Gameday: Vikings at Green Bay

THE BIG THREE: SAFE BETS

1. Multiple QBs

More than one quarterback will play today for the Vikings. So far, their signal-callers have completed only five of eight starts this season. The Vikings still were holding out hope that QB Tarvaris Jackson could start after already suffering a concussion, a broken finger and a strained groin. If not, QB Brooks Bollinger will start; he was knocked out of a game last year because of a separated shoulder. We're just taking a guess here, but we're thinking that Green Bay DEs Aaron Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila are licking their chops.

2. In the officials' ears

The Vikings will be working the officials even before the game begins, pointing out how overly physical Packers CBs Charles Woodson and Al Harris will play. Vikings receivers thought Woodson and Harris were illegally holding them for much of the Sept. 30 matchup. But, for the most part, Green Bay escaped penalties. (You're not supposed to touch your guy beyond 5 yards of the line of scrimmage, if you want to get technical.) The Vikings' passing game isn't strong enough to withstand that type of interference, and they know it.

3. Rabbits out of hats, etc.

Some kind of trickeration will occur today. We have no factual basis for this assertion (the lens of our spy camera is cracked), but it should be noted the Vikings have been getting a bit more aggressive in this department. They used an onside kick two weeks ago against Philadelphia, and another special teams trick led to a 62-yard kickoff return last week against San Diego. As the Vikings look for new ways to win with the same team, we're guessing they will unveil something interesting today.

NUMBER TO WATCH: 77

That's the percentage of first-half plays the Packers passed on in the team's first meeting (20 of 26). Yes, RB Ryan Grant has rushed for 159 yards in their past two games. But don't expect Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy to generate any hard-headed notions. Packers QB Brett Favre is averaging 325.3 yards passing in his past three games against the Vikings, and there's no reason to think he won't shoot for similar numbers today.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com