Vikings-Packers Snapshot

Get the series history, rankings, keys to the game and fast facts as the Vikings and Packers prepare to renew their longtime rivalry.

Sunday
Baltimore Ravens (6-2) at Tennessee Titans (2-6)
Buffalo Bills (3-5) at Indianapolis Colts (8-0)
Cleveland Browns (2-6) at Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
Green Bay Packers (3-5) at Minnesota Vikings (4-4)
Houston Texans (2-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)
Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) at Miami Dolphins (2-6)
New York Jets (4-4) at New England Patriots (6-2)
San Diego Chargers (6-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-4)
San Francisco 49ers (3-5) at Detroit Lions (2-6)
Washington Redskins (3-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)
Denver Broncos (6-2) at Oakland Raiders (2-6)
Dallas Cowboys (4-4) at Arizona Cardinals (1-7)
New Orleans Saints (6-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6)
St. Louis Rams (4-4) at Seattle Seahawks (5-3)
Chicago Bears (7-1) at New York Giants (6-2)
Monday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6) at Carolina Panthers (4-4)

Green Bay Packers (3-5) at Minnesota Vikings (4-4)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1:00 ET
GAMEDATE: 11/12/06
SURFACE: FieldTurf
TV: FOX, Kenny Albert, Brian Baldinger, Jay Glazer

SERIES

91st meeting. The Vikings lead the series 45-44-1. The teams are actually at a 44-44-1 stalemate in the regular season, but Minnesota won the NFC North rivals’ lone postseason encounter, 31-17 at Green Bay in the NFC wild-card round during the 2004 season. The Vikings have won the last three meetings, earning their first series sweep last season since 1998. The Packers, though, have won two of the last three games at the Metrodome.

2006 rankings

Packers: offense 10th (11th rush, 7th pass); defense 21st (10th rush, 32nd pass).

Vikings:offense 19th (14th rush, 18th pass); defense 6th (1st rush, 18th pass)

KEYS TO THE GAME

If the Vikings are ever going to get their moribund passing attack going, it should be at home against the league’s No. 32-ranked pass defense. The Packers are much stronger against the run, but the Vikings will still attempt to establish RB Chester Taylor early on because QB Brad Johnson has six turnovers in the past two games.

Green Bay’s own running game has improved with RB Ahman Green rushing for a combined 346 yards on 5.6 yards per carry the past three games. Still, the Vikings are extremely difficult to run against, and QB Brett Favre will have to make plays in the passing game for the Packers to win. Vikings rookie CB Cedric Griffin will start if Fred Smoot (death in the family) isn’t ready for action.

FAST FACTS

The past four regular-season meetings have been decided by a field goal as time expired.

Packers: DE Aaron Kampman leads the NFL with 9.5 sacks and has at least one in five consecutive games. ... Rookie OLB A.J. Hawk leads the team with 73 tackles, and has at least six in every game.

Vikings: Outscoring opponents 59-19 in the fourth quarter. ... Taylor is averaging 102.5 rushing yards over the past four games.