Vikings, Packers bring 4-0 marks into Lambeau tilt
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis., Monday, Oct. 4
As published in print Sept. 28
AT A GLANCE: It’s a duel of undefeated NFC Central rivals, as the
Vikings and Packers square off in the most highly anticipated Monday-night game of the
young season.
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The good people who bring us "Monday Night
Football" have been plagued by a string of clunker games this season, including the
49ers’ rout of the Redskins in Week Two and the Cowboys’ drubbing of the Giants
in Week Three. But this week’s Monday-night special figures to be special indeed, as
the Vikings and Packers, both 4-0, square off at Lambeau Field in a battle for first place
in the NFC Central.
Both clubs survived close games last week to keep their perfect records
intact. The Vikings trailed the Bears 21-10 at halftime but came back to win 31-28 in
Chicago. The Packers managed to halt a last-minute Panther drive and hang on for a 37-30
win in Carolina.
The Packers beat the Vikings twice last season, but the teams split
their season series in 1994, ’95 and ’96. The Vikings haven’t won a road
game against the Packers since ’93, and they haven’t won in Green Bay since
’92. (Their win over the Packers in ’93 was in Milwaukee.)
But this appears to be the most dangerous Viking team in recent years,
and the Vikings believe this is the year they can take the division crown away from the
Packers.
To quote boxing referee Mills Lane: "Let’s get it on!"
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL:
In late December 1989, defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur hatched a
brilliant plan to help the Rams stop QB Randall Cunningham and the Eagles in a first-round
playoff game. Shurmur used a bizarre "dime" scheme in passing situations that
featured five linebackers, six defensive backs and zero defensive linemen. The Rams’
zone coverages clogged Cunningham’s passing lanes, and the Rams upset the Eagles 21-7
in Philadelphia. |
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The matchups
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Minnesota Vikings
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Green Bay Packers
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QB's
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RB's
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REC
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OL
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DL
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LB's
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DB's
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ST
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Coaches
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Profile
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| Lambeau Field |
| Green Bay, Wis. |
| Date: Monday, October 05, 1998 |
| 7:20 PM Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
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Minnesota |
4-0-0 |
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Green Bay |
4-0-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
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Minnesota |
2-2-0 |
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Green Bay |
3-0-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
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Minnesota (R) |
2-0-0 |
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Green Bay (H) |
2-0-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
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Minnesota (R) |
0-2-0 |
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Green Bay (H) |
2-0-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
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Minnesota |
1-0-0 |
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Green Bay |
3-0-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
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Minnesota |
0-1-0 |
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Green Bay |
2-0-1 |
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But Cunningham, starting for Minnesota in place of the injured Brad
Johnson (ankle), is no longer the impatient, freewheeling quarterback he was during his
Eagle days, and Shurmur, now a Packer assistant, may need more than a gadget defense to
stop Cunningham and the potent Viking offense. Cunningham, who threw four TD passes last
week, has developed a strong pocket presence and is far more likely to find his secondary
receivers than he used to be.
Speaking of receivers, the Viking WR trio of Cris Carter, Randy Moss
and Jake Reed is arguably the NFL’s best. But Packer CB’s Craig Newsome and
Tyrone Williams and FS Darren Sharper, who moves to cornerback in the nickel defense, are
big, physical cover men who have a fighting chance to hold the Viking wideouts in check.
The Viking offensive line, one of the league’s best, faces a
Packer front four that has played extremely well. The key matchup is Viking ORT Korey
Stringer vs. Packer DLE Reggie White. White has been superb this season, but Stringer
always seems to play at a high level against the Packers’ spiritual leader.
SS LeRoy Butler, the Packers’ best all-around defender, will try
to stop Viking RB Robert Smith from breaking off any long runs.
WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL:
Packer QB Brett Favre, who threw for 388 yards and five touchdowns last
week, hopes to have similar success against a Viking secondary that is no better than
average. Viking CB’s Corey Fuller and Jimmy Hitchcock must keep up with Packer
WR’s Antonio Freeman, Robert Brooks and Derrick Mayes, or it could be a long night
for the Minnesota defense. The Vikings must also be aware of Packer TE’s Mark Chmura
and Tyrone Davis; both play key roles in the Packer passing attack.
The Packer offensive line must contend with the voluble John Randle,
who spearheads the Viking pass rush. The Vikings like to move Randle around, lining him up
at "under" tackle or at either DE spot. Minnesota has become fond of a defensive
package that features Jerry Ball and Tony Williams at tackle and Randle at one of the DE
spots. If Favre is to have enough time to throw, Packer C Frank Winters and OG’s Adam
Timmerman and Marco Rivera must keep the Vikings from applying pressure up the middle.
