Packers–Vikings rivalry

The Packers–Vikings rivalry is an NFL rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.[3][4]

Green Bay Packers–Minnesota Vikings

The Packers and Vikings at the line of scrimmage in 2006
Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings
First meeting	October 22, 1961 Packers 33, Vikings 7
Latest meeting	December 23, 2019 Packers 23, Vikings 10
Statistics
Meetings total	119 [1]
All-time series	Packers, 62–54–3[2]
Postseason results	Tie, 1–1 January 9, 2005, Vikings 31, Packers 17 January 5, 2013, Packers 24, Vikings 10
Largest victory	Packers, 45–7 (2011)
Longest win streak	Vikings, 7 (1975–78)
Current win streak	Packers, 2 (2019-present)

The rivalry began in 1961, when the Vikings entered the league as an expansion team. The rivalry is known for its many close games and the parity of the all-time series. It is considered to be one of Minnesota's most intense rivalries, due to both teams being located in the same division since the Vikings' inception, and the fact that the two states (Minnesota and Wisconsin) are geographically adjacent to one another, thereby allowing them to compete in multiple sports in other leagues such as the Big Ten Conference, although Green Bay's longer-term rival is the Chicago Bears.[5]

Notable moments and games

• The Packers, under coach Vince Lombardi beat the Vikings in nine of the first ten meetings in Minnesota's first five seasons in the NFL (1961–1965). In Green Bay's two Super Bowl seasons under Lombardi (1966–67), the two teams split their semi-annual meetings. In Minnesota's four Super Bowl seasons (1969, 1973, 1974, 1976) the Vikings won seven of eight meetings with the Packers. Vikings' coach Bud Grant went 22-14-1 against the Packers.
• The bitterness of the rivalry was illustrated in the 2008 preseason when Packers quarterback Brett Favre, in his public feud with Green Bay management over his attempted comeback from retirement, expressed desire to play for the Vikings, a move opposed by the Packers, who filed tampering charges against the Vikings, and later traded Favre to the New York Jets with a stipulation that the Packers receive multiple draft picks from the Jets should Favre be traded to an NFC North team, presumably the Vikings. Favre played one season with the Jets before announcing his retirement, then came back out of retirement in August 2009 to sign with the Vikings. Brett Favre would play two seasons with the Vikings, before retiring after the 2010 season.
• On December 10, 1972 the Packers traveled to Minnesota with a chance to clinch the NFC Central. The Vikings had a chance to move into a first place tie with the Packers and have a shot to win the division in the final game of the season. The Vikings got on the board first and took a 7-0 lead but the Packers scored 23 unanswered points and won the game 23–7. With the win the Packers clinched the division title and ended the Vikings four year streak as division champions.
• On September 26, 1993, the Vikings trailed the visiting Packers 13–12 with no timeouts and less than two minutes remaining on the clock. Needing a big play on 4th and 8 from their own 19, Minnesota quarterback, Jim McMahon found Cris Carter for a 19-yard gain to keep the Vikings' drive alive. A couple more completions, mixed with three incomplete passes, set up a third-and-10 from mid-field with 14 seconds left. McMahon rolled right to avoid the rush, when suddenly he spotted rookie wide receiver Eric Guliford who was wide open by 20 yards. McMahon then connected on a 45-yard bomb with 6 seconds left to play before Mike Prior could force Guliford out of bounds. That would set up Fuad Reveiz's fifth field goal of the game, lifting the Vikings to a 15–13 victory. It was Guliford's only catch in his two seasons with the Vikings.
• On October 5, 1998 Vikings rookie Randy Moss made his Monday Night Football debut at Lambeau Field and had five catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Randall Cunningham had two additional touchdown throws and Gary Anderson kicked three field goals in a 37–24 Vikings win. Favre threw three interceptions and was benched for Doug Pederson, who threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.
• In a Monday Night Football game on November 6, 2000, the Packers and Vikings were tied at 20 in overtime when Brett Favre threw a long pass that Vikings cornerback Cris Dishman deflected towards Antonio Freeman, who was on the ground. The ball went straight from Dishman to Freeman's shoulder, who then rolled over to make the catch at the 15-yard line, and took it into the endzone for the touchdown and the 26-20 win. This prompted commentator Al Michaels to famously utter, "He did what?"
