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Monday Night Football:  Packers @ Vikings (-4.5, 46.5)

The inevitable Brett Favre finally faces his old team, the Green Bay Packers.

No chance Bret truly thinks “its just another game.”  “It’s a Monday night game, the only game playing and there’s more excitement because of that,” Favre said. “But you can’t treat it any differently. Trying to keep your emotions in check any time is part of it. But I think that’s a key part to any player’s success, too, is you want to be excited, emotional. If it doesn’t mean a whole lot, you shouldn’t be playing.”

Don’t think for one second that Favre and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier haven’t been talking all week about Mike McCarthy’s West Coast offense and Aaron Rodgers.  There are plenty of plays and looks that Green Bay are still using.

Did You Know

The Packers rushing attack is ranked in the bottom half of the league through three weeks and as most of you know, it now faces one of the league’s top rush defenses.  By the way, the Pakers offensive line is weak, weak, weak!  Strangely enough, Grant has fared well in all 3 of his games against the Vikings since 2007 totaling 286 yards, 5.4/carry and 2 TDs.  Not bad.

The Packers run defense has allowed 100-yard rushers the past two games to drop to 23rd in the league in run defense.  Adrian Peterson, who has 357 yards on the season, has no problem running  against the Packers.  In three out of the last four matchups, he has rushed for at least 100 yards, including a 192-yard performance in the Vikings final meeting last season.

Injuries

It is likely the Packers will be without starting left tackle Chad Clifton for the second straight week because of an ankle injury. If he’s unavailable, Daryn Colledge will again get the call and have the responsibility of blocking standout defensive end Jared Allen.

The Vikings look to be in good shape. The only major concern is left guard Steve Hutchinson(All Pro), who is listed as questionable with a back injury.

Niko’s Play

Peterson is the young stud in the NFL, compliment him with one of the best QBs of all time and you have quite an incredible tandem regardless the age differential. BUT, there is a lot of emotion in this game for Favre tonight, not to mention he is coming off a wild win against 49ers.  Could there be a let down? I just do not think Green Bay is performing on defense and that scares me with the Minny’s offensive weapons.  Grant has had success against the Vikings and they are hungary to prove they are contenders in the NFC North.  I think Rodgers will come out passing to open the run and get loose on MNF.  I lean to Minny -4.5 but the whole world is on Favre and that seems too easy.  Hard fought game with points, points, points.

GB 24 MINN 27

OVER 46.5