GREEN BAY (4-4) at MINNESOTA (4-4)
Sunday, Nov. 9 l HHH Metrodome l 12 p.m. CST
PACKERS HEAD WEST FOR DIVISION SHOWDOWN
- Green Bay makes its annual trip to the Metrodome Sunday to face the archrival Minnesota Vikings - the 96th meeting between the two clubs.
- Both teams come into the contest at 4-4, tied for second place in the NFC North behind division leader Chicago (5-3).
- Green Bay's bid to knock off the undefeated Titans in Nashville fell short in overtime last Sunday, losing 19-16. There won't be time to dwell on the loss, as the club now faces division rivals in back-to-back weeks, which could go a long way in determining the division champion.
- The first test will come on the road in Minneapolis, a place Head Coach Mike McCarthy (2-0) has not lost since arriving in Green Bay. In fact, McCarthy is 5-0 against the Vikings.
- Green Bay has won four of the last five in Minnesota, one of the league's loudest venues. It is 23-23-0 all-time in the state against the Vikings.
- One of the NFL's great border wars has been a traditionally tight series, with the Packers holding a slight all-time advantage (49-45-1, including playoffs). The Packers' current five-game winning streak is the longest in the series since 1983-85, when Green Bay won five straight. A sixth consecutive win would be the longest in the series since its inception, when the Packers took six in a row from 1961-63 under Vince Lombardi.
- The two clubs met in Week 1 in primetime on Monday night, with the Packers winning a tight contest 24-19 at Lambeau Field. QB Aaron Rodgers was efficient (18-of-22, 178 yards, 1 TD passing, 1 TD rushing, 115.5 rating) in his first career start, while a late interception sealed the victory for Green Bay.
- This time Minnesota lines up with a different QB under center in veteran Gus Frerotte, who is 4-2 this season as the Minnesota starter.
- Behind three Frerotte touchdown passes, the Vikings defeated the Houston Texans, 28-21, Sunday at the Metrodome. Minnesota has won three of its last four games.
WITH THE CALL
- FOX Sports enters its 15th season as an NFL network television partner and will air the contest to a regional audience.
- Play-by-play man Joe Buck joins color analyst Troy Aikman in the booth with Pam Oliver serving as the sideline reporter.
- Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since 1929, heads up the 56-station Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (color) calling the action. The duo are in their 10th season of broadcasts together across the Packers Radio Network, which covers 47 markets in six states.
- Westwood One will air the game across the country. Bill Rosinski (play-by-play) and Dan Reeves (analyst) will call the action. Tommy Tighe hosts the pregame and halftime shows.
- For out-of-town listeners, the broadcast is available to NFL Field Pass subscribers on www.packers.com as well as on Sirius Satellite Radio (channel 127 WTMJ feed) as part of the network's NFL Sunday Drive.
- DIRECTV subscribers can watch the game in HD on channel 710.
THEY'RE ALWAYS CLOSE
- Green Bay and Minnesota's meeting in Week 1 was decided in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, the latest in a string of close finishes in the all-time series.
- Eleven of the last 12 regular season meetings have been decided by seven points or less, with the lone exception being the Packers' 34-0 victory last November. That game remains the lone shutout in the 95-game history of the rivalry.
- Green Bay S Atari Bigby sealed the season opener with an interception in the waning moments of the game as Minnesota was driving for a potential game-winning score. Another interception by Bigby, in the 2007 meeting at the Metrodome, also gave the Packers the win.
- Five out of the six meetings between 2004-06 were decided by a field goal at the end of the fourth quarter. Vikings K Ryan Longwell kicked two game-winning field goals - for the Packers - in the '04 meetings.
ANOTHER VIKINGS GAME, ANOTHER QUARTERBACK
- Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders certainly has his hands full in trying to stop one of the game's more dynamic running backs in Adrian Peterson. But, it seems Sanders also must study a new QB each time Minnesota is on the schedule.
- In his sixth game against the Vikings as coordinator, Sanders will be prepping for his fifth different Vikings signal caller. In 2006, the team faced Brad Johnson and Tarvaris Jackson. Kelly Holcomb and Brooks Bollinger each got a start against Green Bay a season ago.
- Jackson started the season opener against the Packers, but the Vikings turned to veteran Gus Frerotte after an 0-2 start. In 88 career NFL starts, including previous stints in Minnesota and Detroit, Frerotte has only faced the Packers once.
- In 1999, he completed 20-of-39 passes for 225 yards and one TD against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay twice intercepted Frerotte passes en route to a 26-17 victory over Detroit.