Packer RB Raymont Harris, starting for the injured Dorsey Levens
(ankle), has carried the ball 52 times in the last two weeks and is starting to look
comfortable in Green Bay’s offense. But the speedy Viking LB corps, led by rising
star Dwayne Rudd, is capable of keeping the Packer running game under control. Viking SS
Robert Griffith is highly effective on run blitzes.
Game preview and depth charts were compiled as of Sept. 27 |
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Viking Depth Chart
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| OFFENSE |
| WR |
86 REED, 81 Walsh, 89 Hatchette |
| OLT |
73 STEUSSIE, 78 Sapp |
| OLG |
64 R. MCDANIEL, 74 Bobo |
| C |
62 CHRISTY, 61 Lindsay |
| ORG |
71 DIXON, 74 Bobo |
| ORT |
77 STRINGER, 75 Birk* |
| TE |
82 GLOVER, 87 Goodwin, 85 DeLong |
| WR |
80 CARTER, 84 R. Moss*, 83 Tate |
| QB |
7 CUNNINGHAM, 8 Bouman, 11 Fiedler |
| RB |
26 R. SMITH, 44 Hoard, 22 Palmer |
| FB |
29 EVANS, 33 Morrow, 21 Williams |
| DEFENSE |
| DLE |
99 COLINET, 92 Clemons |
| NT |
96 BALL, 94 T. Williams |
| UT |
93 RANDLE, 72 Fisk |
| DRE |
90 ALEXANDER, 92 Clemons |
| SLB |
59 EDWARDS, 52 Wong* |
| MLB |
58 E. MCDANIEL, 53 Mays*, 56 Bercich |
| WLB |
57 RUDD, 55 Houston |
| LCB |
27 FULLER, 34 McDonald* |
| RCB |
37 HITCHCOCK, 32 Darden* |
| SS |
24 GRIFFITH, 31 Butler |
| FS |
42 THOMAS, 23 Gray |
| SPECIALISTS |
| P |
17 BERGER |
| PK |
1 ANDERSON |
| H |
17 BERGER |
| PR |
22 PALMER, 84 R. Moss*, 81 Walsh |
| KR |
22 PALMER, 21 M. Williams, 33 Morrow |
| KC |
68 MORRIS, 87 Goodwin, 62 Christy |
| * Rookie |
Back to Handicapper's Corner |
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Packer Depth Chart
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| OFFENSE |
| WR |
86 FREEMAN, 84 Schroeder, 85 Bradford* |
| OLT |
78 VERBA, 76 Willig |
| OLG |
62 RIVERA, 70 Andruzzi |
| C |
52 WINTERS, 67 Dellenbach, 58 Flanagan |
| ORG |
63 TIMMERMAN, 67 Dellenbach, 68 Wahle* |
| ORT |
72 E. DOTSON, 76 Willig |
| TE |
89 CHMURA, 83 Thomason, 81 T. Davis |
| WR |
87 BROOKS, 80 Mayes, 88 Preston |
| QB |
4 FAVRE, 18 Pederson, 12 Mirer |
| RB |
29 R. HARRIS, 32 Jervey, 25 Levens |
| FB |
33 HENDERSON, 27 Blair |
| DEFENSE |
| DLE |
92 WHITE, 91 J. Brown*, 96 Booker |
| T |
71 S. DOTSON, 96 Booker, 98 Lyon* |
| NT |
93 G. BROWN, 94 Kuberski, 98 Lyon* |
| DRE |
96 HOLLIDAY*, 95 McKenzie, 91 J. Brown* |
| LLB |
53 KOONCE, 56 Hollinquest |
| MLB |
55 B. HARRIS, 56 Hollinquest |
| ROLB |
51 B. WILLIAMS, 54 Waddy* |
| LCB |
21 NEWSOME, 23 Blackmon* |
| RCB |
37 T. WILLIAMS, 23 Blackmon* |
| SS |
36 BUTLER, 39 Prior, 34 McGarrahan* |
| FS |
42 SHARPER, 40 Terrell, 20 Cooks* |
| SPECIALISTS |
| P |
7 LANDETA |
| PK |
8 LONGWEL |
| H |
18 PEDERSON |
| PR |
88 PRESTON, 80 Mayes, 39 Prior |
| KR |
88 PRESTON, 32 Jervey, 23 Blackmon* |
| KC |
60 R. DAVIS, 67 Dellenbach, 97 Frase |
* Rookie |
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