Game Summary
You know the backdrop – QB 
The game was a back-and-forth affair for the 1st half, but the Vikings were able to take a 21-14 lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to a 1-yard
A sack of Aaron Rodgers in the endzone during the 4th quarter put the Vikings up 30-14 and then the Purple was able to hold off a late-charging Packers team at the end of the game to produce the winning 30-23 margin.
Favre was vintage Favre, going 24 of 31 for 271 yards and 3 TDs, with zero interceptions. Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress has described Favre as an “equal opportunity passer” and the QB was exactly that on Monday night, completing passes to 8 different players and a different player on each of his 3 scoring throws.
Speaking of vintage, the Vikings defense was in familiar form. QB Aaron Rodgers was harassed all game, sacked a total of 8 times and flushed from the pocket another 10 times or so. DE
Although they racked up 424 net yards, including 342 through the air, Green Bay was never able to get in a good offensive rhythm against the active and tenacious Vikings defense. The running game was shut down and by the time Green Bay could finish drives with TDs, they were already down big and were fighting an uphill battle with Favre having the hot hand and a raucous Vikings crowd producing deafening noise.
It was over when…
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Highlights
-- You have to begin with Favre, who compiled a 135.3 passer rating against his former team and led the Vikings to 30 offensive points and the 7-point victory. As stated above, Favre completed passes to 8 different receivers and seems to have developed some chemistry with the speedy Berrian. In addition, the Vikings picked up 14 first downs through the air and were 8-14 on 3rd downs, stats that can be directly attributed to Favre’s brilliance on Monday night. Lastly, Monday night’s victory gives Favre his 1st against the Packers and makes him the only player in NFL history to have defeated all 32 teams.
-- While we’re on the topic of Favre, let’s also recognize the offensive line for keeping Favre clean all night – that’s right, Favre was not sacked one time in 31 pass attempts. In fact, on one completion to TE
-- 8 sacks for the Vikings defense is remarkable. Although Rodgers had a good night – he went 26 of 37 for 384 yards and 2 TDs – he was also constantly bothered by Allen and the rest of the Vikings defense and was never able to establish a decent rhythm. The Vikings defense was opportunistic, forcing 2 turnovers, and also had both an impressive goal line stand and a safety in the 2nd half.
-- Packers RB Ryan Grant, who is the last player to rush for 100 yards against the Vikings, had just 51 yards on 11 carries Monday. In total, the Packers had just 82 net yards rushing.
-- Berrian led all Vikings receivers with 6 grabs for 75 yards and also had a TD. More importantly, he seemed to be on the same page as Favre and the chemistry that should exist between the QB and the highest paid receiver seems to be developing nicely. The Packers were determined to hold Peterson in check – and they did that – but Favre and his receivers were able to counter.
-- Childress made a point to mention the Vikings special teams play during his post-game press conference. P
-- Just 2 penalties for 10 yards against the Vikings.
-- The Packers turned the ball over twice and the Vikings scored TDs following each turnover.
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A couple of things to work on…
-- Vikings RB Adrian Peterson didn’t have his standard game – 25 carries for 55 yards – but “All Day” did have a TD and he kept the Packers defense off-balance and opened up the passing game for Favre and Co.
-- Rodgers’ 342 passing yards might be of concern to the Vikings defense. Green Bay seemed to have particular success down the middle of the field or across the middle of the field. It’ll be interesting to see if Childress has anything to say about that tomorrow afternoon after he watches film tomorrow morning.
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What they were saying…
-- “The offense did a great job of scoring points; every time they would get something big on us, the offense would come back and answer and keep the lead. When you can keep the lead and you can force a team to be one-dimensional, then you can take advantage of certain situations. They weren’t able to keep a lot of people in, had to block one-on-ones and a couple times he (Aaron Rodgers) ran right into me, a couple times it was coverage and just hustle and stuff. I’m exhausted and it was fun.” – Jared Allen
-- “Jared Allen is a beast, man; that guy’s good. Our defense, they’re pretty good. I’d much rather have them on my side.” – Brett Favre
-- “He’s (Brett Favre) still got great command of the football. Whether command is touch, or velocity, or being able to pump it-let it go, he still has great command of the football and he is what he is. He’s a great competitor and steely-eyed when it comes to competing and like I said, some games will tickle you more than others. Good win and I’m sure he’s glad to have just as all of us are.” – Brad Childress
-- “It really didn’t feel that strange playing against them. If there was anything that was a little strange it was seeing Aaron (Kampman) and Al (Harris) and Charles (Woodson) and Nick (Barnett) and Brady (Poppinga) and Pick (Ryan Pickett) and all those guys across from me, I’d go against them every day in practice. But as far as the game went, the only thing I can say is I was about as nervous as I’ve ever been before a game, going into this one. I didn’t think I would be; as the week progressed I felt fine. But when I got to the hotel yesterday, it kind of dawned on me…you know Monday night game, any game is important, but I just know coming over here all those years, what it’s like. And I wanted to play as well, the few times I played well over here, I wanted to do the same thing on the opposite side for obvious reasons.” – Brett Favre
-- “They came out and played good, but we were able to move the ball effectively in the pass game and in the run game. As a running back group, I think we did our job in contributing to this win.” – Adrian Peterson
-- “When you get that man attempts, you can set things up. You can come around the edge so many times and then go inside. Like I said, when they’re back in shotgun, you know it’s a pass. He was holding the ball today and we were able to take advantage of it.” – Jared Allen
-- “Aaron played well, that’s what I told him afterwards. I said ‘Hey, way to battle.’ To have to drop back that many times against our defense is hard on anyone. And I thought he hung in there and I’ve been saying all along the guy can play and I think he proved that again tonight.” – Brett Favre
-- “I think the thing was they did a great job of pass protecting. He had his way back there. They were committing a lot of people to the run, therefore, Adrian’s numbers, but it’s more about attempts than it is about yards. It’s more about the quality of the pass, it’s not quantity of the pass; it’s the quantity of the run it’s not the quality of the run. You still have to be able to exert your will at some point.” – Brad Childress
-- “The onside kicks were huge. And I’ve got to pay a special compliment to Murph and that special teams group. They knew right where he was at, we practiced it. But those four guys that have to hold people off of Sidney, those guys standing in front of him, that’s not unlike pass protection; and it ain’t any fun with a ten-yard run coming at you. Obviously he got up and made that play and it’s an exceptional onside kick that he (Packers K Mason Crosby) has off of turf, I mean that’s hard to contend with, but Sidney grows in leaps and bounds and I think there’s great confidence there between he and Brett.” – Brad Childress
