he played. Hes progressing exactly how we dreamed he would be, to tell you the truth. Hell only get better." Hagglund almost scored in the 68th off a free kick after some angry moments from Nelsen and his players. Newcomer Dominic Oduro was sprinting onto a pass in the air that San Joses Clarence Goodson reached up and stopped with his hand. Toronto players were arguing for a red card, but were awarded a free kick instead, which Hagglund headed just wide of the post. "Its been a roller-coaster," Hagglund said of his rookie season. "Its been fun just to get to play with the guys. What a great group, and Nelsen has done nothing but great things, and encouraged me and pushed me forward, and put me in positions where I have to grow and learn and its been exciting." Oduro, acquired in a trade Friday that sent Alvaro Rey to the Columbus Crew, came on in the 64th minute, and the fans soon got to see the blistering speed for which the Ghanian midfield/forward is known. "Hes direct, quick," Defoe said of his new teammate. "I enjoyed (playing with him)." The colourful Oduro is also known for the elaborate designs he shaves into his hair, still had Columbus-yellow stripes died into his hair on either side of his mohawk. The 28-year-old had a career-high 13 goals last season, including two against Toronto. Brazilian Gilberto had been pencilled into the starting lineup, but was replaced by Kyle Bekker just prior to kickoff after Gilberto was injured during warmup. Toronto doesnt play another league game until June 27 when they travel to New York to face the Red Bulls. NOTES: Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley (the U.S.), and goalie Julio Cesar (Brazil) are playing for their countries in the World Cup in Brazil. . . Retired striker Danny Koevermans, in Toronto with his family for vacation, was at the game. ' ' '