GREEN BAY – Three straight losses and a showdown looming against the team that has overtaken them in the NFC North haven't caused the slightest inclination toward panic in the Packers' locker room.
According to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, that's a reflection of the leadership of Head Coach Mike McCarthy and the understanding there's no lack of confidence amongst the players, in themselves or in their teammates.
"We stick together, believe in each other, believe in the plan and stay the course," Rodgers said on Wednesday as the Packers were preparing to hit the practice field for the first time prior to Sunday's divisional clash in Minnesota.
"Mike (McCarthy) talks about that a lot, about believing in the direction we're going and not wavering from that."
Accordingly, Rodgers hasn't changed his recovery and preparation routines this week or done anything out of the ordinary. The offense needs a jump-start, but Rodgers does not believe it's going to come from acting out of character.
Recognizing there was a sideline incident involving a few defensive players two weeks ago in Carolina, Rodgers called that "surprising and overblown," because it's not the norm with this team, and there have been no lingering effects.
That's not to say anyone considers the current results acceptable, and Rodgers' tone was noticeably more subdued in the weekly media session at his locker. The problems on offense last week against Detroit were multiple, and missed throws, dropped passes and mental errors were all cited by the QB as reasons for producing just three points through 3½ quarters.
As for the leader going through a rough stretch, Rodgers agreed with McCarthy's description that he's "banged-up," but he has no overriding health concerns despite being listed on the injury report with a right shoulder injury and being limited in Wednesday's practice. He disagreed with the idea he's pressing, and with the notion the offense is too predictable.
"I don't think you could have predicted we'd throw it 61 times," he said, referring to last Sunday's franchise-record-tying pass total. "That's 13 more than I've thrown it in a game before."
More early passing success will lead to the balance the Packers seek. A Rodgers-led offense has most often thrown the ball to open up running lanes, which then gets the two facets of run and pass playing off one another.
With defenses loading the box and playing man coverage on the outside – Rodgers said Jordy Nelson's absence has all but eliminated opponents playing two deep safeties anymore – the best way to get running backs James Starks and Eddie Lacy going is to get into a sustained, up-tempo passing rhythm as soon as possible.
"Defenses are dictating us throwing the ball a little bit more, so we need to be efficient throwing it to set up the run," Rodgers said. "If we can do that, we need James and Eddie to make the right cuts and get yards after contact."
Lacy missed last week's game with a groin injury but was back at practice on Wednesday as a full participant. Rookie receiver Ty Montgomery (ankle) also practiced in full, and McCarthy is hoping he gets medical clearance this week to return to game action. With Jared Abbrederis (rib/chest) out several weeks, Montgomery and/or Jeff Janis would be in line for more work, but neither has taken offensive snaps since the bye week, with Janis playing solely on special teams.
Take a look back in time at memorable photos from prior Packers-Vikings matchups in Minnesota. Photos by Jim Biever, Vern Biever, Matt Becker and AP.
Oct. 27, 2013 - QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 285 yards, two touchdowns and a 130.6 passer rating. Game balls were awarded to the entire offense for its effort in the 44-31 victory.
Oct. 27, 2013 - RB Eddie Lacy led all rushers with 94 yards. During the team's last meeting on Oct. 2, 2014 at Lambeau Field, QB Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and a passer rating of 138.5 while Lacy ran for a season-high 105 yards and two touchdowns.
Oct. 27, 2013 - RBs Eddie Lacy (94 yards) and James Starks (57) combined for 151 of a total 182 rushing yards.
Oct. 27, 2013- WR Jordy Nelson had seven receptions for 123 yards, including a 76-yard TD.
Oct. 27, 2013 - DT Mike Daniels sacked Minnesota QB Christian Ponder twice, the first two-sack game of Daniels' career. The effort doubled his season sack total to four.
Oct. 27, 2013 - K Mason Crosby was 3-for-3 on field goals, from 30, 20 and 45 yards, and made all five of his PATs for 14 total points.
Nov. 21, 2010 - James Jones hauls in a picture perfect one-handed catch with five seconds left in the first half, putting the Packers up, 17-3, on the way to a 31-3 win. Nearly three months later, the Packers went on to win Super Bowl XLV.
Oct. 5, 2009 - Jermichael Finley runs for a tough 62 yards and a touchdown in 2009, bringing the score to 7-7 during the first quarter at the Metrodome. Finley was the third leading receiver on the team with 676 yards and five TDs in 2009.
Nov. 17, 2002 - Donald Driver races 84 yards on a fourth quarter touchdown pass from Brett Favre as Vikings LB Greg Biekert chases him. Through 108 meetings, which includes two postseason contests (1-1), the Packers hold a 57-49-2 edge over the Vikings in the all-time series.
Dec. 3, 1967 - Vikings QB Joe Kapp is lifted high by LB Lee Roy Caffey (60) as he attempts a pass. The Packers won, 30-27, finished first in the NFL Central that season and went on to win Super Bowl II.
Nov. 21, 2010 - The captains photo before the Packers' 31-3 win in Minneapolis. Pictured are Tim Masthay (8), Charles Woodson (21), Jordy Nelson (87), Aaron Rodgers (photo-bombing) and Matt Flynn (photo-bombing).
Dec. 5, 1976 - LB Fred Carr (53) gets ready as Vikings kicker Fred Cox prepares for the snap. The Packers lost, 20-9, as 43,700 fans were in attendance at the Metropolitan in Bloomington, Minn.
