Packers @ Vikings

**singersp** · 11-10-2006, 07:11 AM

[size=13pt]Vikings: In praising Pat Williams, Packers fired him up[/size]

Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune
Last update: November 09, 2006 â€“ 9:29 PM

**singersp** · 11-10-2006, 07:13 AM

[size=13pt]Vikingsâ€™ Williamses ready for running game[/size]

By JASON WILDE / Wisconsin State Journal
Published: Thursday, November 9, 2006 7:40 PM CST

**singersp** · 11-10-2006, 09:33 PM

[size=13pt]Last Week's Losses Equally Frustrating To Packers, Vikings [/size]

by Mike Spofford, Packers.com
posted 11/09/2006

**singersp** · 11-11-2006, 05:16 AM

[size=13pt]Packers, Vikings exchange insults[/size]

Posted on Fri, Nov. 10, 2006

By Bob McGinn
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

**Mr-holland** · 11-11-2006, 06:12 AM

"singersp" wrote:

[size=13pt]Packers, Vikings exchange insults[/size]

Posted on Fri, Nov. 10, 2006

By Bob McGinn
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

interesting read, and i have to agree. i'm a Dt to and everytime i get down i'm tired as hell when i need to get up. maybe this only says something about my condition, but guys like Rb's don't have any problems
though i hate their cut blocking, wussies

**singersp** · 11-11-2006, 06:58 AM

[size=13pt]Key matchup: Vikings' RB Taylor vs. Packers D-line[/size]

Posted November 11, 2006

**singersp** · 11-12-2006, 04:38 AM

[size=13pt]Eric Goska column: Offenses run aground against staunch Vikings[/size]

Posted November 11, 2006

By Eric Goska

The Minnesota Vikings twice have led the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed.

At the season's halfway point, they again are leading the league in that category.

Minnesota has given up 552 yards rushing, an average of 69 yards a game. That's a shade better than the Baltimore Ravens, who have surrendered 554 yards.

The Vikings are second-best behind the Ravens in yards allowed per carry (3.1 to 2.9).

Minnesota has had some great run defenses since it joined the league in 1961. The team led the NFL in 1975 and 1994 in fewest rushing yards allowed.

The 1971 club tied an NFL record by allowing opponents just two rushing touchdowns. The Packers' Scott Hunter scored one of those on a quarterback sneak at Lambeau Field in mid-October. Fullback Charlie Evans of the Giants had the other.

In 1994, the Vikings set a record for fewest rushing yards allowed (1,090) in a 16-game season. The record has been broken by the 49ers in 1995 (1,061) and the Ravens in 2000 (970).

This season, the team is on pace to give up 1,104 rushing yards. If they tighten their belts a notch, the Vikings could improve upon their franchise standard of 12 years ago.

Run defense starts with the line. For the last six games, Darrion Scott and Kenechi Udeze have started at end and Kevin Williams and Pat Williams have started at tackle. Erasmus James had been a starter, but he was put on injured reserve a day after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Minnesota's 16-13 win over Carolina in Week 2.

With this lineup and the bulk it has in the middle â€” the Williams tandem is listed as weighing between 310 and 320 pounds â€” the Vikings haven't allowed a team more than 95 yards rushing in any of its last six games.

The Lions managed just 16 yards in 11 carries in a 26-17 loss. On Sunday, San Francisco stayed with the run but got little for its effort, picking up 42 yards in 26 tries.

A year ago, Minnesota was nothing special against the run, ranking 19th. Even so, the Packers' two worst outings came against the Vikings. The 66 yards rushing they gained in the two games combined was far and away their lowest output in any year of the series, including 1982, when the teams met just once.

Regular-season series

Overall: Series tied 44-44-1.

At the Metrodome: Vikings lead 13-10.

Starting quarterbacks

Packers: Brett Favre (142-87 overall; 13-14 vs. Minnesota).

Vikings: Brad Johnson (69-47 overall, 3-5 vs. Green Bay).

Once a Viking, now a Packer

Defensive tackle Colin Cole was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings in 2003 and spent part of that season on their practice squad.

Once a Packer, now a Viking

Safety Darren Sharper (1997-2004) and kicker Ryan Longwell (1997-2005) are former Packers.

Eric Goska is a Press-Gazette correspondent, a Packers historian and the author of "Green Bay Packers: A Measure of Greatness," a statistical history of the Packers. E-mail him at [email protected]

**singersp** · 11-12-2006, 04:46 AM

[size=13pt]Bitter rivals in same bind[/size]

Posted on Sat, Nov. 11, 2006

Packers, Vikings seek victory to help playoff hopes

BY KELSIE SMITH
Pioneer Press