GREEN BAY-MINNESOTA HEADLINES WEEK 8 SCHEDULE
- The attention of football fans around the globe will be transfixed on Lambeau Field today, as the Packers host the archrival Vikings in a pivotal NFC North showdown.
- All eyes will be on Vikings QB Brett Favre, who makes his return to Lambeau Field after 16 seasons in Green and Gold.
- For the border neighbors, this marks the latest twist to a rivalry which will see Game No. 98 in the all-time series.
- Both franchises opted for new head coaches in '06, and thus far Head Coach Mike McCarthy has a 5-2 advantage over Vikings coach Brad Childress.
- It was under four weeks ago that the two teams met in the Metrodome on a Monday night. The largest audience in the history of cable television saw the Vikings defeat the Packers 30-23 behind eight sacks.
- Matching the top two teams in the NFC North, today's game could have far-reaching implications in the division race.
BACK AND FORTH THE SERIES GOES
- Few rivalries in sports have exhibited the same parity as Packers-Vikings.
- Through 97 meetings, which includes one postseason game, Green Bay holds a slight 49-47-1 advantage.
- Fans can bet on a back-and-forth contest when these two clubs meet, one that always seems to come down to the final possession. In fact, 13 of the last 14 games have been decided by seven points or less, the lone exception being the Packers' 34-0 blanking of the Vikings in 2007 at Lambeau Field.
- Not only do the games seem to always come down to the last possession, but more recently they have come down to a final kick. From 2004-2008, six out of the 10 contests 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.
AWARD GOES RODGERS' WAY
- Earlier in the week, QB Aaron Rodgers was honored as the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. CB Charles Woodson was honored in September as the NFC's Defensive Player of the Month.
- Rodgers led the Packers to a 2-1 record and posted an NFL-best 123.9 passer rating during the month.
- He had a passer rating of at least 110 in all three games, including a near-perfect 155.4 mark in Week 7 at Cleveland, the highest single-game total in franchise history.
- Rodgers completed an NFC-best 74.5 percent of his passes (70 of 94) during October and his 10.51 yards per attempt led the league.
- Also, he threw for 988 yards in October and averaged an NFL-high 329.3 yards per game.
TODAY'S CAPTAINS
- As per team tradition, the Packers select game captains each week.
- Today's captains will be C Scott Wells (offense), S Nick Collins (defense) and TE/LB Spencer Havner (special teams).
THE LAMBEAU ADVANTAGE
- Enjoying one of the distinct home field advantages in the National Football League, the Packers host the 281st consecutive sellout at Lambeau Field today. The streak includes 16 playoff contests.
-Green Bay is 2-1 on the season at Lambeau Field and has won 15 of the last 21 regular-season games played at the stadium.
- The Packers have won four of the last five regular-season meetings against the Vikings at Lambeau Field, most recently a 24-19 victory in the 2008 season opener. Head Coach Mike McCarthy has won all three home games against Minnesota since arriving in 2006.
- In last season's matchup at Lambeau Field, QB Aaron Rodgers, making his first career start, established a career high with a completion percentage of 81.8, the second-highest mark in NFL history by a quarterback (min. 20 attempts) in his first start. An interception by Green Bay's defense in the final minutes sealed the victory.
WEARING THE STRIPES
Today's officiating crew includes referee Tony Corrente (99), umpire Fred Bryan (11), head linesman John McGrath (5), line judge John Hussey (35), field judge Gary Cavaletto (60), side judge Allen Baynes (56) and back judge Greg Wilson (119).
**WHAT TO WATCH FOR
**
- For his career, has hit 46-of-50 field goals from 39 yards-and-closer.
- Has hit 17-of-24 field goals from 40-49 yards.
- Has hit 7-of-14 field goals from 50-plus yards.
80 DONALD DRIVER
- Surpassed Sterling Sharpe (595) to become the franchise's all-time leader in receptions. Driver enters with 604 career catches.
- Has a reception in 117 consecutive games, besting the franchise's previous long streak of Sharpe's 103 (1988-94).
25 RYAN GRANT
- Enters with 2,654 career rushing yards.
- Has 10 100-yard games in his career.
- When he gets 22 carries or more, the team is 9-1 (10-1 incl. playoffs).
34 AHMAN GREEN
- Needs 46 rushing yards to surpass No. 1 Jim Taylor (8,207) on the franchise's all-time list. Green is No. 2 with 8,162.
- Needs two carries to surpass Taylor (1,811 attempts) for the franchise mark in career carries.
74 AARON KAMPMAN
- With 53 career sacks, is No. 4 on the team's all-time sacks list. Needs three more to move past No. 3 Tim Harris (55).
- Has started 95 of the last 96 games, only missing the 2007 regular-season finale to rest for the playoffs.
12 AARON RODGERS
- In 22 career starts, has eclipsed a 100.0-plus passer rating 12 times.
- Has six career 300-yard games and five 3-TD games.
21 CHARLES WOODSON
- Has 40 career interceptions, 23 in 52 games since coming to Green Bay in 2006. Woodson had 17 interceptions in 106 games with Oakland.
- Is tied for second in interceptions in the NFL since 2006 with 23 (Asante Samuel - PHI, 24, Ed Reed - BAL 23).
- His five interception-return TDs since 2006 is the most in the league during that span.