Sept. 30, 2007 - Brett Favre celebrates after completing a record-setting 16-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Favre set the NFL record for career touchdown passes at 421, surpassing Dan Marino.
Nov. 21, 1965 - Bart Starr takes the field in Minneapolis during pregame warm-ups. Coach Vince Lombardi had the upper hand over the Vikings in Minnesota's first five seasons in the NFL, going 9-1 against them in that span.
Dec. 30, 2012 - QB Christian Ponder is sacked by Clay Matthews in the first half. Matthews led the team with sacks, finishing with 13 for the year.
Nov. 1, 1964 - FB Billy Brown hurtles over LB Dan Currie (58) for a six-yard gain in the third quarter in Minneapolis. He was tackled shortly after by DT Henry Jordan. DE Willie Davis (87) can be seen in the background. The Packers won, 42-13.
Nov. 11, 2010 - Packers defenders swarm the ball, tackling RB Adrian Peterson for a loss. The Packers won, 31-3. Under Head Coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers have swept the regular season series against the Vikings four times (2011, 2010, 2007, 2006). Since McCarthy took over in 2006, the Packers have a 12-4-1 record (.735) against the Vikings in the regular season.
Dec. 20, 1999 - Brett Favre pitches the ball back to RB Dorsey Levens as he falls into the line during the fourth quarter of Monday Night Football. The Vikings won, 24-20.
Nov. 9, 2008 - Brett Goode (61), Ryan Pickett (79) and Aaron Rodgers (12) stand for the traditional Packers' captains photo before a game at the Metrodome. In a rare occurrence, Rodgers was on the receiving end of a photo-bomb.
Oct. 5, 2009 - Clay Matthews runs for a memorable touchdown after stripping the ball from RB Adrian Peterson during the first half.
Nov. 17, 2002 - TE Bubba Franks catches a three-yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre during the third quarter in Minneapolis. Franks was the Packers second leading receiver in touchdowns that year with seven.
Dec. 17, 2000 - WR Bill Schroeder evades LB Kailee Wong and CB Kenny Wright (20) for a long gain in the second quarter. The win reclaimed hope for a playoff run for first-year Head Coach Mike Sherman. It also snapped a two-year losing streak in Minnesota and was the third win in the last ten years there.
Oct. 23, 2011 - Charles Woodson runs back a Christian Ponder interception for 26 yards to help the Packers in their 33-27 victory. The win secured the team with a 7-0 record and first place in the division. The Packers are 8-1-1 in the last 10 games between the teams during the regular and postseason, including 3-1 at Minnesota. The Packers' only loss during that span was by three points in 2012.
Oct. 2, 1977 - QB Fran Tarkenton gets sacked for a 20-yard loss by DE Bob Barber. LB Fred Carr (53) is in the background.
Nov. 17, 2002 - RB Michael Bennett misses on a stiff-arm as CB Mike McKenzie brings him down for a loss. The Packers finished first in the NFC North that year with a record of 12-4.
Nov. 5, 1995 - Cris Carter and Reggie White share a moment in prayer at the Packers bench after the game. Over the last 20 seasons (1994-2013), these teams have accounted for 15 NFC Central/North division championships.
Dec. 30, 2012 - RB DuJuan Harris runs from defenders Brian Robison and Jamarca Sanford during the second half. Since 2006, the Packers have scored 20-plus points against the Vikings in 15 of 16 regular-season games. The Packers' 495 points scored in the regular-season since 2006 are the most against the Vikings in the NFL, and Green Bay's 29.1 points per game leads the league among teams that have played Minnesota at least four times over that span.
Dec. 17, 1984 - TE Paul Coffman jumps over defender John Swain as Tom Hannon (45) chases. Coffman gained 26 yards on the pass play from QB Lynn Dickey as the Packers beat the Vikings 38-14.
Nov. 9, 2008 - Johnny Jolly flexes after stuffing RB Adrian Peterson on third down for no gain. Sunday will be the first outdoor game (TCF Bank Stadium) between the Packers and Vikings in Minnesota since they played at Metropolitan Stadium on Nov. 29, 1981.
Nov. 21, 1965 - QB Fran Tarkenton (10) throws an incomplete pass as DE Lionel Aldridge (82) holds his hands in the air to obstruct his view. The Packers won, 38-13.
Nov. 2, 2003 - K Ryan Longwell kicks a field goal late in the fourth quarter that went on to be the deciding margin in the Packers' 30-27 win. The Packers have scored 30-plus points in six of their last eight regular-season games against Minnesota, averaging 33.7 points per game over that span. That included a 42-point game earlier this season, a 44-point outing at Minnesota last season in Week 8, the most points ever scored by Green Bay at the Metrodome, and a 45-point effort at Lambeau Field in 2011.
"We'll see," Janis said about getting more opportunities from scrimmage. "If they call my name, I'll be ready to go out and make some plays. I just have to keep up with my preparation."
Left tackle David Bakhtiari, who exited Sunday's game with a knee injury, practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday, but right guard T.J. Lang (shoulder) and right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) were sitting out. Left guard Josh Sitton (knee) was also limited.
On Monday, McCarthy said some players were trying to do too much, and on Wednesday the players appeared to be taking that message to heart.
"All the coaches are preaching, all the players are preaching, just do what we do," receiver James Jones said. "Don't try to be anybody you're not, try to go out there and make spectacular catches or spectacular throws. Just be yourself, let's do the routine stuff, and we'll be fine."
Now it's about carrying it over to Sunday.
"Both teams get paid every week," Rodgers said. "We have to earn our money this week and play better."
