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Childress looks for first win over Packers - again

Nov 4, 2008 - 9:30 PM Green Bay (4-4) at Minnesota (4-4), 1:00 pm, EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress had to know the topic was going to come up, but he was reluctant to address it: Why can't he can't beat the Green Bay Packers?

Childress will get another crack Sunday, when the teams renew their always intense rivalry at the Metrodome.

Minnesota's third-year coach is 0-5 against the Vikings' biggest rival - a record that does not set well with the team's rabid fans.

"You know, I'm worried about our record this week against Green Bay," Childress said. "The past is prologue. (This week) has nothing to do with the past. Those are different circumstances, as this week is a different circumstance."

Childress' first four games against Green Bay came with Brett Favre as the Packers' quarterback. Favre is gone, and Childress still found a way to lose another game to the Packers earlier this season .

Aaron Rodgers, who took over for Favre, will be making first career start at the Metrodome on Sunday.

The contest is an important one in the NFC North race as both teams enter with 4-4 records - one game behind the first-place Chicago Bears. The Packers host the Bears next week, then have only two division games left for the remainder of the season.

Rodgers already has one win over the Vikings and it came in his first career start. He completed 18-of-22 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in Green Bay's 24-19 Week One victory over Minnesota at Lambeau Field - the Packers' first game without Favre since 1992.

Although the Packers scored only one touchdown in seven trips inside the red zone in last week's 19-16 overtime loss at Tennessee, Rodgers has earned a passing grade in his first season as Favre's heir apparent.

The real problem for the Packers, however, has been an inability to stop the run. Green Bay allowed 178 yards on the ground last week and its run defense ranks only 27th.

Green Bay has allowed at least 175 yards on the ground in four of its last five games - a weakness the Vikings no doubt with try to exploit.

"I'm disappointed in some of the continuous gap-control problems that we've had," said Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy, who is 5-0 against the Vikings.

Adrian Peterson, the NFL's second-leading rusher, ran for 139 yards and a touchdown in last week's 28-21 win over Houston, his third straight game over 100 yards and fifth of the season.

The second-year star has surpassed the century mark in two of his first three games against Green Bay - although Minnesota has dropped all three games.

The Vikings have not beaten Green Bay since a a 20-17 victory in Week 11 of the 2005 season. Green Bay has won two straight at Metrodome.