Vikings 28, Packers 27: Just Another Regular, Normal Rivalry Game

I probably can't say it any better than Peter King of Sports Illustrated in his Monday Morning Quarterback column. I've trumpeted for years how good the Minnesota-Green Bay rivalry is, even when compared to overhyped NFL matchups such as Cowboys-Redskins and Steelers-Browns, among others.

King notes that the last 14 meetings between the Packers and Vikings have been decided by 4, 5, 3, 3, 3, 14, 3, 3, 6, 2, 7, 34, 5, and 1 points. Even counting the Packers' 34-0 win last year (in which Brooks Bollinger was the Vikings' quarterback and Adrian Peterson got hurt), the average is less than seven points per game.

Yes, the Packers had won five straight in the series, but that average margin of 10.8 is not terribly impressive when you think about one of those games ending 34-0. The Packers' average margin was five points in the other four games.

It's a great rivalry. Sunday's game had everything you could ask for. Superb defensive line play, a great running back, big plays turned in by defense and special teams, two safeties, at least one officiating controversy, and some terrible coaching.