Green Bay opens up play in the NFC North this weekend as it travels to Minnesota to take on the Vikings at the HHH Metrodome.
*Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.
Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.
A complete edition of the Dope Sheet will be available each week during the season in PDF format, located in the Packers.com Game Centers.
Here are some highlights from the Packers-Vikings Week 4 Dope Sheet:*
PACKERS HEAD INTO DIVISION PLAY UNDEFEATED
-Green Bay opens up play in the NFC North this weekend as it travels to Minnesota to take on the Vikings.
-The Packers moved to 3-0 for the first time since 2001 on Sunday with a 31-24 victory over the San Diego Chargers, while the Vikings fell to 1-2 with a 13-10 loss at Kansas City.
-According to Elias Sports Bureau, this is the first time in Packers history that the club has begun the season 3-0, with all three wins coming against teams that made the playoffs in the previous year.
-In fact, the 2007 Packers are just the fourth team in league history to accomplish the feat. The 1982 Washington Redskins, 1991 Houston Oilers and 2002 Saints - under offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy - are the only other clubs in NFL history to open a season with three consecutive wins over teams that reached the playoffs the previous season.
-Only defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis (eight) enters play this weekend with a longer winning streak than Green Bay (seven).
-The Packers are one of five undefeated teams in the NFL - and one of two in the NFC - heading into Week 4.
WITH THE CALL
-FOX Sports enters its 14th season as an NFL network television partner and will air the contest to a regional audience. Play-by-play man Ron Pitts joins color analyst JC Pearson in the broadcast booth with Dawn Mitchell serving as the sideline reporter.
-Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since 1929, heads up the 56-station Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (color) calling the action. The network covers 47 markets in six states.
-For out-of-town listeners, the broadcast is available to NFL Field Pass subscribers on www.packers.com as well as on Sirius Satellite Radio as part of the network's NFL Sunday Drive.
-Westwood One will air the game across the country. Bill Rosinski (play-by-play) and Dan Reeves (analyst) will call the action.
ROAD WARRIORS
-One of the most impressive accomplishments of Head Coach Mike McCarthy's first year as head coach was the way his club performed on the road. The Packers finished 5-3 away from home last season, recording the most road wins in franchise history for a coach in his first season.
-The Packers defeated the Giants, 35-13, in their first road game of 2007.
-A look at the top road teams in the NFL since 2006:
Team: Road Record (Pct.)
New England: 8-1 (.889)
Chicago: 7-2 (.778)
Dallas: 7-3 (.700)
Baltimore: 6-3 (.667)
Denver: 6-3 (----)
Green Bay: 6-3 (----)
N.Y. Jets: 6-3 (----)
Carolina: 6-4 (.600)
Indianapolis: 6-4 (----)
New Orleans: 6-4 (----)
N.Y. Giants: 6-4 (----)
San Diego: 6-4 (----)
FAVRE ON THE VERGE OF HISTORY
-Thanks to his second-straight game with three touchdown passes, quarterback Brett Favre stands just one touchdown pass away from one of the NFL's most sacred records.
-Touchdown pass No. 420 - which tied Favre with Dan Marino on the all-time list - couldn't have come at a better time for the Packers. Down 21-17 with just over two minutes left, Favre hit wide receiver Greg Jennings on a quick slant, and Jennings did the rest, racing 57 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
-42 different players have been on the receiving end of a Brett Favre touchdown pass, and one will be etched into the record books with the next record-breaking touchdown.
-If Favre starts at quarterback on Sunday - which he is expected to do for the 241st straight game (261 including playoffs) - he will establish the league's second-longest starting streak on record, surpassing Vikings center Mick Tinglehoff (240). Only the Vikings' Jim Marshall (270) has a longer consecutive starting streak on record in league history.
MILESTONES COME ON THE ROAD FOR FAVRE
-One touchdown pass away from surpassing Dan Marino on the NFL's all-time list, quarterback Brett Favre has one of the league's most coveted milestones in his sights this weekend. Taking a look back at some of Favre's milestone touchdown passes throughout his career, all have a common theme - they came in road victories.
