Date: Sunday, November 1st
Time: 4:15 PM ET
TV: Fox
Line: Green Bay -3
Total: 47
Vikings ATS Record: 4-3
Packers ATS Record: 4-2

The Vikings' game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field certainly will be the most anticipated game of Week 8 and arguably the most anticipated of the entire 2009 regular season. It's Packers legend Brett Favre's homecoming.

Favre is having a very strong year with the first-place Vikings, passing for 1,681 yards, 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions. The 40-year-old led Minnesota to six straight wins, including a 30-23 home victory over Green Bay (4-2) on Oct. 5. Favre and the Vikings were unable to extend that streak as the Vikings fell 27-17 at Pittsburgh last Sunday.

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Minnesota out gained the Steelers 386-259 and held the ball for nearly 37 minutes yet still lost thanks to 11 penalties, two turnovers in the red zone that went for touchdowns and an inability to put the ball in the end zone from 1 yard out in the third quarter. Brad Childress has Adrian Peterson in the backfield, a massive left side of his offensive line and he passes the ball on 2nd and 3rd downs from the one yard line? The Vikings settled for a field goal, this along with the two red zone turnover’s returned for touchdowns by Pittsburgh’s defense cost the Vikes a win in Pittsburgh.

Favre is the Vikings offensive player who has received the most attention leading up to this game, but RB Adrian Peterson might be the key to success on Sunday. If the Vikings can get him going and he has 20 carries, then the Packers are in trouble. In the last matchup, however, Green Bay held Peterson to 55 yards rushing on 25 carries. Peterson has been productive against the Packers over his career. Peterson has gained 452 yards and 2 TDs on 72 carries (6.3 avg.) in 4 career games against the Packers. His best game against Green Bay came in November of 2008, when he tallied 192 yards and a TD on 30 carries.

Favre loves to throw the ball to Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shancoe and he has great confidence in all three in the red zone.

While fans at Lambeau might have mixed feelings for Favre, they are all rallying behind Rodgers. Rodgers threw for 246 yards and a season-high three touchdowns against the Browns, is second in the league with a 110.8 rating and has passed for 1,702 yards with 11 TDs and only two picks. Aaron Rodgers finally had some time in the pocket last week as the offensive line didn't allow a sack after giving up a league-worst 25 through the first five games. He likely won't have the same protection this week, though. The Vikings lead the league with 24 sacks and sacked Rodgers eight times with Jared Allen accumulating 4 1/2, a forced fumble and a safety in the first meeting.

The Green Bay Packers are considering giving the Minnesota Vikings their first taste of rookie fullback Quinn Johnson on Sunday. Johnson, 6 feet, 1 inch and 255 pounds, was inactive for the first four games but he loves to hit and is extremely fast for 255lbs. The Packers are looking to get Ryan Grant some openings and in using Big Quinn Johnson they may be trying to impose their will on the Vikings. In four starts against the Vikings' heretofore vaunted run defense, Grant has carried 64 times for 337 yards and a hefty 5.3-yard average. The Problem last game was Grant only had 16 carries in week 4.Look for Mike McCarthy to try and get 25 carries this week.

Rodgers’ top targets are his starting WRs Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. While it was Jennings who emerged last year with 1,292 receiving yards and 9 TDs, it’s Driver who has led the way this season. Driver currently ranks tied for 3rd among all NFL offensive players with 9 receptions of 20 yards. On top of that, Jennings averages 44.8 yards per 20 yard reception.

The Packers defense did a pretty good job of containing Adrian Peterson (25-55) in their first game, but they didn’t put any pressure on Brett Favre who completed 24 of 31 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns against Green Bay in Week 4. The Packers players and coaches would argue that this is a different defense than the one that Favre carved up in week 4. The Packers have yielded just 288 total yards and three points in the two games since Minnesota winning against Detroit and Cleveland. By not allowing a touchdown in the two victories The Packers defense vaulted from 18th in the league in total defense to third. The Browns and Lions converted just 2 of 22 third-down situations (9 percent) in the two games.

Unlike the first meeting, defense may be the name of this game Sunday. Both teams gave up big plays last time; you'd expect things to be cleaned up a lot just three weeks later. Playing on grass should keep the score down as well. Look for both teams to establish the run and make this a rough-and-tumble affair. The Packers could get the nod only because they're home and the crowd noise will make it tough on Favre and the Vikings. The Packers, 2-1 at home this season, have won three straight and 12 of 15 over the Vikings in Green Bay.

Injuries:

Minnesota Report:
Probable: Brett Favre probable, Ben Leber Probable E.J. Henderson probable Karl Paymah Probable, Tahi Naufahu Probable, Percy Harvin probable.
Questionable: Bernard Berrian WR H Questionable Darius Reynard Questionable Jasper Brinkley Questionable.
OUT Antonio Winfield Out.

Green Bay report:
(Probable): Charles Woodsen, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Stitton, Clay Mathews,
(Questionable): Jarious Wynn Chad Clifton, and Derek Martin.
(Doubtful) Jason Spitz and Jermichael Finley.
(OUT): Korey Hall and Jody Nelson.

Betting Trends:
The Vikings are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as an UNDERDOG
The UNDERDOG is 16-5 ATS in the last 21 meetings between the two teams
The Vikings are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games at Green Bay
The Packers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against the NFC North
The OVER is 4-1 in the last 5 games between the two teams