• On December 24, 2004 the Packers traveled to the Metrodome for a Week 16 matchup with the Vikings that would determine the 2004 NFC North Division Champion. Both teams entered the game with identical 8–6 records. The Vikings took a 31-24 lead midway through the 4th quarter but the Packers mounted a late comeback to tie the game with 3:34 remaining. The Packers then drove down the field and won the game on a 29-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell as time expired. Coincidently, both matchups in the 2004 regular season were won by the Packers, 34–31, on last second field goals by Longwell.
• January 9, 2005 marked the first time that the two clubs played each other in the playoffs. The Vikings jumped to an early lead and won 31-17.[6] QB Dante Culpepper threw four touchdowns, two of them to Randy Moss for 20 and 34 yards, while Nate Burleson caught a 19-yard score and Moe Williams turned a short gain into a 68-yard touchdown. Brett Favre threw four interceptions and was flagged for an illegal forward pass when, late in the second quarter, he ran past the line of scrimmage on 3rd and goal at the Vikings' 8 yard line. Adding insult to injury the Packers missed the ensuing 28 yard field goal attempt. In the 4th quarter after his second touchdown, Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss faux mooned Packer fans. In the moment, Fox announcer Joe Buck famously denounced the end zone celebration as "a disgusting act.”
• The week leading to the teams' 2007 Week Four match up at the Metrodome was talk of whether Brett Favre would break the all-time passing touchdown record. He had already tied the record the week before, therefore needing only one touchdown pass to break Dan Marino's all time record of 420. Favre broke the record in the first quarter on a 16 yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings. The Packers went on to win the game 23–16.[7]
• In week 10 of the 2007 season the Packers routed the Vikings in only the second, and largest, shutout of the rivalry. The Packers defense stifled the Vikings while the Packers offense held the ball for over 40 minutes in the game. Favre threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 34-0 victory at Lambeau Field. The win pushed the Packers to an 8-1 start to the season.
• A missed 52-yard field goal try by the Packers' Mason Crosby with 26 seconds remaining sealed a hard-fought 28–27 Vikings win at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 9, 2008. Gus Frerotte overcame three interceptions (one returned 55 yards by the Packers' Nick Collins for a touchdown) to throw two touchdowns while Adrian Peterson rushed for 192 yards and the decisive touchdown with 2:22 to go in the fourth. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 142 yards but in the second quarter fumbled in the endzone and was flagged for intentional grounding, giving a safety to the Vikings; Jared Allen then sacked Rodgers in the Packers endzone with 52 seconds left in the first half for another Vikings safety.
• Monday Night Football earned the highest ratings in cable television history on October 5, 2009 when the Vikings hosted the Packers. The game was the first meeting between the Packers and their former quarterback Brett Favre. The Vikings took over the game when Aaron Rodgers was sacked at the Vikings 33-yard line and fumbled. The Vikings drove downfield as Adrian Peterson rushed six times for 26 yards and Favre threw five times, ending in a one-yard touchdown to Visanthe Shiancoe. Rodgers managed a 62-yard touchdown to Jermichael Finley, and after an exchange of touchdowns (a 14-yard Favre pass to Sidney Rice and a Clay Matthews strip-tackle of Peterson returned 42-yards) Favre raced the Vikings to the Packers redzone; a pass to the endzone was picked off but the play was nullified on pass interference, and one play later Peterson rushed in another score. The Vikings never let the Packers closer as they won 30-23, taking a 4-0 record in the 2009 season's first quarter. In the ensuing rematch at Lambeau Field on November 1, Favre erupted with four touchdowns while the Vikings defense snuffed out a late attempt at a rally for a 38-26 Vikings win. Favre would go on to lead the Vikings to a division title and an NFC Championship Game appearance, losing to eventual Super Bowl champions the New Orleans Saints.
• On October 24, 2010, the two teams met on Sunday Night Football[8] Three Favre interceptions helped the Packers surge to a 28–24 lead but Favre led a late comeback; an end zone catch by Percy Harvin with 57 seconds remaining was nullified when review showed one foot out of bounds, and the Vikings failed to convert a touchdown in their final attempt. Favre suffered an injury to his left ankle that left his season in doubt and coach Brad Childress was livid with the officiating crew led by Scott Green. In the November 21 rematch, the Packers routed the Vikings 31-3 behind four Aaron Rodgers touchdown passes, making Rodgers 2-2 against Favre in his career. The loss dropped the Vikings to 3-7, all but eliminating them from playoff contention. Childress was fired by the Vikings the next day, and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was promoted to replace him. The Packers went on to win their fourth Super Bowl.