-Only touchdown pass No. 100 came in front of the home crowd at Lambeau Field, though it still came in a winning effort.
-Touchdown pass No. 301 pushed Favre ahead of John Elway (300) to third on the league's all-time touchdown passes list.
-No. 343 - coming in one of the most memorable performances of his career and in the history of Monday Night Football - placed Favre No. 2 on the all-time list, surpassing Fran Tarkenton.
No. - Date - Reception, Opp. (Result)
100 - 12/3/95 - Edgar Bennett, vs. CIN (W, 24-10)
200 - 11/15/98 - Tyrone Davis, at NYG (W, 37-3)
300 - 10/13/02 - Ahman Green, at NE (W, 28-10)
301 - 10/13/02 - Bubba Franks, at NE (W, 28-10)
343 - 12/22/03 - Javon Walker, at OAK (W, 41-7)
400 - 9/24/06 - Greg Jennings, at DET (W, 31-24)
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:
Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings:
All-time regular season: 46-44-1
All-time, in Minnesota: 22-23-0 (11-13 at Metrodome)
Streaks: The Packers have won three of the last four in Minnesota.
Last meeting, regular season: Dec. 21, 2006, at Lambeau Field; Packers won, 9-7
Last meeting, regular season, at HHH Metrodome: Nov. 12, 2006; Packers won, 23-17
COACHES CAPSULES
Mike McCarthy: 11-8-0, .579; second NFL season
Brad Childress: 7-12-0, .368; second NFL season
Head to Head: McCarthy 2-0
vs. Opponent: McCarthy 2-0 vs. Vikings; Childress 0-2 vs. Packers
MIKE McCARTHY...In second year as the Packers' 14th head coach.
-Was named Packers head coach on Jan. 12, 2006, his first head coaching job after 13 years as an NFL assistant.
-Led the Packers to an 8-8 finish and near playoff berth, losing a tiebreaker with the New York Giants, who also finished 8-8.
-Spent six seasons as an offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints (2000-04) and San Francisco 49ers (2005).
-Began his coaching career as a college assistant at Fort Hays State (1987-88) and at the University of Pittsburgh (1989-92) before breaking into the NFL as a quality control assistant with the Chiefs in 1993.
BRAD CHILDRESS...In second year as the Vikings' seventh head coach.
-In his 29th season of coaching, including his ninth in the NFL. Spent first seven with Philadelphia, where he was offensive coordinator from 2002-05.
-During his time as Eagles offensive coordinator, the team's 43 victories were the most in the NFC over that span. His offense also featured seven players who earned a total of 14 berths in the Pro Bowl.
-Broke into the NFL in 1985 as quarterbacks coach for the Indianapolis Colts.
-Also coached at four colleges, including the University of Wisconsin (1991-98). The staff at Northern Arizona (1986-89) included future NFL head coaches Bill Callahan, Marty Mornhinweg and Andy Reid.
THE VIKINGS-PACKERS SERIES
-These two longtime divisional rivals square off for the 93rd time in the history of the rivalry.
-Few, if any, rivalries in sports have exhibited more parity. The Packers own a slight advantage over the Vikings (46-45-1, including playoffs) in the all-time series.
-The series began when the Vikings entered the league in 1961, and Vince Lombardi's Packers won the first six meetings and nine of the first 10.
-The Vikings swept the Packers in 2005 for the first time since 1998.
-In 2003, the home clubs in the series were 0-2. The last time that happened was 1991.
-Over the last 13 seasons (1994-2006), these teams have accounted for nine NFC Central/North division championships.
