The Packers Vikings rivalry is one of the more balanced ones. In their 94 encounters, the total offensive yardage, points scored, wins, turnovers, and time of possession are all within only 5% of each other, making these the closest margins of any rivalry lasting longer than 15 years. 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. This move was soundly opposed by the Packers, who filed tampering charges against the Vikings, which were proven to be unfounded. The Packers 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 a second time in August, 2009 to sign with the Vikings. As one of history’s most successful quarterbacks, this Brett Favre move greatly intensified the Packers-Vikings rival.

Memorable Packers vs Vikings Games

On October 5, 1998, Vikings rookie Randy Moss made his Monday Night Football debut at Lambeau Field and made five catches totaling 190 yards and two touchdowns. Randall Cunningham made two additional touchdown throws, to Jake Reed and Robert Smith, and Gary Anderson connected on three field goals to lead the Vikings to a 37-24 win over the Packers. Brett Favre threw three interceptions and was benched for Doug Pederson, who threw fourth-quarter scores to Tyrone Davis and Bill Schroeder.

In a Monday Night Football game in 2000, the Packers and Vikings were tied at 20-20 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 game-winning play prompted Al Michaels, who was broadcasting the game on ABC, to famously utter, “He did what?” This catch also has gone down as the “Improbable Bobble”.

An inevitable first-time Vikings-Packers playoff encounter finally occured on January 9, 2005. With amazing throws from Vikings’ Daunte Culpepper, the Vikings jumped to an early lead, carrying that to a 31-17 win over the Packers. To rub their second touchdown in, Vikings’ wide receiver Randy Moss faux mooned Packers fans. Four touchdowns were thrown by Culpepper, two to Moss at 20 and 34 yards, one to Nate Burleson at 19 yards, and one 68-yarder to Moe Williams. It wasn’t a great game for hte Packers, with Brett Favre’s four interception throws, making it their second home playoff loss in three years after winning 13 straight post-season contests at Lambeau Field.

Another Vikings win took place on November 9, 2008 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome by an awfully close score of 28-27. With 26 seconds left in the game, Packers’ Mason Crosby missed a 52-yard field goal, costing them the game. Both teams had a fair share of bad plays, with Vikings’ Gus Frerotte throwing three interceptions (one of which was returned 55 yards for a touchdown) and an end zone fumble by Packers’ Aaron Rodgers that gave Vikings a safety for intentional grounding. With a game ending score that close, this game added fuel to an already growing Vikings Packers rivalry.

The first face off with Favre as a Viking:
October 5, 2009 will go down in history as a day that millions of people tuned in to see Brett Favre as a Viking, taking on the team that he was for so long a part of; the game that lit a fresh fire to the nearly fifty year old rivalry. It was a successful yet emotional game for Favre, as the Vikings took the victory 30-23 over the Packers’ poor performance. Favre threw three touchdown passes totaling 271 yards, while the Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers got sacked eight times. With a game so highly anticipated and hyped up, the sold out stadium stayed standing up through the Vikings’ entire first possession, and it was an odd sight to see former Packers’ Brett Favre dressed in purple and gold.

The Vikings went on to the 2010 NFL Playoffs, winning their way to the NFC Championship Game where they lost to the New Orleans Saints. Favre made it known that his success as a quarterback hasn’t gone anywhere and the Packers Vikings rivalry is sure to intensify as the years go on.