OK, the Packers disposed of the Browns handily. Grant ran hard, Hawk showed up, the defense played well, Rodgers was terrific, the WR's were excellent, the special teams held in Cribbs, Crosby did the nearly impossible by hitting the goal line marker from sixty yards away- it all turned out well. Now, for the one we have all been waiting for. The one that counts. The one that matters. The one that will determine the rest of the seaon- Brett is returning to Lambeau- and will run out of the opposite tunnel in purple.

Thanks for starting this off, ricky.

I still remember what Lovie Smith said when he took over the Bears...their goal was to beat the Packers. Our goal is to beat the Vikings.

I agree that there will be more pressure on Rodgers than on Favre. We have to tools to win, it's just using them correctly. That means keeping Rodgers on his feet and Grant running all over the field.

It looked to me today, that Lang did a pretty good job. I almost feel like they should keep him in rather than bringing Clifton back. I'm hoping that Green can play some...at least to add a little to the run game.

Regarding Favre's entrance into the stadium, I have mixed feelings. I absolutely hate it when fans are booing any players, but I can't see giving him a warm welcome...not now at least. I like the idea of silence, but with all the hype, don't think that's going to happen. I just hope the fans show how classey they really are and show good taste.

I am so nervous about this game. As much as I hate to say it, the Vikings have been playing well and we haven't in many of our games. Hopefully the Detroit and Cleveland games have helped get them back on track.

As far as I'm concerned...this game is for the NFC north championship and we need to play that way.

A solid "amen" here. The Vikings have been playing well enough to win, while the Packers (especially with the sloppy play causing all those penalties) have not looked as good. The Packers should have beaten the Bengals and Vikings- but, that gets into "woulda, coulda, shoulda" thinking, which I reject. Either you win or you lose. Quite simply. The Packers lost both games. Time to move on. Time, as I wrote, to get revenge. Favre is looking to "stick it" to either TT or the Packers- or maybe both. On a certain level, I don't care. He is now the enemy, and should be hunted down and defeated. However, on another level, this guy was the face of the Packers for over a decade. Now, apparently, he has become the face of the Vikings (I recently heard the Vikings-Pittsburgh game described as "Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers" on ESPN. Has he already overshadowed Adrian Peterson? I believe so. This is a man who casts a long shadow. Its time for Rodgers and the Packers to throw some light onto the shadow, and disperse it for once and all.

Didn't he do that with the first win? Or does he and the Vikes need to win twice for it to be a sticking? Bigger picture is that the Pack need this win to cinch closer to the division lead. A split with the Vikings will be a positive at this point and will go a long way in determining the division winner. Just as much as we Packer fans want a win in this rivalry, the Vikings fans can already say they have one this year. The door swings both ways. Forget Favre and look at the big picture.

The worst part about this week is going to be listening to Fox massively overhype the tired old "Favre vs the Packers" thing again only a few short weeks after ESPN's "FavreFavreFavreFavre" coverage.

I'm with Budman up there, I'm sick and tired of hearing over and over again about one guy's quest to prove whatever it is he's trying to prove. All I care about is that we need to win this game or our path to the playoffs becomes much more difficult -- that's what's important here.

Yep, lost in the big game is that this is a game that will probably determine the winner of the division. I think it's gonna be a battle. Close game and a good one.

I don't think Harris is looking not good and that Favre and the Vikings are going to go at him every chance they get. I still think the best thing to do is on pass downs is blitz almost every time just get in Favre's face. I think he will screw up rather then step up again and Woodson or Collins will make him pay.

I want to reply to this part Ricky... I have been to numerous games as I am sure others on here as well have... In all the opposing Stadiums I have been in, Favre has always been greeted with nice cheers and such... Not sure what its been like since the last few years of Waffling ...Kinda like he does not Play for MY Team anymore ...So I dont travel to go see him play...But My Take is possibly that if WE as fans BOOO Him Like crazy...make sure he gets our gest of how I think a majority feel I am not so sure he would know how to take this. Could this affect his psychy... Maybe Maybe Not.....It is Personal... Between him and whoever.... TT..MM ...whatever... I understand the other side of the coin as well and give hims his props...But I just dont think Sunday when you are playing your enemy for FIRST Place in the Division you give anyone there props... That can come later when Fences are mended and he comes back to Retire...A WHOLE DIFFERENT SUBJECT THERE....But you get my point...That FIELD is the FIELD of BATTLE...Yeah its a game and all but WE need this game...and any advantage we can get ...Lets Take IT........

JMO

Just an FYI....


Sources: Winfield likely out 4-6 weeks


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4593260

This guy played us great up in the Humpty dome....We need to exploit that D.....make it into a shoot out at Lambeau....

