Vikings @ Packers

[Vin+ 3,121]

The Green Bay Packers did everything they could to avoid Saturday night's rematch with the Minnesota Vikings, though they couldn't overcome Adrian Peterson's determination to push his team into the playoffs.

 

While Green Bay may not be able to stop another stellar performance from Peterson during this NFC wild-card matchup, it has proved throughout Peterson's career that his numbers at Lambeau Field often don't factor into the outcome.

 

The NFC North champion Packers (11-5) needed a Week 17 road victory over the Vikings (10-6) to earn the conference's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye, but Peterson's 199 yards on a franchise-record 34 carries and two total touchdowns helped lead Minnesota to a 37-34 victory that gave it the No. 6 seed.

 

Peterson's 26-yard run set up Blair Walsh's 29-yard field goal as time expired to ensure this week's rematch.

 

"We're in the playoffs now, so you play who you are seeded against," said Aaron Rodgers, who has completed 74.7 percent of his passes - throwing 16 TDs and just one interception - in his last five games against Minnesota for a 132.5 passer rating. "The road got a little tougher having to play on opening weekend, but we've got a home game and that's why you win the division."

 

"You get to go back home and the game will be a different type of game. They won't have the home-crowd advantage and hopefully that will make a difference."

 

That has seemed to make a big difference against Peterson and the Vikings in recent years. The Packers have won five of the six meetings at Lambeau Field in Peterson's career despite the four-time All-Pro running for an average of 106.2 yards and five touchdowns in those contests.

 

Minnesota is 0-3 there when Peterson tops 100 yards.

 

His 82-yard TD and 210 rushing yards weren't enough Dec. 2 as Green Bay earned a 23-14 victory. Peterson has rushed for at least 175 yards four times in 12 career games versus the Packers.

 

"We're very confident. We know the type of environment it's going to be," said Peterson, who became the seventh player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards while finishing nine short of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season mark of 2,105. "I feel like we're peaking at the right time."

 

Minnesota capped the regular season with four straight victories following its loss to the Packers, when it gave up 435 total yards - its second-most all season.

 

"We talked about what we felt like after the (Dec. 2) game. It was a tough day for us up there at Lambeau," coach Leslie Frazier said. "Our players stuck together like I hadn't seen before, and I knew that was a good omen going forward.

 

"We're playing more like a team than at any point in our season."

 

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy isn't dwelling on last week's defeat, which ended a five-game winning streak versus the Vikings.

 

"This is playoff football, and really, yes, we had every intention of winning the game in Minnesota. It didn't work," McCarthy said. "I'm not just fluffing it by, but you have to, because the door is open for the playoffs to begin.

 

"It's the playoffs. It doesn't matter who we play, where we play them. We feel confident that we're going to get it done and do whatever we need to get it done."

 

The Packers hope to get a boost from the return of safety Charles Woodson, who has been cleared to play after missing the last nine games with a broken collarbone. Leading receiver and return man Randall Cobb also has been practicing this week after sitting out against the Vikings with an ankle injury, while fellow wideout Jordy Nelson returned to practice Wednesday after missing part of Sunday's game with a knee injury.

 

While Green Bay could certainly use Cobb and Nelson, it's Woodson's return that has McCarthy particularly excited.

 

"I mean, just what he's meant to our defense, his playmaking ability, his ability to make plays at the line of scrimmage," McCarthy said. "He's extremely productive, so I'm just glad to have him back on the field."

 

Woodson and the rest of the Packers' defense hope to do a better job of limiting Christian Ponder, who threw for 234 yards and a season-best three touchdowns last week.

 

Ponder had completed only 45.1 percent of his passes for three touchdowns and five interceptions while losing his first three starts versus the Packers, but he had a 95.5 rating while not throwing an INT in Minnesota's final three contests.

 

"The plays he made, that's what you need to be able to do at that position to win a championship," Frazier said. "We were really able to open the playbook up. He did what you want to see your quarterback do in big ballgames. He played at a high, high level for us."

 

Rodgers didn't throw a pick while tossing 10 touchdown passes over Green Bay's last four games, throwing for a season-high 365 yards against a Vikings defense that ranked 24th in the league against the pass (244.3 yards per game).

 

Minnesota, though, finished with five sacks of Rodgers, who ended up being taken down a career-most and NFL-worst 51 times.

 

The only playoff meeting between these teams came when the Vikings earned a 31-17 wild-card victory in Green Bay following the 2004 season.

 

The Packers, who were 13-0 in postseason home games through the 2001 season, have lost four of their last six playoff contests at Lambeau.

 

"Bring them on," Packers cornerback Tramon Williams said of the Vikings. "Obviously, they have to go to Lambeau and hopefully we can go out and put together a better performance than we did (last week)."

 

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Vikings haven't won a game in sub freezing temps in like 8 years (ironically, since they beat us in the wildcard round in 04). A streak I intend to keep alive.

 

Adrian Peterson gonna be held to under 100 yards.

 

Okay okay.. Maybe 200. >_>

[PackIsBack 124]

I'm hoping the Packers find a way to win this game in Lambeau on Saturday. I do not want to lose to the Vikings.