- No matter who is under center, none of the Minnesota quarterbacks have had great success against Sanders and the Packers defense over the last five contests. A look at their numbers:
Starter, Att-Cmp, Yds, TD, IN (RT)
Brad Johnson, 30-18, 257, 1, 1 (85.0)
Tarvaris Jackson, 20-10, 50, 0, 1 (35.4)
Kelly Holcomb, 39-21, 258, 1, 1 (72.4)
Brooks Bollinger, 26-16, 176, 0, 1 (65.5)
Tarvaris Jackson, 35-16, 178, 1, 1 (59.0)
JENNINGS, WOODSON NAMED MIDSEASON ALL-PROS
- Pro Football Weekly announced its midseason All-Pro team Monday, and Packers WR Greg Jennings and CB Charles Woodson were both named to the squad.
- Jennings is establishing himself as one of the league's top receivers after his breakout campaign in '07. He ranks second among all receivers with 764 yards to go along with four touchdowns.
- Now in his 11th NFL season, Woodson is clearly at the top of his game. He is tied for the NFL lead with four interceptions, two of which he has returned for scores, and has shut down Pro Bowl receivers Terrell Owens and Reggie Wayne, among others, this season. Woodson was one of four unanimous choices on defense.
PACKERS SIGN RODGERS TO LONG-TERM EXTENSION
- Last Friday, the Packers signed QB Aaron Rodgers to a contract extension through the 2014 season.
- Through his first eight starts, Rodgers' quarterback rating (95.3) ranks fifth among NFL QBs and could become one of the highest marks in team annals.
- Rodgers' accuracy has helped minimize Green Bay's turnovers. His five interceptions account for just 1.9% of his attempts (262), a percentage that ranks tied for seventh in the NFL and tops among first-year QBs. He has not thrown an interception in five of the team's eight games.
- Rodgers has eclipsed a QB rating of 100.0 five times this season, tied for second among all NFL quarterbacks:
Player, Team (Games over 100.0)
Philip Rivers, San Diego (6)
Drew Brees, New Orleans (5)
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay (5)
Seven tied (4)
PICK STREAK SNAPPED
- The defense was held without an interception for the first time this season at Tennessee, ending a streak of eight consecutive games with a pick.
- The Packers are tied with the Titans for the NFL lead with 13 picks.
TOUGH STRETCH BEGINS ON THE ROAD
- With two of the next three games on the road, Green Bay will look to continue the road success it has had under Head Coach Mike McCarthy.
- Where the Packers stand as a football team might well be determined after this stretch. After a trip to Minnesota (Week 10) and another division game at home (Chicago), Green Bay heads to New Orleans.
- Since McCarthy arrived in 2006, the Packers have been one of the league's toughest road teams. Green Bay has actually played better on the road (13-7) than at home (12-8) under McCarthy.
- The Packers have won 10 of their last 14 road games. A look at the top road teams in the NFL since McCarthy took over in 2006:
Team, W-L record Pct.
New England, 17-3 (.850)
N.Y. Giants, 14-5 (.737)
Dallas, 14-7 (.700)
Green Bay, 13-7 (.650)
Indianapolis, 13-7 (.650)
Chicago, 11-8 (.579)
San Diego, 11-9 (.550)
HOME SWEET DOME
- The Packers have won 10 of their last 12 games in domes, including seven in a row. Green Bay is 6-0 in domes under McCarthy.
TOUGH AGAINST QUARTERBACKS
- The more they study the Packers' pass defense, the more opposing NFL quarterbacks learn about just how good they've played thus far.
- Opposing signal callers have a 59.9 passer rating against Green Bay this season, the lowest rating in the NFL. It ranks just ahead of Tennessee's defense, which ranks No. 2 with an opposing QB rating of 62.3.
- Green Bay's defense has been able to smother potential receivers, allowing opposing signal callers to complete just 51.3% of their passes. That is the lowest opponent completion percentage in the league, slightly ahead of the Baltimore defense (52.4%) ranked No. 2.
- Green Bay has surrendered 1,555 yards through the air, third fewest among NFL defenses.
DRIVER SET TO MAKE PACKERS HISTORY SUNDAY
- Pro Bowl wideout Donald Driver enjoyed his best game of the year last week, totaling 136 yards and a score.
- Now in his 10th season in Green Bay, Driver is about as consistent a receiver as there is the NFL. He has caught a pass in 103 consecutive games, tying the franchise mark established by Sterling Sharpe (1988-1994).
- He will get the chance to establish a new franchise record against the Vikings in the Metrodome, a place he has always found great success. His career high in catches (11), receiving yards (191) and longest rush (45) all came against the Vikings in the Metrodome.