I hope Favre gets mores Boos than Yeas. He is now the enemy and hasn't done anything for for me lately. Wait, he fumbled and threw an Int to lose the game today.. I guess cheering him when he fumbles or throws Ints is OK!

Yeah that would be a new Record for him..Getting cheered at Lambeau for Throwing Picks and or Fumbling....

There will be boos and cheers for Brett. But Capt Comeback will press more because he would love to stick it to TT at the holy ground of Lambeau and we all know it. The gunslinger cost the Choke Vikes today and with some pressure I think he will throw a couple of picks next week.

I hope Lang starts at LT and Yellow Flag Clifton is on the bench to start the game. If Lang cant do it you can bring Yellow Flag of the bench and see what he has.

Packers 28
Vikings 24

Our OL better come to play. They deserve a better showing and they owe it to Rodgers.

Leave the kid in till he shows he can't do the job. Keep Cliffy on the bench where he can get healthier.

Is there a league rule that dictates how high the grass can be?
My guess is that it will be a bit longer this week to slow their pass rush, Percy Harvin and AP.

Besides the Cleveland game have the Vikings played on grass this year? Pitt has the field turf I think and then they have been in the dome(s) for all the other games.

jpackman, I understand your point- however, wouldn't it throw off Favre's psyche even more to get cheered when he first trots onto the field- then gets viciously catcalled when he actually plays the game?

As to your unasked and, possibly, not even intended question- would I welcome Favre back so he could retire in a Packer uniform? Yes. He was the face of the Packers for for so many years, and has given me so many great memories, ues, I'll be more than willing to accept him back.

I'm not sure what Favre would need to put his ghosts to rest. Yes, the first win was probably sweet. A sweep? That would be the icing on the cake.

Now, I gave Favre these motivations as personal goals. However, I also noted that the Packers needed to win this game not only to prevent that, but to get closer to the Vikings in the standings. I see this game as a double edged opportunity. First- the Packers could be on top of the North in two weeks, if they can defeat the Vikings and Tampa Bay. Second, they would prevent a "Favre sweep". Because that is the way the media would portray this, and the way a large part of the country would see it.

So, lets all pull for a Packers victory- again. Because this game is big. Very big. And the Packers need to show up early and strong. However, I also believe that the pressure is more on the Packers than the Vikings. After all, this is the Packers home; the Packers have been less than sterling in home games the last few years; it is also the Packers who are facing off against their old icon.

If the Packers win, they could very well take off on a winning streak that could take them- who knows where? At least the playoffs- and then, its the "hot" team that has the advantage. And that team could be the Packers this year.

Favre should be boo'd. The time to cheer him will come when he's put in the Packers Hall of Fame soem time down the road. But right now? He should be boo'd relentlessly so that it throws him off his game and he turns into an emotional mess, as he's been apt to do in the past.

I see no obligation to thank Favre for his contribution of the last 16 years. He was a paid employee and he was in it to succeed. He didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart. So I feel no compulsion to be charitable.

There's nothing "un-classy" about booing. It's the game. Boo him.

SINATRA.............Exactly....Preverbial NAIL ON HEAD.... Its about the Game..The Lead in the Division...and if we as FANS can help our team out by BOOING BF for this time and in hopes it does throw him off... With that EGO... My opinion is that BF wants to Walk on Lambeau and Be Cheered so he can have that against MM and TT and show them he is still Loved and THEY WERE WRONG... and that is just one of the reasons..Yeah he wants to beat the Packers in Lambeau.. and show them up again... WE AS FANS NEED TO SUPPORT OUR TEAM IN THE FIELD OF BATTLE this week.. and if it means helping them out by BOOING ole BF..then so be it... as you Point Out there will be another time to show LOVE...But SUNDAY is NOT THE DAY.....NO MORE LOVE......

As far as my Opinion is ...WE should BOO him relentlessly .... My opinion is that BF will not know how to take it...all you have to do is go back to the Landing at GB from Miss 2 years ago.... He ATE THAT STUFF UP..With the Greeting of the FANS...He Wants that again this time from 70,000 in Lambeau in front of the TV , The FANS and TT and Packer managment...at least 80 % of this Game is Mental...and we can help our Team this weekend ...We all know how BF plays when Hyped.. Yeah in the Humpty dome he got up... but this is Lambeau Field... and this will be different.. if he gets Cheered that will just help HIM out and not OUR TEAM....

The BF thing is a good side story. Main story is this is a home division game that we need to win. Things fell into place yesterday, now it is time to take the division.

GO PACK!

