Containing Aaron Rodgers is Vikings' defensive challenge

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a 11-5 record vs. the Vikings.

Rodgers has completed 331 of 481 passes (68.8 percent) for 3,993 yards and 34 touchdowns against the Vikings with only five interceptions for a sensational 113.2 quarterback rating.

Vikings defensive end Brian Robison, in his 10th season, was asked what he expects the Packers to do when they invade U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday night and how the team might defend against the outstanding Green Bay quarterback.

"They're going to try to get their running backs to hit some seams and get some chunk yards out of us, keep moving the ball," Robison said. "They want to get some chunk yards in the passing game. They're dangerous like they always have been.

"[Rodgers] is the same guy we've been seeing. He's one of the special guys in the league right now. He's a guy that can make some plays with his legs but also be able to get out of the pocket and make some plays downfield in the passing game.

"So he's one of those quarterbacks that can do it all, and he's really good at it. So we're going to have to be really good about keeping him in the pocket and making sure we get around his feet and make him a little nervous in there."

The former University of Texas standout thought the Vikings did a pretty good job on defense last December when they won at Green Bay 20-13 to win the NFC North Division title, although outstanding Packers receiver Jordy Nelson was out for the season because of a knee injury.

But Robison sees a good chance of the Vikings winning their second consecutive game against the Packers, something they haven't done since 2009.

"If all 11 guys [on the field] are on the same page and we just do our jobs, I feel like we've got a chance to get it done," he said. "At the end of the day, it's about what we do on Sunday, it's not about what we think our chances are.

"That's the thing about the NFL, every team is good. Yeah, [the Packers might] have struggled a little bit against Jacksonville, but at the end of the day they got a win. I think a lot of people would say we struggled against Tennessee, but at the end of the day we got a win."

Even though the Gophers pass defense gave up 228 yards and three touchdowns against Oregon State and 247 yards against Indiana State, senior cornerback Jalen Myrick looks for improvement in the secondary this year, starting with the Colorado State game Sept. 24.

"We're more athletic, more speed out there, more talented, we're just ready to work and show everybody what we can do," he said.

"We have more than two starters, a few on our team who started games for us at the safety position and the corner position," he said. "We have a lot of game experience and we're ready to show everybody what we can do. You can always improve each year and we … want to continue to strive."

Myrick is from Bloomingdale, Ga., a suburb of Savannah. How did he come to pick the Twin Cities and the Gophers?

"I wanted to come to a city instead of a college town basically, and Minneapolis is a great city," he said. "There's four pro teams in the area and I love being here.

"I'm not from a big city but from a real, like, country part of town. I wouldn't say Savannah is really country, but it's not as big as Minneapolis. I wanted to come to something bigger with more opportunities."

Myrick played in 10 games and started seven last year. He made 27 tackles and intercepted three passes, including one he returned 27 yards for a touchdown against Purdue. He's trying to at least double that total this season.

"[I can] always improve on being technically sound but for me personally, I want to be able to dominate every week. I'm preparing well, watching film more, and knowing the game plan a little bit better.

"I love it. My goal is always to go out there and shut down each receiver. I just love going out there, proving myself that I'm better than these guys."

• NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be in town for Sunday night's Vikings-Packers contest, the first regular-season game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

• Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman, talking about some of the influences that went into making the deal with the Eagles for quarterback Sam Bradford: "[Vikings tight end coach] Pat Shurmur had coached Sam Bradford twice. He was the offensive coordinator in St. Louis with him. He coached him in Philadelphia. … He had a big influence on knowing what Sam's strengths and weaknesses are, knowing how he's going to fit in our scheme, knowing the kid as a person, and knowing how smart this kid is."

• Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner, describing Kobe McCrary, who ran for 177 yards and two touchdowns vs. Indiana State: "He reminds me so much of [former Gophers running back] David Cobb, I've said it before. Just watching him run, everything he does is so similar to Cobb, and [it was nice] to see him finally get a number of reps and to be able to show what he can do. I know he's an explosive player, a really smooth runner and he can make guys miss. He's similar to David Cobb where they're not going to truck you and run you over like crazy all over the place. For how big he is [6-1, 235 pounds], he's going to make people miss."