[AllYouNeedIsLovie 377]

I would love to see Minny pull off the upset, but I can't see them beating the Packers 2 weeks in a row, especially with this one being in Green Bay.

[ATL_Predator+ 1,196]

AP and the Vikings ST will win the day..Packers haven't shown any signs of stopping him and I think Ponder will play long enough to be effective. Ironically, I trust the Vikings style of play in cold weather games more than I do than the Packers.

Edited January 4, 2013 by ATL

[housemd 338]

Packers won't lose two games in two weeks against the same team. It simply can't happen.

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

I see the Vikes getting blown out in this one despite winning last week.

 

42-27, Packers.

 

But that said....

 

BAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[BigBen07 285]

I just have to go with GB at home.

 

37

24

[Bay 2,003]

We know AP will run like a monster so it comes down to CP not making crucial mistakes and putting up enough points 'cause they ain't slowing down the Packers that much.

 

24

 

34

Edited January 5, 2013 by Bay

[BwareDWare94 723]

Nobody's giving Minnesota a chance.

 

Well, I'm here to tell you that if Christian Ponder shows up, Minnesota wins. Especially if Winfield can play. The Vikings defense only fell apart when he left the game last week. If he's back, it'll help immensely.

 

Green Bay's defense is not going to magically get better. Tramon Williams isn't going to magically become something other than an overrated cornerback and pussy.

 

This comes down to Minnesota's defense. Can they make up for Winfield's absence, if they are unfortunate enough to experience it? I don't know, but I do know that this will be a better game than most think.

Edited January 5, 2013 by BwareDWare94

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

Nobody's giving Minnesota a chance.

 

Well, I'm here to tell you that if Christian Ponder shows up, Minnesota wins. Especially if Winfield can play. The Vikings defense only fell apart when he left the game last week. If he's back, it'll help immensely.

 

Green Bay's defense is not going to magically get better. Tramon Williams isn't going to magically become something other than an overrated cornerback and pussy.

 

This comes down to Minnesota's defense. Can they make up for Winfield's absence, if they are unfortunate enough to experience it? I don't know, but I do know that this will be a better game than most think.

 

I want Minny to win, but this game has blowout written all over it in favor of the Packers. Sorry, brah.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Minnesota definitely has a chance.... Do you think the Packers wanted to have to play a division rival in round 1? Extremely unlikely.

 

I think the defense is going to play pretty lights out. Shit, I am counting on it. If they don't it might be a disappointing day. I am expecting a fairly low - medium scoring output. Nothing close to what we saw a week ago.

[Packers Dynasty 2010 116]

If Christian Ponder shows up...that's a big if. He isn't going to play as well in Lambeau in his 1st playoff game than he has over the past few games. Adrian Peterson will get his yards and keep the game close for some time but Ponder will eventually make a crucial mistake that allows the Packers to pull away. Not much is being said about his elbow, he has sat out for the majority of practice and is even listed as questionable.

 

Every Vikings fan seems to mention Winfield and how he may play, yet forget that Green Bay will be getting players back as well. Cobb and Woodson will be back and can make a difference for the Packers.

 

I don't think it will be a blowout like some are predicting, I would say 27-17 or somewhere around there.

Edited January 5, 2013 by Packers Dynasty 2010

[NY Diehard 26]

Joe Webb playing over Ponder is a plus for the Vikings at this point.

[ATL_Predator+ 1,196]

Let it be your anthem today.

[BwareDWare94 723]

I am so baffled by why people want Webb over Ponder. I know 18 and 12 isn't great, but Ponder has had zero weapons since Harvin went down because Kyle Rudolph pretty much disappeared.

 

You give this kid weapons, and he won't disappoint. Simpson has finally started coming around these last few games; they've gotten Wright more involved. The difference isn't Ponder; it's his weapons actually showing up.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

It's a little more complicated I think...

[ATL_Predator+ 1,196]

Multiple reports and insiders are pointing towards Webb starting tonight over Ponder. Webb has been practicing with the first team all-week...and if he does start tonight. The Vikings have done a pretty good job of keeping that quiet. Could prove to be a pleasant surprise for Vikings fans.

 

[RazorStar 4,025]

Ponder just had his best game of the season and you've got playoff momentum... Let's throw in the backup now!

[BwareDWare94 723]

Yeah, this would not be good for Minnesota. Joe Webb is a third string quarterback, at best. He is a gimmick player who had one surprisingly good game against Philadelphia. The obsession with him among some of Vikings Nation just fucking confuses me.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

It's probably his athleticism that fascinates so many.

[PackIsBack 124]

Considering that Adrian Peterson is their offense, does it really matter if they have Webb in there or not? As long as the Vikings running offense is on point they can cause a lot of problems for the Packers. Webb's job would be to complete some simple passes and hand off the ball appropriately. I don't see it as a big deal but that's just me.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Honestly. I think I am more afraid of Joe Webb.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Honestly. I think I am more afraid of Joe Webb.

 

Well, when you guys kick his ass and make him look like the third stringer that he is, you'll understand why I'm saying right here, right now, that this game is already over. O-V-E-R.

 

Packers 24

Vikings 7

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

Can't believe I'm doing this but... Go Vikings! Rip the Packers a new one. Please? Kthx.