In age and victories, Vikings are the anti-Packers

The Packers have more wins and fewer birthday candles than any other team in the NFC North.

Counting their active roster and injured reserve, Green Bay has the most players 25 or younger (31), the most players 26 to 29 (26) and by far the fewest players 30 or older (six).

It's the envious king-of-the-mountain view for a defending Super Bowl champion that possesses both greatness and an unusually high level of corresponding youth. It's also the double Cheesehead whammy off the top turnbuckle that could keep the Vikings' shoulders pinned to the mat as the team tries to rebuild beyond this disastrous season.

"I don't know about that," Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said. "I mean, does their youth make them harder to catch? No, because I remember two years ago when they were the youngest team in the league, and we were beating them."

True. But a lot of that youth now has a Lombardi Trophy, overflowing confidence and Aaron Rodgers to go along with all those mid-20-something legs.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are wheezing their way to the end of what could be their worst season ever. They are 2-12 with twice Green Bay's total of players 30 or older.

"We know there are going to be changes made around here," Allen said. "There are changes in our business every year. If we stay status quo, we're going to be right back where we're at. So every year, I expect changes. When you have a year like this, you expect a lot of changes."

The Packers opened the season with the league's second-youngest roster, not counting specialists, according to ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando. The Lions, with an NFC North-high 14 players 30 or older, had the league's oldest roster, while the Vikings were the 14th oldest and the Bears rounded out the NFC North as the 27th oldest.

"Yeah, the Packers do a great job of bringing in young talent and not missing a beat," said Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who turns 32 next August. "But I also think we got a lot of pieces in place here. We've lost nine games by seven points or less. Nine out of 12. That's just a play or a person here or there. I don't think we're looking at a major overhaul, but changes are definitely going to be made."

According to data provided by the league, the Packers had the third-youngest opening day roster, specialists included, with an average age of 25.74. Only the Buccaneers (25.17) and the Seahawks (25.74) were younger. The Vikings checked in at 26.43, slightly above the league average of 26.39.

The average NFL experience level per player for the Packers was 3.7 years. Only the Bucs (3.3), Seahawks (3.4), Browns (3.5) and Bengals (3.6) were wetter behind the ears than a Packers team that opened with 13 rookies and first-year players on the roster.

Meanwhile, only the Bengals (two), Seahawks (three) and Bucs (four) began the year with fewer players 30 or older. Of course, being over 30 isn't always a bad thing. Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, 35, might be on his way to his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in three seasons.

"Age is just a number," said Allen, whose number hits 30 next season. "I'm only as old as I allow myself to feel. I know plenty of guys who play well in their 30s."

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier came into this season rejecting any and all suggestions that this would be -- or should be -- a rebuilding year. Needless to say, he was publicly blindsided.

"I really thought we had some things in place to really push in our division, especially with the way the offseason had gone, knowing that there would be a lot of unknown things about this year," Frazier said. "As it has turned out, looking at where our team is and looking at where other teams in our division and our league are, we have a ways to go."

Although Frazier factors in age when helping build a roster, he won't be counting birthday candles this offseason.

"You can have youth, but if they're not the right people, you just got a young team," Frazier said. "It's a matter of getting the right pieces for the Minnesota Vikings. And if you get the right pieces from a talent and character standpoint, smart football players, tough football players, it's not a matter of youth or experience. It's a matter of getting the right guys."