EAGAN, Minn. — The Border Battle is beginning a new chapter.
The Vikings and Packers will meet for the 126th time on Sunday when Minnesota (3-4) visits Green Bay (2-4) at noon (CT) Sunday.
Aside from injuries to Aaron Rodgers for one game in 2013 and another in 2017, this will be the first time since Dec. 27, 1992, that neither he nor Brett Favre will start for Green Bay against the Vikings.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell was 7, long snapper Andrew DePaola was 5, quarterback Kirk Cousins was 4, safety Harrison Smith was 3, tackle David Quessenberry was 2 and linebacker Jordan Hicks turned 6 months that day.
The Vikings intercepted Favre three times in his Border Battle debut, but he essentially ushered in Hall of Fame play by Packers quarterbacks over the next three-plus decades.
Green Bay transitioned to Jordan Love in full capacity this offseason, and he’s now totaled seven starts and 16 games played.
Vikings Uniform
The Vikings will wear their traditional road uniforms with white jerseys and purple pants
Quick turnaround with opportunity to build:The Vikings played their most complete game of 2023 on Monday to upset the heavily favored 49ers.
How will the team be able to build on that success on a prime stage in another important matchup? Minnesota opted for a walk-through on Wednesday, less than 48 hours after its Week 7 game, but the initial injury report only had four players on it, including tight end T.J. Hockenson, who is dealing with a foot injury.
Green Bay played Sunday and had an extra day to turn the page, but the Packers injury report included 10 players, not including DBs Darnell Savage and Eric Stokes, who were placed on Injured Reserve.
Experience in close ones:*Although both Border Battles of 2022 were decided by multiple scores (with the teams splitting results), this could be a little closer. If so, the Vikings are well-versed.*
Minnesota has opened the season with seven consecutive games that have been decided by one score, which is the longest streak to start a season in franchise history and tied for the second longest streak at any point in a season (2021 featured a run of 12 games in a row).
Green Bay has had four such games, going 1-3 and dropping its past two by scores of 17-13 at Las Vegas and 19-17 at Denve