A relative of mine, who became a bigger Favre fan than Packer fan in recent years was through the roof at this season.

My point is that while he was finding a million excuses for why the Vikes lost yesterday, other than the real one... I decided that I can't wait for the Pack to get revenge this week.

Hope it's a blowout... But I know better.

My prediction: 27-24

Maybe I won't hear: "Bet Ted is regretting letting that Hall of Famer go."

Apparently you guys don't know how to really be classy

I think the key to the game is constant pressure and harassment of BF the whole game. Knock him down on every throw. Get in his head and talk smack when he is picking himself up. You know if he is constanly under pressure he will through bone head passes.

MUST WIN. You all know the reasons!

34-27 GB.

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USWI...pnav_undeclared

An addendum. The Vikings did not deserve to lose to the Steeelers. It was a stolen win on freak plays. The Packers will need to bring their "A" game in every facet, play mistake free (especially penalties), protect AR, get the running game going to win this game. This is a grudge match- right now, much more than Chicago (not historically or emotionally, but in reality). The Bears are going nowhere but down. The Vikings are for real- at least for this half of the season (I still maintain they are a "split personality team"- do well in the first half, and fade in the second half, or vice-versa).

Do, what does this mean? It could well mean a Vikings sweep of the Packers this year. Because getting wins against the worst is expected. Getting wins against teams that have better records and scary reputations (as the Cowboys did on Sunday against Atlanta) is totally different. Until the Packers face off against a perceived superior team, and win, they haven't done it. Don't tell me what your're going to do. Show me what you've done.

Packers wins have come against teams with a combined record of 5-21.

Packers losses have come against teams with a combined record of 11-3.

Another loss to the Vikings and we will not contend for anything. We need to beat a team with a good record. We feed off the bottom feeders of the league, but can't seem to win against quality teams. A win against a 6-1 team is much needed!!

Ok, the Vikings maybe didn't deserve to lose yesterday, but did they deserve their win against SF? How about their win against Baltimore?

As for this game, I think the roles are reversed. The Packers had to play conservative D with Bigby out, and although GB stopped AP, the secondary was shredded. A shuffled O-line didn't help either. Tables have now turned. Winfield is out 4-6 weeks for the Queens, we won't be seeing him. Hopefully, the Packers play the same O-line as last week. 0 sacks against any team when you're the league leader in that category is a huge improvement. Don't change what worked last week. As it has been said earlier, teams have been taking away the slants and daring Rodgers to beat him deep. Well, the WR's look like they got a majority of their drops out of the way, and will the Queens risk Rodgers beating them deep against a back-up CB? And, most importantly... this game is in LAMBEAU. The Green Bay Faithful need to get loud enough to cause some false starts on the other side of the ball. Despite what we may think, I'm sure crowd noise contributed to some of the false starts the Packers had. The Vikings had everything going for them last time, now Green Bay has everything going for them, this time. 7 one way, and I predict 7 the other way.

GB - 27
Min - 20

If the Steelers had thrown a last-second hail mary down the field or kicked a desperation last-second 65 yard figgie for the win I might agree that at least they got lucky, but saying that the Vikings didn't deserve to lose after coughing up the ball twice for 7 points apiece in the critical last few minutes of the game seems like a real stretch.

Also: I really enjoyed how Brent outright quit on trying to tackle the guy who came up with that last INT. I wasn't aware that the QB slide worked on defense as well.

I expect the Packer to win.

Vikings are starting to see what can happen when you rely on Favre to much. It seems if Peterson has lost something this year not being the main go to guy on the offensive.

I guess the loss against Pitt is a correction of sorts for their rediculous luck in the aforementioned 49er and Ravens games.

As for Brett being cheered or boo'd. I prefer boo'd, but the only reaction that would embarrass me as a Packers fan would be if the fans actually cheered when Favre made a play. There are those fringe fans out there who's allegience switched when Brett left. Or try to play it both ways, cheering for the Pack, but also being Favre supporters. I would think season ticket holders would be better fans than that, but you never know.

This is a big deal!

Karma baby!

Honestly, whichever Packer fan cheers on for Brett during this game, isn't a real Packer fan. He's in purple and he's now an enemy. Boo as loud as you possibly can.

I won't add much to this thread. I'll just say that I HATE the Vikings. I wish terrible play on every single member of the team. I wish they would get thrashed so soundly that they would all just retire at half-time and dissolve the franchise by the end of the game. I hope they get hit so hard that it caves the roof of the humpty-dump in, all the way back in Minny-soda. I hope their offense and special teams are held to negative yards and their defense is the first professional defense to give up over 1,000 yards in a game. I want them to be crushed worse than the 1940 Redskins who lost 73-0. I want every single (positive) offensive and defensive record to be set against the Vikings. I want this game to live on for the rest of history as the day the Vikings were destroyed.

