Dope Sheet: Packers return to Lambeau Field to host Minnesota Vikings

The Green Bay Packers return to Lambeau Field to take on the Minnesota Vikings.

• Green Bay has won two of the last three and three of the last five home games against the Vikings.
• The Packers have scored 30-plus points in five of the last eight games vs. Minnesota.
• Overall, the Packers have won six of the last 10 meetings.
• In each of the last five games between the two teams, the scoring margin has been 14-plus points, including 23-plus points in three contests. It is the most consecutive games in the series decided by 14-plus points, surpassing four-game streaks from 1961 to 1962 and 1990 to 1991 (STATS). Prior to that five-game stretch, six of the seven games were decided by single digits, including a tie.
• The two teams have split the regular-season series each of the past four seasons, marking the longest stretch in series history.
• Since realignment in 2002, the Packers (12) and Vikings (five) have accounted for 17 of the 22 NFC North titles.
• Of the past 43 regular-season meetings between the teams, 25 of those games have been decided by seven points or less.
• Through 127 meetings, which includes two postseason contests (1-1), the Packers hold a 66-58-3 edge over the Vikings in the all-time series.
• The Packers 65 regular-season wins over Minnesota are the most by any team against the Vikings (Chicago ranks No. 2 with 57 wins).
• Since 2000, the Packers are 28-18-2 (.604) in regular-season contests versus the Vikings.
• Under Head Coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers are 6-4 against the Vikings and have scored 21-plus points in eight of the 10 contests.
• Green Bay's six wins over Minnesota since 2019 are the most in the NFL.
• LB Preston Smith registered three sacks and two forced fumbles against Minnesota last season. Smith has posted six sacks in the last six games against the Vikings. Smith has 8.5 sacks against Minnesota, the most he has against any single opponent.
• DL Kenny Clark has posted a sack in two of the last three contests against the Vikings. Clark has eight sacks against Minnesota, the most against any single opponent.
• Among active players, Smith (8.5) and Clark (8.0) rank No. 1-2 for the most sacks against the Vikings.
• WR Jayden Reed posted 10 catches for 172 yards (17.2 avg.) and two TDs last season in two games versus Minnesota, becoming the first NFL player to record 10-plus catches, 150-plus receiving yards and multiple TD catches against the Vikings as a rookie.
• It is the first time the Packers do not play an NFC North foe until Week 4 or later since 2017 (Week 4 vs. Chicago).
• The Vikings are the only NFC North opponent the Packers play in the first eight games, tied for the fewest since realignment in 2002 with 2012 and 2015.
• Under LaFleur, the Packers have started 2-1 or better every season. Green Bay joins Buffalo as the only NFL teams to start 2-1 or better in each of the past six seasons (2019-24).

WITH THE CALL

CBS will broadcast the game as play-by-play man Kevin Harlan joins analyst Trent Green in the booth with Melanie Collins reporting from the sidelines.

• The game is also available through NFL Sunday Ticket by YouTube.
• All Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, which is made up of 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and North and South Dakota. 97.3 The Game – WRNW-Milwaukee begins its third season as the flagship station of the Packers Radio Network. For a map and full listing of radio affiliates, go to packers.com/video/radio-network. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst) call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 30th season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 26th season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
• The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 82 or 228 or through the app (Packers Radio Network feed).

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

Packers vs. Vikings:

• All-time, regular season: 65-57-3
• All-time, postseason: 1-1
• All-time, at home (regular season): 34-26-3 (25-20-3 at Lambeau)
• Streaks: Green Bay has won two of the last three regular-season contests played at Lambeau.
• Last meeting, regular season: Dec. 31, 2023, U.S. Bank Stadium, Packers won, 33-10

COACHES CAPSULES

• Matt LaFleur: 58-28-0, .674; (3-4 postseason); 6th NFL season
• Kevin O'Connell: 23-14-0, .622; (0-1 postseason); 3rd NFL season
• Head to Head: LaFleur 2-2 vs. O'Connell
• vs. Opponent: LaFleur 6-4 vs. Vikings; O'Connell 2-2 vs. Packers

MATT LaFLEUR…In his sixth season as the Packers' 15th head coach.

• Is in his 16th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
• In his first five seasons leading the Packers, authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, his 56 wins are tied for the second most in league history by a head coach in his first five seasons in the NFL, trailing only George Seifert (62 in 1989-93).
• Became the first coach in NFL history to post 13-plus wins in three straight seasons and his 39 wins from 2019-21 passed Seifert (38) for the most wins by an NFL head coach in his first three seasons in the league (Elias). His 39 wins are also tied for the second most by a coach over any three-season span in league history, trailing only Andy Reid's 40 wins with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2020-22 and Mike Ditka's 40 wins with the Chicago Bears from 1985-87 (Elias).
• In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to lead the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).

KEVIN O'CONNELL…In his third season as the Vikings' 10th head coach.

