Editor: Joe Bryant. Game Recap Contributors: Mike Anderson, Michael Brown, Chris Burtt, J.D. Caldwell, David Dodds, Bobby Elder, Jim Enochs, Joel Faulhaber, Michael Flynn, Kevin Goldblum, Clayton Gray, Bob Harris, Fred Hebert, Jesse Hilsenrad, Drew Kendall, Jeff Lewis, Joey Matusek, Justin Oliver, Steve Prosapio, David Shick, Cody Smith, Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stout. Green Bay 21 at Minnesota 31 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Green Bay Packers: QB Brett Favre put up solid fantasy numbers despite the loss and throwing 3 INTs. He finished with 294 yards passing and 2 TDs. He lost his composure in the second quarter during a drive where he took several hits, including two that drew roughing the passer penalties. Favre never seemed to gain his rhythm after that. RB Ahman Green looked healthy, but was slowed by a defensive game plan designed to contain him as a rusher and receiver. 34 of his 71 rushing yards were on one play. WR Donald Driver nearly matched his career high with 112 receiving yards, though 84 of them were on his TD. WR Terry Glenn was targeted as much as Driver, but Glenn never broke loose for a big gain. The Packers struggled through sloppy play (both teams committed more than 10 penalties each), and their defense missed injured DL starters Joe Johnson and Vonnie Holliday. The Vikings effectively ran inside on them, and Green Bay usually needed to blitz to generate a pass rush. Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings used the "sugar-huddle" (not quite a no-huddle, but not a full huddle) in their first three drives, a hurry-up offense that gave QB Daunte Culpepper more time to read plays at the line. They scored TDs on their first two possessions, and opened the second half with an 80-yard TD drive. The fast tempo agreed with WR Randy Moss, who had over 100 receiving yards and a TD in the first half. QB Daunte Culpepper saved his job for at least one more week when he completed 9 for his first 11 passes, including 2 TDs. The Culpepper we have seen most of the season resurfaced after that hot streak, finishing just 13 for 26 passing (212 yards, 2 TDs), plus three fumbles (two at the Green Bay 1) and two interceptions. Culpepper added 48 rushing yards and a TD on a bootleg at the goal line to finish with solid fantasy numbers. RB Michael Bennett had his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, but was regularly pulled in short-yardage and goal-line situations. RB Moe Williams scored a rushing TD for the seventh straight game. The Vikings pass defense had their best effort of the season by far. Thanks to some lineup and scheme adjustments, the Vikings intercepted three passes, and got two hands on at least four more. New starting CB Brian Williams contained Terry Glenn, and demoted nickelback Tyrone Carter seemed more comfortable covering slot receivers. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW Green Bay Packers QB: Brett Favre failed to shake the Metrodome Curse, dropping to 2-9 as a starter in Minnesota. Despite losing the game and throwing 3 INTs, he still put up solid fantasy numbers - 294 yards passing and 2 TDs. He lost his composure in the second quarter during a drive where he took several hits, including two that drew roughing the passer penalties. After ending that drive with an INT to safety Jack Brewer at the goal line, Favre hit Brewer well out of bounds for a 15-yard penalty. Favre never seemed to gain his rhythm after that. RB: Ahman Green looked healthy, but was slowed by a defensive game plan designed to contain him as a rusher and receiver. 34 of his 71 rushing yards were on one play. He caught eight passes that netted only 38 yards. Najeh Davenport knocked himself out of the game delivering a hit on KR Nick Davis on the opening kickoff. WR: Donald Driver nearly matched his career high with 112 receiving yards, though 84 of them were on his TD. He got unlucky on two plays - one diving for a ball and tipping it twice to try to make the catch, but the effort resulted in an INT; the other was a TD catch called back on an illegal shift penalty on OL Earl Dotson. Terry Glenn caught four passes for 61 yards. He was targeted ten times, but the Vikings gave him extra attention, especially on slants. Javon Walker caught just one pass, committed an offensive pass interference penalty, and dropped a pass that hit him in the hands on 30-yard post pattern that could have been a TD. He did have a 44-yard kickoff return. Robert Ferguson had just one catch for nine yards. He committed a key face mask penalty on a Vikings fourth-quarter kickoff return, giving Minnesota field position in Green Bay territory. TE: Bubba Franks caught four passes for 25 yards, including a one-yard TD on a play-action pass. His other three catches were on plays where he was a secondary receiver. Tyrone Davis caught one pass for 24 yards. He was invisible the rest of the game. Pass Defense: The up-tempo offense caught the Packers pass defense by surprise, and they did not generate much of a pass rush, even against new LT Bryant McKinnie. The secondary settled to make some plays in the second half. Rush Defense: They missed injured DLs Joe Johnson and Vonnie Holliday. The Vikings has much success running inside, especially to the right side. Four Vikings players had runs over 10 yards, and Bennett's 62-yarder late in the fourth quarter clinched the game. Special Teams: The kickoff coverage unit gave up a costly 51-yard return (plus a 15-yard face mask penalty) yielded right after Green Bay tied the game in the fourth quarter. /**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/** Minnesota Vikings QB: QB Daunte Culpepper saved his job for at least one more week when he completed 9 for his first 11 passes, including 2 TDs. The Culpepper we have seen most of the season resurfaced after that hot streak, finishing just 13 for 26 passing (212 yards, 2 TDs), plus three fumbles (two at the Green Bay 1) and two interceptions. Culpepper added 48 rushing yards and a TD on a bootleg at the goal line to finish with solid fantasy numbers. RB: RB Michael Bennett had his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game (130 yards, 0 TDs), but was regularly pulled in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Bennett was not as tentative on inside running plays, hitting the hole hard and getting eight yards on plays that would have been 2-3 yard gains early in the year. Bennett broke a 62-yard run late in the fourth quarter than clinched the game, but was caught form behind. Moe Williams scored a rushing TD for the seventh straight game, a franchise record. Williams played mainly in short-yardage and goal-line situations. In addition to his 3-yard TD run, Williams also had a 4-yard run stopped just shy of the goal line. WR: The "sugar-huddle" agreed with WR Randy Moss, who had over 100 receiving yards and a TD in the first half. He finished with six catches for 112 yards and a score. His TD was a great falling catch along the endzone sideline in coverage. D'Wayne Bates caught a TD pass in the first quarter, but finished with just two receptions for 40 yards. He drew a defensive holding penalty. Kelly Campbell is now the #3 wideout, replacing Derrick Alexander. He made just one catch for 11 yards, but drew two key pass interference penalties, and was open for a 50-yard TD that was thrown just out of his reach. He also rushed for 11 yards on a reverse on the first play from scrimmage. TE: Bryon Chamberlain caught two passes for 38 yards on the opening drive, but was not targeted the rest of the game. Jim Kleinsasser caught just one pass for 4 yards, but had an excellent day as a blocker on run and pass plays. Pass Defense: had their best effort of the season by far. Thanks to some lineup and scheme adjustments, the Vikings intercepted three passes, and got two hands on at least four more. New starting CB Brian Williams contained Terry Glenn, and demoted nickelback Tyrone Carter seemed more comfortable covering slot receivers. LB Greg Biekert patrolled the seams and underneath routes in zone coverage, and intercepted two passes. Rush Defense: the game plan committed to containing Ahman Green, and only gave up one long run. Green Bay nearly abandoned the run after falling behind 21-7 in the third quarter. Special Teams: the kickoff return units had an excellent day, including a 51-yard return (plus a 15-yard face mask penalty) by Moe Williams in the fourth quarter. P Kyle Richardson landed three punts inside the 20, including one downed at the four.