{sportsad300}NOTABLE CONNECTIONS
-Vikings K Ryan Longwell is Green Bay's all-time leading scorer, having racked up 1,054 points in nine seasons with the Packers (1997-2005)...Fifth in Packers history with 36 interceptions, Vikings S Darren Sharper spent his first eight NFL seasons (1997-2004) in Green Bay...The Vikings coaching staff has several ties to the University of Wisconsin, where Childress (1991-98) and offensive line coach Jim Hueber (1992-2005) worked together, and where offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell played quarterback (1992-95) and assistant special teams coach Brian Murphy (2000-05) held various recruiting and administrative roles...Bevell also was a Packers offensive assistant coach from 2000-05, including QB coach (2003-05)...Green Bay director of research and development Mike Eayrs (similar capacity, 1985-99) previously worked for the Vikings...Vikings WR Robert Ferguson spent the first six seasons (2001-06) of his NFL career in Green Bay...Vikings backup QB Brooks Bollinger, DT Ross Kolodziej and DE Erasmus James also played at Wisconsin...Packers LB Abdul Hodge (injured reserve) played alongside Vikings LB Chad Greenway at Iowa...Packers DT Colin Cole originally signed with Minnesota as a rookie free agent in 2003 and spent separate one-week stints on the Vikings' 53-man roster that season...Green Bay TE Donald Lee and Minnesota CB Fred Smoot were teammates at Mississippi State...T Bryant McKinnie (Vikings) and TE Bubba Franks (Packers) were college teammates at Miami (Fla.).
INDIVIDUALLY VS. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
-Quarterback Brett Favre starts his 30th career game against the Vikings Sunday. He has a W-L record of 15-14 against Minnesota, his most losses against any single opponent...In those 29 contests, Favre has thrown for 6,684 yards and 49 touchdowns...Favre tied his career high with five TD passes vs. Minnesota (Sept. 21, 1997), and his 79.5 completion percentage (31 of 39) on Nov. 22, 1998, is the second-highest of his career...Donald Driver established a new career high for receiving yards with 191 against the Vikings last season (Nov. 12), topping the 162 he had on Dec. 24, 2004, also at the Metrodome...Driver also had a career-high 11 receptions (tie) in that 2004 contest, as well as a career-long 45-yard run on Nov. 2, 2003. His six TD catches against the Vikings are his most against any opponent, as are his 900 receiving yards against Minnesota...Aaron Kampman originally established his career high of three sacks against the Vikings in 2005, and twice tied the mark last season, including the Dec. 21 contest vs. Minnesota.
LAST MEETING, REGULAR SEASON
-Dec. 21, 2006, at Lambeau Field; Packers won 9-7.
-Dave Rayner's 44-yard field goal with 1 minute, 34 seconds left sealed the 9-7 Green Bay victory after a dominant defensive performance.
-A Thursday night contest played in the rain, Rayner connected on 3-of-5 field goal attempts to account for all of the Packers' points.
-Green Bay's defense held Minnesota to just 104 total net yards, posted three sacks and intercepted one pass.
-The Packers took a 6-0 lead into the fourth quarter before Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot returned an interception 47 yards for a score.
-The offense drove down the field once again, but a Bubba Franks fumble on the 1-yard line again turned the ball over to the Vikings.
-A 36-yard reception by Ruvell Martin set up Rayner's final field goal, and the defense forced a turnover on downs to ensure victory.
LAST MEETING, AT HHH METRODOME
-Nov. 12, 2006; Packers won 23-17.
-Donald Driver set a new career high in receiving yards (191), including an 82-yard touchdown strike just before halftime.
-Brett Favre threw for a season-high 347 yards, including two touchdowns, as the Packers got their season back on track with the win.
-The teams traded scoring drives in the first half before Favre found Driver on a slant route over the middle with less than a minute remaining in the half to regain the momentum.
-Cornerback Patrick Dendy intercepted a Brad Johnson pass in the fourth quarter, setting up a Dave Rayner field goal to increase the lead to 23-14 with just over two minutes to play.
-Minnesota rallied to score another late field goal but could not recover the ensuing onside kick.