Adrian Peterson vs. Packers, December 30, 2012, the last game of his 2,097-yard season.

• Adrian Peterson came up nine yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's 1984 rushing record but his late scamper set up the winning field goal in a 37-34 Vikings win on December 30, 2012. The Packers erased a 20-10 halftime gap but could not eke out a win, while the Vikings advanced to the playoffs as the NFC's sixth seed.
• On January 5, 2013 the Packers defeated the Vikings 24-10 in the Wild Card round just six days after falling to the Vikings in Week 17. The Packers were able to hold Adrian Peterson under 100 yards after he had run for 210 and 199 yards respectively in the first two meetings.
• The Packers and Vikings played for the division crown in Week 17 of the 2015 season at Lambeau Field.[9] The Vikings won the contest 20–13, claiming their first divisional title since 2009 and breaking the Packers' four-year streak.
• On the first game in U.S. Bank Stadium, Week 2 of the 2016 season, the Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14 en route to a 5-0 start to the season. They would ultimately miss the playoffs at 8-8, while Green Bay recovered from a 4-6 start to the season to finish 10-6, winning the NFC North and advancing to the NFC Championship. In the teams' second meeting of the season in week 16, the Packers eliminated the Vikings from playoff contention with a 38-25 win at Lambeau Field.
• The two teams faced off at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 15, 2017. Midway through the first quarter, Minnesota linebacker Anthony Barr tackled Aaron Rodgers, causing him to leave the game with a broken collarbone. Rodgers had surgery on October 19 and was placed on injured reserve, giving quarterback Brett Hundley the reigns. The teams headed in opposite directions going forward, as the Packers' eight-year streak of playoff berths ended with a 7-9 record after starting 4-1, while the Vikings finished 13-3 and won the NFC North, losing to the eventual Super Bowl LII champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. The following offseason, a controversial rule change was introduced that would cause similar tackles to result in a Roughing the Passer penalty.[10]
• On December 23, 2017, the Vikings won 16–0; the first time the Vikings shut out the Packers at Lambeau Field and Minnesota's first sweep of Green Bay since 2009. It was the second home shutout of the season for the Packers, who previously had not been shutout at home since 2006, following a 0-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
• On December 23, 2019, the 11-3 Packers and 10-4 Vikings met at U.S. Bank Stadium for a crucial Monday Night Football game that would have implications on NFC playoff seeding. A Packers win would clinch the NFC North, while a Vikings win would keep them in contention for the division title. Despite three early turnovers in the first half from the Packers offense, they would eventually win a 23-10 rout behind 3.5 sacks from OLB Za'Darius Smith and 154 rushing yards and two touchdowns from RB Aaron Jones. The win marked the first Packers win in Minnesota since 2015 and their first ever win at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Packers clinched the NFC North title, while the Vikings, having already clinched a playoff spot prior to the game due to a Rams loss, were locked in as the NFC's sixth seed.

