Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.
Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.
A complete edition of the Dope Sheet will be available each week during the season in PDF format, located in the Packers.com Game Centers.
Here are some highlights from the Week 10 Dope Sheet:
THIS WEEK'S NOTABLE STORYLINES:
-Less than five weeks after most had written them off at 1-4, the Packers have the opportunity to gain first place in the NFC North.
-For the first time since he was an All-American at Marshall in 1997, the Packers could play the Vikings without Randy Moss (hamstring). Moss has more receiving yards (1,213) and TD receptions (11) against Green Bay than any opponent.
-In games after the bye week, the Packers have won seven of their last eight, including a 30-27 win at Minnesota in 2003.
-The Vikings and Packers meet for the first time since the Cardinals defeated Minnesota Dec. 28, 2003, sending Green Bay to the playoffs. The Packers finished the season 7-2 and were in position to capitalize on the Vikings loss.
-It's also Minnesota's first trip to Green Bay since the Vikings ruined Lambeau Field's rededication game, Sept. 7, 2003, with a 30-25 win.
-Two of the league's top offenses will be on display. Among NFC teams, the clubs rank 1-2 in per-game averages of total yards, net passing yards, first downs, third-down efficiency and points.
NATIONAL TELEVISION: FOX Sports, with play-by-play man Joe Buck, color analysts Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth, sideline reporter Pam Oliver, producer Richie Zyontz and director Artie Kempner, will air the game to approximately 77 percent of the country. The crew produces a Packers game for the fourth time this season.
LOCAL RADIO: Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since 1929, heads up the 62-station Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and Larry McCarren (color). The broadcast also is available to NFL Field Pass subscribers on packers.com.
NATIONAL RADIO: The Sports USA Radio Network, with Larry Kahn (play-by-play), Gino Torretta (color), Troy West (sideline) and Mark Cacciatore (producer) will air the contest.
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:
Packers vs. Vikings:
All-time regular season: 42-42-1
All-time, postseason: 0-0
All-time, Lambeau Field: 13-14-1
Last meeting, regular season: Nov. 2, 2003, Metrodome; Packers won, 30-27
Last meeting, Lambeau Field: Sept. 7, 2003, Vikings won, 30-25
COACHES CAPSULES
Mike Sherman: 49-28-0, .636, fifth NFL season, fifth with Packers
Mike Tice: 20-21-0, .488, third NFL season, third with Vikings
Head to Head: 2-2 (2002-03)
vs. Opponent: Sherman 5-3 vs. Vikings, Tice 2-2 vs. Packers
MIKE SHERMAN...Is in his fifth year as Packers head coach, and fourth as executive vice president and general manager. Sherman also:
-Inspired his players with a passionate speech on the eve of an Oct. 17 win at Detroit. The Packers, 1-4 at the time, haven't lost since.
-After Tom Rossley underwent a heart angioplasty Oct. 12, stepped forward to serve as the team's primary play caller.
-Has more wins at Minnesota (2-2) in four trips than Mike Holmgren (1-6) had in seven seasons as Green Bay head caoch. Also has as many wins against Minnesota (5-3) than Holmgren (5-9).
-Is 21-9 against division foes, and 12-3 at home.
-Became the last active head coach (minimum one season) to experience a three-game losing streak, on Oct. 3.
-Is now 6-0 against teams that played in the Super Bowl the previous season, including Sept. 13 at Carolina.
-Since 1970, only George Siefert, Chuck Knox and Joe Gibbs have posted a better regular-season mark over their first four years.
MIKE TICE...A highly regarded former NFL player, is in his third full season at the helm of the Vikings.
-Tice guided Minnesota to nine consecutive wins from 2002-03, tied for the third-best stretch in team history.
-Association with Vikings began in 1992. He lined up as a tight end from 1992-93 and in 1995, then coached the position in 1996 and coached Minnesota's offensive line from 1997-2001. In those five seasons as line coach, he produced five Pro Bowlers and 10 total Pro Bowl appearances.
-First Vikings alumni player to serve as head coach. Played 14 NFL seasons overall, the most by any active NFL head coach. Also played for the Seahawks and Redskins.
THE PACKERS-VIKINGS SERIES: Few, if any, rivalries in sports have exhibited more parity. These clubs have split 85 meetings overall (42-42-1), and also split their last 22 games (11-11-0).
