The Brett Favre Era

Lore & Background

Notable moments and games: The Packers, under coach Vince Lombardi beat the Vikings in nine of the first ten meetings in Minnesota's first five seasons in the NFL (1961–1965). In Green Bay's two Super Bowl seasons under Lombardi (1966–67), the two teams split their semi-annual meetings. In Minnesota's four Super Bowl seasons (1969, 1973, 1974, 1976) the Vikings won seven of eight meetings with the Packers. Vikings' coach Bud Grant went 22–14–1 against the Packers.

On September 26, 1993, the Vikings trailed the visiting Packers 13–12 with no timeouts and less than two minutes remaining. Needing a big play on 4th and 8 from their own 19, Minnesota quarterback Jim McMahon found Cris Carter for a 19-yard gain. A couple more completions, mixed with three incomplete passes, set up a third-and-10 from mid-field with 14 seconds left. McMahon rolled right and spotted rookie wide receiver Eric Guliford wide open by 20 yards, connecting on a 45-yard bomb with 6 seconds left, setting up Fuad Reveiz's fifth field goal for a 15–13 Vikings victory.

It was Guliford's only catch in his two seasons with the Vikings. On October 5, 1998, Vikings rookie Randy Moss made his Monday Night Football debut at Lambeau Field with five catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Randall Cunningham had two additional touchdown throws and Gary Anderson kicked three field goals in a 37–24 Vikings win. Favre threw three interceptions and was benched for Doug Pederson, who threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.

The loss ended an 18-game winning streak for the Packers at Lambeau Field, dating back to 1995. In a Monday Night Football game on November 6, 2000, the Packers and Vikings were tied at 20 in overtime when Brett Favre threw a long pass that Vikings cornerback Cris Dishman deflected towards Antonio Freeman, who was on the ground. The ball went straight from Dishman to Freeman's shoulder, who then rolled over to make the catch at the 15-yard line, and took it for the touchdown and the 26–20 win.

This prompted commentator Al Michaels to famously utter, 'He did what?' On December 24, 2004, the Packers traveled to the Metrodome for a Week 16 matchup that would determine the 2004 NFC North champion. Both teams entered with 8–6 records. The Vikings took a 31–24 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the Packers mounted a late comeback to tie the game with 3:34 remaining.

Reader's Guide

The rivalry is defined by the Packers–Vikings series, with the Packers leading 67–61–3 overall and a 1–1 playoff record. Key figures include Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss, and coaches Vince Lombardi and Bud Grant.

Did You Know?

• Brett Favre's first Pro Bowl season with the Packers was 1993, not 1992.
• Brett Favre's Packers Pro Bowl seasons were 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2007.
• The Packers officially retired Brett Favre's number 4 on November 26, 2023.