- In the Colts game, Driver also became the all-time receiving leader in Lambeau Field history. He surpassed the stadium's all-time mark, held by Antonio Freeman (3,477 yards). Driver, who has 3,494 receiving yards at the stadium, became the stadium's all-time leader in receptions last season.
STEADY LB PLAY LEADS DEFENSE
- For the first time this season, the Packers did not have all six linebackers active at Tennessee, but no position has proved as deep thus far.
- Led by Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk, the top tacklers the previous two seasons, the unit has been the only defensive position not ravaged by injuries thus far.
- Barnett (63 tackles, first) and Hawk (49, third) again are among the club's leading tacklers. SAM LB Brady Poppinga, who has started five games thus far, isn't far behind with 32.
- Free agent acquisition Brandon Chillar came in as a noted coverage specialist and hasn't disappointed. He tallied a season-high 12 tackles (10 solo) playing in the nickel coverage against the Colts and tied a career high with two passes defensed at Tennessee. Also, he leads the special teams coverage units with 11 special teams tackles.
- Backup MLB Desmond Bishop and LB Danny Lansanah, core members of the coverage units, both missed the Tennessee contest with hamstring injuries.
- "If you look at our depth chart the one thing that has been consistent for us as far as activating players is we have six linebackers up every week," McCarthy said. "It's a group that has really, really improved in our time here. I really like the depth of the linebacker group. We have the opportunity to play those guys more and just being smart with your reps."
IN THE 'BLACK AND BLUE' DIVISION
- Two of the Packers early wins have come against division opponents.
- Since division play opened in 1967, the team has opened the season only one other time with two divisional wins: 1998.
- After this weekend's contest against the Vikings, the Packers will continue division play in Week 11, hosting the Bears, before stepping outside the NFC North for another month.
- In games that ultimately could decide playoff seeding and the division crown, Green Bay wraps up the regular season with a trip to Chicago and a home contest against the Lions.
- McCarthy's solid 11-3 record in the NFL's 'black and blue' division is noteworthy because he's undefeated against two of the division opponents: Detroit (5-0) and Minnesota (5-0). The Packers are just 1-3 against Chicago over the past two seasons.
**
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings:
All-time regular season: 49-44-1
All-time, postseason: 0-1
All-time, in Minnesota: 23-23-0 (12-13-0 at Metrodome)
Streaks: The Packers have won the last five meetings. A sixth straight win would mark the longest winning streak in the series since 1961-63 (Packers, first six games of the series).
Last meeting, regular season: Sept. 8, 2008, at Lambeau Field; Packers won, 24-19
Last meeting, regular season, at HHH Metrodome: Sept. 30, 2007; Packers won, 23-16
COACHES CAPSULES
Mike McCarthy: 26-16-0, .619, (incl. 1-1 postseason); 3rd NFL season
Brad Childress: 18-22-0, .450; 3rd NFL season
Head to Head: McCarthy 5-0
vs. Opponent: McCarthy 5-0 vs. Vikings; Childress 0-5 vs. Packers
MIKE McCARTHY...Is in third year as the Packers' 14th head coach.
- Was named Packers head coach on Jan. 12, 2006, his first head coaching job after 13 years as an NFL assistant.
- Honored as the 2007 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year and NFL Alumni Coach of the Year.
- Became the first Packers coach since Vince Lombardi to lead the team to a championship game in his second season.
- Tied franchise record for most victories by a coach in his first two seasons (21).
BRAD CHILDRESS...Is in third year as the Vikings' seventh head coach.
- In his 31st season of coaching and his 11th in the NFL. Broke in as Colts' quarterbacks coach (1985) and spent seven years (1999-2005) in Philadelphia, where he was offensive coordinator.
- Also coached at four colleges, including the University of Wisconsin (1991-98). The staff at Northern Arizona (1986-89) included future NFL head coaches Bill Callahan, Marty Mornhinweg and Andy Reid.
- In 2007, the Vikings became the first team in franchise history to rank No. 1 in the league in both rushing offense and rushing defense.
- The Vikings' seven Pro Bowlers last year were the team's most since 2000.
THE PACKERS-VIKINGS SERIES
- These two longtime divisional rivals - seperated by some 280 miles down Highway 29 - square off for the 96th time in the history of the rivalry.
- Few, if any, rivalries in sports have exhibited more parity. The Packers own a slight advantage over the Vikings (49-45-1, including playoffs) in the all-time series.
- Last season's 34-0 shutout by the Packers was the first blanking by either team in their 95 meetings.
- The Packers look for their first six-game winning streak in the series since the 1961-63 seasons.
- The series began when the Vikings entered the league in 1961, and Vince Lombardi's Packers won nine of the first 10.
- Over the last 14 seasons (1994-2007), these teams have accounted for 10 NFC Central/North division championships.
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