-Of late, the Packers have held a slight edge, 5-3 since Mike Sherman took Green Bay's reins in 2000.
-The Packers haven't lost consecutive home games to Minnesota since 1992-93. The Vikings pierced the Packers, 30-25, last Sept. 7 in the Lambeau Field rededication game.
-In 2003, the home clubs in the series were 0-2. The last time that happened was 1991.
-Over the last 10 seasons (1994-2003), these teams have accounted for eight division championships (NFC Central 1994-2001, NFC North 2002-03).
-This marks the Vikings' first shot at the Packers since Arizona's Nathan Poole caught a game-ending touchdown on fourth-and-25, Dec. 28, sending Green Bay to the playoffs. The Packers won seven of their last nine to be in position to win the division.
-Notable single-game career highs vs. Minnesota: Donald Driver - 45 yards rushing and 45-yard run (Metrodome, 11/2/03), and only career rushing TD (Lambeau Field, 12/30/01); Brett Favre - five TD passes (tied career high, Lambeau Field, 9/21/97); Robert Ferguson - 105 receiving yards (Lambeau Field, 12/8/02).
-Notable single-opponent career highs vs. Minnesota: Robert Ferguson - 13 receptions and 167 receiving yards; Ahman Green - 37 receptions, 270 receiving yards; Darren Sharper - six interceptions (tied with Detroit and Chicago).
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS: Vikings receivers coach Charlie Baggett (receivers coach, 1999) and secondary coach Chuck Knox Jr. (defensive assistant/quality control, 1999) were on previous Green Bay staffs...Nick Rogers and Ben Steele recently played for the Vikings...Meanwhile, four individuals in the Packers organization have previously worked or played for the Vikings: Receivers coach Ray Sherman (quarterbacks coach, 1995-97 and O-coordinator, 1999); director of research and development Mike Eayrs (similar capacity, 1985-99); college scout Lee Gissendaner (player, 1996); and PR director Jeff Blumb (PR intern 1985 in Bud Grant's return season)...College teammates: Bryant McKinnie (Vikings), Nick Luchey and Bubba Franks (Packers) at Miami (Fla.)...Brian Russell (Vikings) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (Packers) at San Diego State...Antoine Winfield (Vikings) and Na'il Diggs (Packers) at Ohio State...Minnesota's head trainer Chuck Barta and Packers assistant trainer Kurt Fielding were classmates at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse...Vikings running back Michael Bennett rushed for 1,681 yards in his only season as a Wisconsin starter, 2000, second in Badger history; a former Milwaukee Tech High School star, Bennett's uncle is former Packer Tony Bennett...Dean Dalton, Minnesota's running backs coach, was a coach at the University of Wisconsin (1986-87)...John Schneider, Green Bay's personnel analyst to the general manager, attended St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Min....Packers Pro Hall of Famer Johnny (Blood) McNally attended St. John's University in Collegeville, Min.
LAST MEETING: Nov. 2, 2003, Metrodome; Packers won, 30-27.
-Brett Favre, playing his first game after learning he'd broken his thumb, threw three touchdowns and even threw a key block as the Packers saved their season. Favre would go on to lead the NFL with 33 TD passes, throwing 19 with the broken thumb.
-Ahman Green rushed 21 times for 137 yards to lead a ground game that gained 261 yards, most by a Green Bay team since Forrest Gregg's club had 285, Oct. 6, 1985, vs. Detroit. Green also had five catches for 52 yards and a score. Two of Javon Walker's three receptions went for Green Bay touchdowns.
LAST MEETING, LAMBEAU FIELD: Sept. 7, 2003; Vikings won, 30-25.
-Randy Moss caught nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown as the Vikings ruined the Packers' Lambeau Field rededication.
-The Packers rallied from a 27-3 deficit but injuries stalled their comeback. After losing starting receivers Donald Driver (neck strain) and Robert Ferguson (ankle, knee) on the same fourth-quarter drive, Corey Chavous picked off Favre for the second time.
-Favre threw four interceptions, three in the first half, as the Packers fell behind 20-3.
-Moss capitalized on Darren Sharper's absence. With Sharper severely limited by a strained groin, Moss' 13-yard catch made it 27-3, casting a shadow over the Lambeau Field celebration.
