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Vikings-Packers Preview

Oct 20, 2010 - 11:26 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Brett Favre's off-the-field issues and the Minnesota Vikings' early struggles have garnered significant attention over the past few weeks.

The Green Bay Packers aren't really concerned with Favre's return to Lambeau Field and all the other hoopla surrounding the Vikings, as they have their own problems to worry about.

Once a trendy preseason Super Bowl pick, the Packers try to avoid losing a third straight game Sunday night when they host Favre and Minnesota.

Favre met with an NFL official Wednesday, regarding allegations he sent suggestive messages and lewd photos two years ago to a woman who worked for the New York Jets. The three-time league MVP, who hasn't denied the charges, refused to talk about his meeting and insisted he's only worried about Green Bay.

Favre had no trouble against the Packers last season, throwing for 515 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in two Minnesota victories, but nothing has come easy for the 20-year veteran in 2010.

Favre already has seven interceptions - the same number he had all of last season. His throwing elbow is bothering him and the Vikings (2-3) are third in the NFC North, trailing Green Bay (3-3) and first-place Chicago (4-2).

Minnesota restored some confidence with last Sunday's 24-21 win over Dallas, but now must travel to Green Bay, where most fans will likely harass Favre just as they did in his first trip back last November.

"I'm a little bit reluctant to say I'm excited to go back to Green Bay," Favre said. "It's a challenge that hopefully we'll live up to."

The Packers faithful is also likely looking forward to booing Randy Moss, playing his first game at Lambeau Field since he pretended to moon the crowd after scoring a touchdown in a wild-card victory Jan. 9, 2005. Moss' first stint with the Vikings ended the following week.

He has now returned to Minnesota to give Favre a downfield threat and take some of the pressure off All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson. In two games since being acquired from New England, Moss has nine catches for 136 yards and a TD.

To prevent Moss from going deep, Green Bay - tied for second in the NFL with 21 sacks - will focus on pressuring Favre. When defenses have knocked down Favre with regularity, the 41-year-old has looked every bit his age this season.

The injury-riddled Packers will try to right their ship after back-to-back overtime losses.

"No disrespect to those guys, obviously they've had their own struggles, but we're having ours," wide receiver Greg Jennings said, referring to the Vikings. "We're not concerned about them. We have to focus on us and get us better."

Green Bay at least appears to be getting better in terms of health.

The Packers, who had eight injured starters in last Sunday's 23-20 loss to Miami, hope to have cornerback Al Harris (left knee) and safety Atari Bigby (left ankle) on the field for the first time this season. Linebacker Clay Matthews, who has an NFL-best 8 1/2 sacks, is also planning on returning after sitting out last week with a left hamstring injury.

"We're getting hopefully two studs back this week on defense, three if you count Clay," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "We need those guys back. We need to be at full force. No excuses, obviously."

Rodgers and the offense have also had their problems, struggling to overcome season-ending injuries to running back Ryan Grant and tight end Jermichael Finley.

Like Favre, Rodgers has seven interceptions to equal his 2009 total, and the Packers have totaled three touchdowns in their last two games. Green Bay, which was third in the NFL in scoring last season at 28.8 points, has struggled to maintain drives, going 5 for 26 on third-down attempts in the last two games.

"We haven't done a good enough job getting seven on the board in the red zone, and we've done a poor job on third downs," Rodgers said. "So I have to look at myself first and I have to play better. I have not been playing up to the standard I've set for the way I've played in my 38 starts. I've got to play better."

Getting the offense on track against the Vikings won't be easy. Minnesota ranks fifth in the league in total defense, allowing 302.0 yards per game.