Game results

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings Season-by-Season Results
1960s (Packers, 11–7) Season Season series at Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes 1961 Packers 2–0 Packers 28–10 † Packers 33–7 Packers 2–0 Vikings join NFL as an expansion team. Packers win 1961 NFL Championship 1962 Packers 2–0 Packers 34–7 Packers 48–21 Packers 4–0 Packers win 1962 NFL Championship 1963 Packers 2–0 Packers 28–7 Packers 37–28 Packers 6–0 1964 Tie 1–1 Vikings 24–23 Packers 42–13 Packers 7–1 1965 Packers 2–0 Packers 24–19 Packers 38–13 Packers 9–1 Packers win 1965 NFL Championship 1966 Tie 1–1 Vikings 20–17 Packers 28–16 Packers 10–2 Packers win 1966 NFL Championship and Super Bowl I 1967 Tie 1–1 Vikings 10–7 † Packers 30–27 Packers 11–3 Packers win seven straight meetings in Minnesota. Packers win 1967 NFL Championship and Super Bowl II 1968 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 26–13 † Vikings 14–10 Packers 11–5 1969 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 9–7 † Vikings 19–7 Packers 11–7 Vikings win 1969 NFL Championship, lose Super Bowl IV † Denotes a Packers home game played in Milwaukee
1970s (Vikings, 15–4–1) Season Season series at Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes 1970 Tie 1–1 Packers 13–10 † Vikings 10–3 Packers 12–8 Both teams placed in the NFC Central after AFL-NFL merger 1971 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 24–13 Vikings 3–0 Packers 12–10 1972 Tie 1–1 Vikings 27–13 Packers 23–7 Packers 13–11 1973 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 31–7 Vikings 11–3 Tie 13–13 Vikings lose Super Bowl VIII 1974 Tie 1–1 Vikings 32–17 Packers 19–7 Tie 14–14 Vikings lose Super Bowl IX 1975 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 28–17 Vikings 24–3 Vikings 16–14 1976 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 17–10 † Vikings 20–9 Vikings 18–14 Vikings lose Super Bowl XI 1977 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 13–6 Vikings 19–7 Vikings 20–14 Vikings win seven straight meetings in Green Bay/Milwaukee (1971–77) 1978 Vikings 1–0–1 Tie 10–10(OT) Vikings 21–7 Vikings 21–14–1 Vikings win seven straight meetings (1975–78) 1979 Tie 1–1 Packers 19–17 † Vikings 27–21(OT) Vikings 22–15–1 † Denotes a Packers home game played in Milwaukee
1980s (Packers, 14–5) Season Season series at Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes 1980 Packers 2–0 Packers 16–3 Packers 25–13 Vikings 22–17–1 1981 Tie 1–1 Vikings 30–13 † Packers 35–23 Vikings 23–18–1 1982 Packers 1–0 Packers 26–7 † no game Vikings 23–19–1 Game in Minnesota cancelled due to players strike reducing the season to 9 games. VIkings move to Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. 1983 Tie 1–1 Vikings 20–17(OT) † Packers 29–21 Vikings 24–20–1 1984 Packers 2–0 Packers 45–17 † Packers 38–14 Vikings 24–22–1 1985 Packers 2–0 Packers 20–17 † Packers 27–17 Tie 24–24–1 1986 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 32–6 Vikings 42–7 Vikings 26–24–1 1987 Packers 2–0 Packers 23–16 † Packers 16–10 Tie 26–26–1 1988 Packers 2–0 Packers 18–6 Packers 34–14 Packers 28–26–1 1989 Tie 1–1 Packers 20–19 † Vikings 26–14 Packers 29–27–1 † Denotes a Packers home game played in Milwaukee
1990s (Vikings, 12–8) Season Season series at Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes 1990 Tie 1–1 Packers 24–10 † Vikings 23–7 Packers 30–28–1 1991 Tie 1–1 Vikings 27–7 Packers 35–21 Packers 31–29–1 1992 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 23–20(OT) Vikings 27–7 Tie 31–31–1 1993 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 21–17 † Vikings 15–13 Vikings 33–31–1 Vikings K Fuad Reveiz kicks five field goals in the game in Min nesota, including the game-winner in the final seconds. 1994 Tie 1–1 Packers 16–10 † Vikings 13–10(OT) Vikings 34–32–1 1995 Tie 1–1 Packers 38–21 Vikings 27–24 Vikings 35–33–1 1996 Tie 1–1 Packers 38–10 Vikings 30–21 Vikings 36–34–1 Packers win Super Bowl XXXI 1997 Packers 2–0 Packers 38–32 Packers 27–11 Tie 36–36–1 Packers lose Super Bowl XXXII 1998 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 37–24 Vikings 28–14 Vikings 38–36–1 1999 Tie 1–1 Packers 23–20 Vikings 24–20 Vikings 39–37–1 † Denotes a Packers home game played in Milwaukee
2000s (Packers, 12–9) Season Season series at Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes 2000 Packers 2–0 Packers 26–20(OT) Packers 33–28 Tie 39–39–1 Packers win game in Green Bay on Antonio Freeman's rolling catch off his shoulder and run in for a touchdown, to which commentator Al Michaels famously exclaimed, "he did WHAT?!" 2001 Tie 1–1 Packers 24–13 Vikings 35–13 Tie 40–40–1 2002 Tie 1–1 Packers 26–22 Vikings 31–21 Tie 41–41–1 2003 Tie 1–1 Vikings 30–25 Packers 30–27 Tie 42–42–1 2004 Packers 2–0 Packers 34–31 Packers 34–31 Packers 44–42–1 2004 Playoffs Vikings 1–0 Vikings 31–17 Packers 44–43–1 NFC Wild Card round. First playoff meeting between the two teams. 2005 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 20–17 Vikings 23–20 Vikings 45–44–1 2006 Packers 2–0 Packers 9–7 Packers 23–17 Packers 46–45–1 2007 Packers 2–0 Packers 34–0 Packers 23–16 Packers 48–45–1 Packers QB Brett Favre breaks the career touchdown record during the game in Minnesota. 2008 Tie 1–1 Packers 24–19 Vikings 28–27 Packers 49–46–1 Packers QB Aaron Rodgers makes his first career start on a Week 1 Monday Night Football game against the Vikings. 2009 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 38–26 Vikings 30–23 Packers 49–48–1 Long time Packers QB Brett Favre signs with the Vikings before the season.
2010s (Packers, 13–6–2) Season Season series at Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes 2010 Packers 2–0 Packers 28–24 Packers 31–3 Packers 51–48–1 Packers win Super Bowl XLV 2011 Packers 2–0 Packers 45–7 Packers 33–27 Packers 53–48–1 Packers'45–7 win is the largest margin of victory for either team in the series. 2012 Tie 1–1 Packers 23–14 Vikings 37–34 Packers 54–49–1 2012 Playoffs Packers 1–0 Packers 24–10 Packers 55–49–1 NFC Wild Card round 2013 Packers 1–0–1 Tie 26–26(OT) Packers 44–31 Packers 56–49–2 Packers and Vikings become the first and, as of 2018, only set of teams to play each other to two ties since the 1974 addition of overtime to regular season games. They would play to a third tie in 2018. 2014 Packers 2–0 Packers 42–10 Packers 24–21 Packers 58–49–2 2015 Tie 1–1 Vikings 20–13 Packers 30–13 Packers 59–50–2 Vikings clinch NFC North with Week 17 win at Lambeau Field. 2016 Tie 1–1 Packers 38–25 Vikings 17–14 Packers 60–51–2 Vikings open U.S. Bank Stadium. The two teams' meeting is the first game at the new venue. After a 5-0 start, the Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention with a 38-25 loss at Lambeau Field in Week 16, en route to an 8-8 finish to the season. 2017 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 16–0 Vikings 23–10 Packers 60–53–2 Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr delivers a hit to Rodgers in the Week 6 contest at U.S. Bank Stadium that resulted in Rodgers suffering a broken collarbone and missing nine games that season. The hit would lead to a new rule that would make hits like Barr's result in a roughing the passer penalty. 2018 Vikings 1–0–1 Tie 29–29(OT) Vikings 24–17 Packers 60–54–3 2019 Packers 2–0 Packers 21–16 Packers 23–10 Packers 62–54–3 Packers clinch NFC North with Week 16 win at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Summary of Results Season Season series at Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings Notes Regular season Packers 61–53–3 Packers 32–24–3 Tie 29–29 Packers home record includes 23–17–3 in Green Bay and 9–7 in Milwaukee Postseason Tie 1–1 Tie 1–1 no games Regular and postseason Packers 62–54–3 Packers 33–25–3 Tie 29–29