• Is in his 10th season as an NFL coach, having previously spent time with the Los Angeles Rams (2020-21), Washington Redskins (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers (2016) and Cleveland Browns (2015).
• Led the Vikings to 13 wins in 2022, the most by any first-year head coach in franchise history, earning the club's first division title since 2017.
• Had seven players win Player of the Week awards in 2022, the most by a first-year head coach in franchise history. Seven notched Pro Bowl berths and three earned Associated Press All-Pro honors as well.
• Helped coach QB Matthew Stafford and the Rams to a victory in Super Bowl LVI during the 2021 season.

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE PACKERS-VIKINGS SERIES

The all-time series began in 1961 with the Packers rattling off six wins in a row (1961-63) before the Vikings took 22 of the next 32 contests from 1964-79.

• From 1979 to 1990, Green Bay had a run of its own, winning 16 of 21 games. Since 2000, the Packers are 28-18-2 (.604) in regular-season games against the Vikings.
• Green Bay and Minnesota have met twice in the playoffs. Both times were in an NFC Wild Card game, the Vikings winning the first matchup in 2004 before the Packers returned the favor in 2012.
• The Packers and Vikings have split the last eight regular-season games since the start of the 2020 season, and neither team has won back-to-back contests since the Vikings in 2020-21.

NOTABLE CONNECTIONS

Packers LB Eric Wilson entered the league as an undrafted free agent with Minnesota in 2017 and played for the Vikings for four seasons (2017-20)…Packers TE Ben Sims entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Minnesota during the 2023 offseason…Packers offensive assistant Sean Mannion was a quarterback for the Vikings in 2019-21 and was on Minnesota's practice squad in 2023…Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst attended high school at Robbinsdale Armstrong in Plymouth, Minn., and Totino Grace in Fridley, Minn. …Gutekunst's father, John, served as the head coach at the University of Minnesota from 1985-91...Packers executive V.P./director of football operations Russ Ball served as senior football administrator for the Vikings from 1999-2000…Packers player personnel executive Lee Gissendaner spent time on the Vikings' practice squad in 1996...Packers college scout Joe Hueber was born in St. Louis Park, Minn., and attended the University of Minnesota...Packers strength and conditioning coordinator Aaron Hill played linebacker at the University of Minnesota in 2010-13 and served as a strength and conditioning intern for the Gophers in 2014…Packers strength and conditioning assistant Marcus Jones played for the Gophers in 2011-14 and was also a speed and strength/CBs coach for the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) in 2017…Packers strength and conditioning assistant Ben Schumacher was part of the Gophers' strength and conditioning staff for eight seasons (2013, 2017-23) and he played collegiate football for Concordia University-St. Paul (2006-07)…Vikings RB Aaron Jones was drafted by Green Bay in the fifth round (No. 182 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft and played seven seasons for the Packers (2017-23)…Vikings assistant head coach/OLBs Mike Pettine was Green Bay's defensive coordinator from 2018-20...Vikings tight ends/passing game coordinator Brian Angelichio served as the Packers' tight ends coach from 2016-18...Vikings OLB Andrew Van Ginkel played at the University of Wisconsin in 2017-18…Vikings passing game coordinator/DBs coach Daronte Jones coached DBs at Wisconsin in 2015…Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and Vikings WRs coach Keenan McCardell coached on the staff together in Washington in 2010-11...McCardell played for Tampa Bay when Packers assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia was on the Buccaneers' coaching staff...LaFleur and Vikings assistant inside linebackers coach Thad Bogardus were on the Rams' staff in 2017…Bisaccia and Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips coached together for Dallas in 2013 while Packers special teams QC coach Kyle Wilber was a player for the Cowboys…Bisaccia was on the coaching staff in San Diego in 2012 when Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was with the Chargers as a quarterback during the 2012 preseason...Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, DBs coach Ryan Downard, O'Connell (2015) and Angelichio were on Pettine's staff when he served as head coach for Cleveland in 2014-15 while Vikings QBs coach Josh McCown was a player for the Browns (2015)…Hafley and Angelichio also coached together at the University of Pittsburgh in 2006-10, Rutgers in 2011 and Tampa Bay in 2012-13 prior to Cleveland…Hafley, Packers assistant DL coach Vince Oghobaase, Vikings RBs/running game coordinator Curtis Modkins and O'Connell were on the 49ers' coaching staff together in 2016…Packers LBs/running game coordinator Anthony Campanile and Vikings defensive QC Lance Bennett were on the Dolphins' staff when Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was the head coach for Miami…Packers passing game coordinator Jason Vrable, pass rush specialist Jason Rebrovich and Pettine were on the Bills' staff together in 2013…Bogardus joined Vrable and Rebrovich on Buffalo's staff in 2014…Vrable was an offensive assistant with the N.Y. Jets in 2018 when Vikings QB Sam Darnold was a rookie with the team…Packers running backs coach Ben Sirmans was on the Rams' staff when Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels played for the team (2012-14)…Sirmans and Vikings ILBs coach Mike Siravo coached together at Boston College in 2007-11…Packers passing game coordinator (defense) Derrick Ansley and Vikings assistant OL coach Shaun Sarrett were on the Chargers' staff together in 2021-23…Vikings TE Johnny Mundt, WR Brandon Powell and Packers LS Matt Orzech were teammates with the Rams.