PS.... I feel this way every Viking game.

Interesting in What Peter King Writes on this and Favres return to Lambeau:

Kinda of what I thought....on What Favre thinks when he returns...

Get ready for Brett Favre Hype Week.

Favre handled the friendly portion of the blood-feud home-and-home series between Minnesota and Green Bay quite well (24-of-31 passing in the Metrodome, 271 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions). None of those 31 passes were more than moderate-risks, and he didn't go nuts trying to make big plays in Minnesota's victory. I wonder how he'll react walking onto the turf at Lambeau for Sunday's late-afternoon game between the Vikings and Packers.

I think Favre believes he'll have more than a few supporters in the stands. But a longtime Green Bay resident told me recently what he thinks, from talking to the townies, that the crowd will be almost entirely anti-Favre, and the sentiment will be loud. I remember one time Jerry Rice telling me, "Lambeau Field's an amazing place. They don't really boo us much. When we left the field after one game there, a bunch of fans yelled to us, 'Good luck the rest of the year.' '' Well, I doubt there will be much of that for Favre Sunday.

"This is Brett's homecoming, let's be real about it," Packers safety Atari Bigby told the Green Bay Press Gazette. "Of course it's going to be special. Everybody wants to see this, everybody's going to be in tune with this game. It's more special than us playing in Minnesota.''

I checked out StubHub this morning to see the fervor. You can buy two for Sunday in the 14th row at the 30-yard line for $2,800. Later in the month, you can buy a pair against San Francisco in the 12th row at the 30-yard line for $458. Should be interesting to see how Favre responds to whatever comes.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writ...l#ixzz0V53F3sNK

I agree that the Vikings didn't deserve to lose by two freak plays in the last few minutes. I certainly hope the Packers aren't depending on that kind of luck. They need to come on the field and smash the Vikings in the mouth, then proceed with the game- and keep smashing them in the mouth. No quarter given, no quarter accepted. This is time to really ramp things up, and go for the gold.

The Steelers got luck Sunday. The chances of this happening two weeks in a row are very small.

I will accept your original argument- that they got luck in some earlier games, and gut unlucky in the Pitt. game. However, I really don't care. The question is, what will be their mindset this weekend when they play the Packers? Will they be looking for redemption, revenge, a bigger North lead- because they simply won't be looking at this as "just another game". This one will be really, really big for both teams. They both now want to be the "big dogs on the block". However, you can't have two "big dogs"- just a winner, and a wannabe.

We'll find out Sunday about 6 p.m. CST which one is which. I am very hopeful I will find a Green and Gold rainbow at the end of the game, rather than a Purple Rain.

While either argument can be made about how to handle Favre's return, the stark reality is that both things will happen. There will be people in green AND purple #4 jerseys cheering, there will be people being silent, and there will be a whole lot of people booing loudly. I know Packer fans are the best, but this is a true powder keg. I just hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable game, and that the Pack wins it. It would be bad to see any fans ejected or arrested, but somehow I've got a feeling it might happen. Remembering how Holmgren was heckled walking through the tunnel years ago, one can only imagine the plastic cups and beer bottles flying from the bleachers, especially given the extra three hours for fans to warm up before game time. This is a true opportunity for Packer fans to show their quality.

I always take away several wins from our 13-3 season because of how lucky we got in many of them.

If the Pack can put away the Queens, I will start buying their Koolaid again like I did in the preseason.

I have to agree with BigBud...we're losing sight of the big picture here by buying into the hype.

If the Packers are seriously making it our one and only goal to beat the Vikings, just like Lovie Smith made it his goal to beat the Packers...? How many Super Bowls did the Bears win in that time frame?

Seriously, watching Favre play, I don't think it is his only goal to beat the Packers. It is his goal to prove that he was still a great player that TT should have kept, and beating the Packers is only a part of it. He wants the Vikings to have a better record, get a division crown, go farther in the playoffs. Shouldn't that be our goal, too?

We need to stop being so Favre myopic. We complain about ESPN but then we follow suit by obsessing about him.

This is a game against a talented division opponent that we need to prove that we are a legit playoff-caliber team that can beat more than just the worst teams in the league. That's a far mightier goal for this game than booing a quarterback or gaining "revenge". I prefer "redemption". It just seems like a word that will last a lot longer than one game.

OMG A single tear just rolled down my cheek. In the straightest tense possible...you..complete me. haha.

