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Want to sound like an expert during the Packers – Vikings game? Whether you’re watching with friends, on a live chat or tweeting to the world, you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about right?

Hopefully, you’ve done your homework during the week, but if you’ve been lax or life just got busy – no worries. Below are some resources for you to quickly get up to speed.

All it will take is a little last-minute cramming and you can sound like an NFL analyst. Well, maybe you don’t really want that, but at least you can impress your friends and be able to accurately make fun of the NFL analysts. Read up and then enjoy the game!

Packers vs. Vikings Dope Sheet – Essential reading to get all the background information on this game.

5 Things to Watch – The quintessential “5 things” post comes to you each week from Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Packers Predictions – Your weekly predictions from our panel of Packers writers at AllGBP.com.

JSOnline.com game preview – Essential reading.

NFL Films Game Preview – For you visual learners out there…

Fantasy Football view – A look at the game from a Fantasy standpoint from Acme Packing Company.

Ryan Pickett – Unsung Heroe – With Adrian Peterson looming, a feature on the Packers main run-stuffer from Rob Demovsky at Packersnews.com.  Read more... (331 words + 3 images, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

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The Minnesota Vikings (1-5) will start rookie quarterback Christian Ponder Sunday when they take on the undefeated Green Bay Packers (6-0) at the Metrodome.

The basics 

When: 3:15 CDT; Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011.

Where: Mall of America Field at the Metrodome; Minneapolis, MN.

TV: FOX; Thom Brennaman and Troy Aikman with the call, Pam Oliver on the sidelines.

Radio: 620 AM WTMJ (Milwaukee), Packers Radio Network, Westwood One, NFL Sunday Drive (Sirius Radio).

Series: Packers lead, 51-48-1 (Packers won the last regular season game, 31-3, in Minnesota on Nov. 21, 2010).

Five things to watch

1. A new era in Minnesota

The Vikings will be ushering in a new era at quarterback Sunday, as rookie Christian Ponder makes his first NFL start in place of veteran Donovan McNabb. Say what you want about Tarvaris Jackson, but Ponder represents the Vikings first attempt at developing a young quarterback since Daunte Culpepper in 2002. It’s been nothing but stop-gap options for Minnesota since Culpepper was traded to the Miami Dolphins before the 2006 season. At 6-2, 230 pounds, Ponder is a smart, athletic quarterback whom the Vikings liked enough to draft with the 12th overall pick last April. The majority of draft pundits said that the pick was a reach for Minnesota. But the Vikings absolutely needed to address the quarterback position and most of those same draft pundits called Ponder the most ready quarterback in the draft to play right away. While starting Ponder for the first time against the defending Super Bowl champions probably wasn’t how the Vikings envisioned their quarterback situation shaking out in 2011, McNabb simply didn’t play well enough to continue keeping Ponder on the bench. Starting Ponder is what the fans wanted. They got it. The Ponder era begins Sunday.  Read more... (1764 words + 1 image, estimated 7:03 mins reading time)

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In this week’s installment of “Know Your Packers Enemy,” I talked with Max Ginsberg of Purple Pants, Green Jersey, a blog dedicated to news and information about both the Vikings and Packers. Max also writes on occasion for Cheesehead TV. He’s a great follow on Twitter (@MaxGinsberg) for news and opinions on both franchises.

Enough with the intros, let’s get to some Packers-Vikings talk.

ZACH KRUSE: The big news this week is the transition from Donovan McNabb to Christian Ponder at quarterback. McNabb has historically done well against the Packers, but I think we could all see that this move needed to happen sooner rather than later. What are some of the pros and cons of the Vikings’ decision to start the rookie this week?

MAX GINSBERG: I don’t see much of a negative side to this one. The worst-case scenario entails Ponder falling flat on his face and the Vikings completely tanking; in which case, the Vikings would secure a top pick in next year’s quarterback-heavy draft. On the other hand, the move to Ponder has a lot of benefits. It satisfies a fan base that (aside from one golden year with Favre) has suffered through mediocrity at the quarterback position for a long time, and it could also reenergize a team that could use a lift. The Metrodome is a crazy place where anything can happen; why not turn to a rookie quarterback and give the Vikings coaching staff a chance to see what he can do? And while one player is not going to make-or-break the team’s chances on a new stadium, the move to Ponder shows the state of Minnesota that the Vikings are looking to the future. In return, the Vikings are hoping the state ensures that future is in Minnesota by building the team a new stadium.  Read more... (1322 words + 1 image, estimated 5:17 mins reading time)

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The Packers’ season and their pride are both on the line this week as Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings come to town this Sunday night.

 The Vikings enter the contest at 2-3, coming off a big win at home against the Dallas Cowboys who quite possibly may be the only team in the NFC more desperate for a victory than the Packers.

With Clay Matthews coming back from injury, so should the Packers’ pass rush. Without Matthews last Sunday, the Packers failed to get much if any pressure on Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne and that no doubt played a key role in the Packers losing the game.

Penalties played another big role in the outcome, in particular one that nullified a punt and gave the Dolphins the ball back with a fresh set of downs.

To quote Vince Lombardi:

“What the hell is going on out here?”

The Packers now face a must win game Sunday night. A win and their season is back on track and the Packers can continue to make their push for the NFC North title. All will then seemingly be well in Dairyland despite the Packers being hampered by a rash of injuries.

A loss? Well, lose to the Vikings and Titletown may burst into flames. Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy will face calls from many fans for their heads and the team could have a meltdown of epic proportions making 2010 one of the most disappointing seasons in the Packers’ illustrious history.  Read more... (1397 words + 1 image, estimated 5:35 mins reading time)

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