Players that played for both teams

Name	Pos.	Years with Packers	Years with Vikings
Paul Coffman	TE	1978–85	1988
Brandon Bostick	TE	2012–14	2015
Brett Favre	QB	1992–07	2009–10
DuJuan Harris	RB	2012–14	2015
Greg Jennings	WR	2006–12	2013–14
Robert Ferguson	WR	2001–07	2007–08
Gilbert Brown	DT	1993–99, 2001–03	1993
Datone Jones	DE	2013–17	2017
Desmond Bishop	LB	2007–13	2013–14
Jeff Brady	LB	1992	1995–97
Bryce Paup	LB	1990–94	2000
Darren Sharper	DB	1997–04	2005–08
Mossy Cade	DB	1985–86	1988
Ryan Longwell	K	1997–05	2006–11
Jan Stenerud	K	1980–83	1984–85
Bucky Scribner	P	1983–84	1987–89
Carroll Dale	WR	1965–72	1973

See also

• Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry

Other rivalries involving the two teams

• Bears–Packers rivalry
• Bears–Vikings rivalry
• Lions–Packers rivalry
• Lions–Vikings rivalry

References

1. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/head-to-head.htm
2. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/head-to-head.htm
3. "Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings".
4. "Packers-Vikings is rivalry for now and future".
5. "Vikings-Packers rivalry runs a little hotter in Minnesota".
6. Fox, Bob. "Breaking Down the Packers-Vikings Rivalry".
7. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200709300min.htm
8. "Vikings-Packers: 107th Meeting Fuels Rivalry".
9. "Packers-Vikings rivalry will intensify".
10. Goessling, Ben (August 2, 2018). "Anthony Barr's hit on Aaron Rodgers would be penalty this season". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved August 2, 2018.