That piece of literature needs an award. The words I have felt for so long. I feel the same way when the Packers play the Bears but in recent years..Its the Vikings I wish ultimate peril on.

One week at a time. You're damn right were focused on beating the Vikings. The fans are making it their only goal to beat the Vikings, for the entire season, the team is not. This week, however, the Packers damn well better be focus only on crushing the Queens. If the Packers were only focusing on the Queens, they wouldn't have crushed Detroit and Cleveland the way they did. The Queens are in first, in order to get that division crown, don't you think we'd be pretty focused on beating them? The fact that that Brent guy is on the other side, now, is just more incentive to kick the ever living hell out of the Queens. Yeah, he wants to have a better record and all that stuff... to stick it to TT even further. I mean, if he really wanted just to show TT that he could play, then why leave the Jets?

As fans? Packer fans better damn well boo and make as much noise as possible when Brent is on the field. If Brent wants to show why TT shouldn't have let him go, then the Packer faithful need to show why he shouldn't have "retired" in the first place and how we're better off without him, now, anyways.

Favre pump fakes the heck out of Harris and woodson like he did in the first game( Favre said it was easy for him to do so time after time). And packers don't learn from it.

Vikes 42

Pack 17

The story is about Favre.

The game however, is not.



This one will come down to two things -- our offensive line and our ability to stop Adrian Peterson.


Favre is just a footnote.

I can listen to people who say the Vikes will eke out a win, but 25 points? That's just trolling.

Why the Packers might be improved from matchup #1 (in order of importance):

1) Bigby is back. Probably the biggest reason. This defense is different when Capers has 2 safeties he can trust.
2) Winfield is out. The Vikings best player in the backfield is gone. AR gonna pick on his replacement all day.
3) OL a _little_ less unsettled. Admittedly, still some issues here, but if MM sticks with the 5 from the Cleveland game, I think we are better off than the ragtag group we threw together for the first game.
4) We aren't in that stinkin' dome.
5) Matthews and whole defense have a few more weeks experience in this defense.

Why they might be worse:

1) Finley is out.
2) Jordy is out. Luckily, this injury comes out of a position of strength, so it might not be too bad.


How this translates into losing by 25 instead of losing by 7 is beyond me.

Note the lack of hyperbole or ridiculous guesses here. Just straight facts. I'm not saying the Packers are definitely going to win--I think they are more likely to win this game than the Vikings. If they played this game 30 times, the Packers would win 17 times.

I think it comes down to red zone efficiency, and/or Longwell vs Crosby. And I'm concerned about both. Packers will move the ball. They did in the dome, and they will again Sunday. Especially since they're missing Winfield. But, the question will be how many TDs they score vs settling for FG. And if it comes down to a FG at the end of the game, I think Longwell has a better chance than Crosby at nailing it.

The only thing that could change all of the above would be a "statement game' by the defense. They have been playing very well, yes against pitiful teams. This is their chance to shine, and if they can really shut down MN, cause turnovers, etc., GB could actually dominate the game. They are about as healthy as you would want at this point in the season on defense, they haven't had to blitz very much...this is the game to really bring it.

Well Favre put his footnote into the Packers asses last game. He's still a little more than just a footnote.

This gane should not be all about Brett, it about winning at HOME and a must win for the PAckers to make the Playoff and have a chance too win the DIVISION. It's a matchup between too very good teams and that by itself should be must watch football for any NFL fan. It's time too make a statement too the NFL the PAck IS Back, and is improving each week-beware!

Get over the Brett a side show, this is the ViKings a hated rival (second too D'bears in my opinion). If the Packers can't win this game than the future going too be tough? Looking ahead: Pitts, Colts, SF. AZ and D'cawgrils are all watching, lets prove we're take on all commers and beat them.

But today, there is only one game of importance and that is the the Viks. Let support the team and give them reason to know we believe in them. Go Packers!

BRETT JUST ANOTHER PLAYER ON A VERY TALENTED TEAM, while Brett their leader don't forget Peterson, a tough Defense and some talented WR's...brett needs to go down, and go down ofter for the Packers to be successful-GO D! Sorry but the Viks current QB should be no more than any other opponents QB and far as I am concer....when they playing the Packers, it kill and destroy same.

Brett history, Rodger the future-support what we have, after all Rodgers pretty good and he's the future for then next 10 years. Let show Rodger's he is our MAN-forget the Brett hype and go out there and play some Black and Blue football football.

You really think vets like Woodson, Harris, and Capers won't make adjustments?

You obviously haven't noticed, but we've been playing quite a bit of man to man outside since the Viking game. You'll see more of the same against the Vikings this time around instead of the zones we played last time.