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GREEN BAY (4-4) at MINNESOTA (4-4)
Sunday, Nov. 9 l HHH Metrodome l 12 p.m. CST



WITH THE CALL

- FOX Sports enters its 15th season as an NFL network television partner and will air the contest to a regional audience.

- Play-by-play man Joe Buck joins color analyst Troy Aikman in the booth with Pam Oliver serving as the sideline reporter.

PACKERS HEAD WEST FOR DIVISION SHOWDOWN

- Green Bay makes its annual trip to the Metrodome Sunday to face the archrival Minnesota Vikings - the 96th meeting between the two clubs.

- Both teams come into the contest at 4-4, tied for second place in the NFC North behind division leader Chicago (5-3).

- Green Bay's bid to knock off the undefeated Titans in Nashville fell short in overtime last Sunday, losing 19-16. There won't be time to dwell on the loss, as the club now faces division rivals in back-to-back weeks, which could go a long way in determining the division champion.

- The first test will come on the road in Minneapolis, a place Head Coach Mike McCarthy (2-0) has not lost since arriving in Green Bay. In fact, McCarthy is 5-0 against the Vikings.

- Green Bay has won four of the last five in Minnesota, one of the league's loudest venues. It is 23-23-0 all-time in the state against the Vikings.

- One of the NFL's great border wars has been a traditionally tight series, with the Packers holding a slight all-time advantage (49-45-1, including playoffs). The Packers' current five-game winning streak is the longest in the series since 1983-85, when Green Bay won five straight. A sixth consecutive win would be the longest in the series since its inception, when the Packers took six in a row from 1961-63 under Vince Lombardi.

- The two clubs met in Week 1 in primetime on Monday night, with the Packers winning a tight contest 24-19 at Lambeau Field. QB Aaron Rodgers was efficient (18-of-22, 178 yards, 1 TD passing, 1 TD rushing, 115.5 rating) in his first career start, while a late interception sealed the victory for Green Bay.

- This time Minnesota lines up with a different QB under center in veteran Gus Frerotte, who is 4-2 this season as the Minnesota starter.

- Behind three Frerotte touchdown passes, the Vikings defeated the Houston Texans, 28-21, Sunday at the Metrodome. Minnesota has won three of its last four games.

IN THE 'BLACK AND BLUE' DIVISION

- Two of the Packers early wins have come against division opponents.

- Since division play opened in 1967, the team has opened the season only one other time with two divisional wins: 1998.

- After this weekend's contest against the Vikings, the Packers will continue division play in Week 11, hosting the Bears, before stepping outside the NFC North for another month.

- In games that ultimately could decide playoff seeding and the division crown, Green Bay wraps up the regular season with a trip to Chicago and a home contest against the Lions.

- McCarthy's solid 11-3 record in the NFL's 'black and blue' division is noteworthy because he's undefeated against two of the division opponents: Detroit (5-0) and Minnesota (5-0). The Packers are just 1-3 against Chicago over the past two seasons.

Must win game, period.

Nice job on the game threads.

Spread these f'ers out and throw all day. They cannot stop our passing game.

And yes, if we lose this game, playoffs are highly unlikely.

Im going to the game. Leaving tomorrow stayin in minny all weekend long. Going to be a blast. Any suggestions for a sign anyone?

DMBucks22 wrote:Im going to the game. Leaving tomorrow stayin in minny all weekend long. Going to be a blast. Any suggestions for a sign anyone?

A witty Jared Allen diss would be nice. Nothing comes to mind though. Or something about the Williamses and their situation.

Finshing
Off the
ViXs

Lame?

I cant think of nothin

http://www.vikings-suck.com/

It's not going to get you on tv, but it'll sure as hell piss off some Viking fans.

Great website. Just dont think I got that much time on my hands to get that in. hmmmmmmm

DMBucks22 wrote:Im going to the game. Leaving tomorrow stayin in minny all weekend long. Going to be a blast. Any suggestions for a sign anyone?

Hey Childress, Favre called, want Matt Millens gameplan?

Alright, let's hear some predictions.

31-20 Packers.

280 yards and 2 patds, 25 yards 1rutd for A-Rod.

80 yards and a td from Grant.

And my bold prediction is that Finley catches his first career td after a rough week.

I heard earlier in the week on the Green Bay sports radio morning show (Bill & Rookie - The Fan) that there surprisingly wasn't much talk about this game in the Cities. They had an interview with a writer from the Star Tribune and he said for whatever reason people up there weren't talking about this game much. I don't know why as this is a HUGE game in my opinion. I would say the loser's playoff chances will take a BIG hit, especially if its Minnesota. They need this one whereas the Pack at least have 2 shots at the Bears. But hopefully the Pack come out and keep the crowd out of it and get a big win. I still think the potential is there to make some noise in the NFC, especially with some health coming back.

I'll say:

Green Bay 23
Minnesota 20

This is pathetic.

This is going EXTREMELY WELL so far.

Man this team looks like crap. Zero pass protection and our defense is a joke.

Charles Woodson is the man!

I'm going back to school to get a PHD so I splice the DNA of Woodson and Mbah a Moute.

Mags FTW wrote:I'm going back to school to get a PHD so I splice the DNA of Woodson and Mbah a Moute.

I am not ashamed sir, to say that you are a genius. Put me down for several Mbah a Wootes.

Much better.

Nice..TD!!

Ryan Grant