Fourth-down completions leave yards to be desired

GREEN BAY, WIS. - On a day of ignominy, the Vikings set a new low -- if not an NFL record -- in fourth-down production during a 34-0 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field.

Three times they went for it on fourth down, and they completed passes to receiver Robert Ferguson each time. Amazingly, they failed to convert all three when Ferguson was tackled short of a first down.

The Vikings' version of the West Coast offense routinely calls for players to make yardage after the catch, but coach Brad Childress said each play had "different answers." A breakdown:

• With 59 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Vikings faced fourth-and-10 from the Packers 26-yard line. Brooks Bollinger threw a shallow crossing route to Ferguson, who was tackled for a 1-yard loss by linebacker A.J. Hawk.

• With 4:07 left in the game, Ferguson was tackled for a 2-yard gain on fourth-and-3 from the Vikings 49.

• With 51 seconds left, Ferguson was tackled for a 3-yard gain on fourth-and-7 from the Packers 27.

Asked about each play, Childress indicated that Bollinger could have found another receiver on the first play and that Ferguson should have extended his route on the second.

Winfield out

Cornerback Antoine Winfield said he knew Friday that he would not be able to play in a second consecutive game because of a pulled hamstring.

"All I can do is get treatment and hope to be out with the boys next week," he said.

Receiver Sidney Rice also sat out because of a hamstring injury. In addition to tailback Adrian Peterson leaving because of a knee injury, cornerback Eric Frampton strained a groin in the first quarter and did not return.

Happy for Williamson

Safety Dwight Smith said he was heartened by the team's decision to pay Troy Williamson for the week he missed while tending to his maternal grandmother's funeral.

The Vikings initially docked Williamson a week's pay for missing the Chargers' game, then changed their mind on Saturday. Childress attributed the decision to conversations with his veteran players.

"You don't want other guys who are in that same situation scared to go home because they might not get a game check," Smith said. "You understand that family is everything.

"To Coach's credit, it wasn't the fact of it was Troy -- it was the policy of the team, to where if you don't play in that game, you don't get paid.

"Like he said when he met with us, he wanted to do the right thing, and now he's done the right thing."

Asked about the situation, Williamson said, "That's over with, that's it, now we're moving on."

Griffin steamed

Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin was clearly upset after a fourth-quarter touchdown catch by Packers receiver Ruvell Martin.

On third-and-5 from the Vikings 17, Packers QB Brett Favre threw a pass into endzone that Griffin appeared set to intercept. But safety Darren Sharper collided with Griffin, causing the ball to pop up into the air. It landed in Martin's hands.

Griffin removed his helmet in disgust and stormed off the field, sitting alone on the bench and avoiding his teammates.

"I didn't even see him," Sharper said of Griffin. "I'm going for the ball."

Asked about the fact that Sharper and Griffin didn't appear to at least speak about what happened, Sharper said: "There is nothing to talk about. It's just how kind of how the day went. Both of us collided, the ball is in the air and they score."

Griffin was one of the first players off the field and made a quick exit from the locker room.

Homecoming

For the third consecutive season, a former Packers player made his return to Lambeau wearing a Vikings uniform. Ferguson, who spent six seasons with Green Bay before being cut in training camp, followed Sharper (2005) and kicker Ryan Longwell (2006) in coming back as the enemy.

After the game, Ferguson exchanged hugs and greetings with several members of the Packers organization.

"Man, I raised half of those guys out there," he said. "I'm a good locker-room guy. You can see it with just the way we were interacting. Those aren't just teammates, they are friends."

Ferguson finished with a game-high six receptions for 59 yards.

Packers tired of 'AD' mania

To say the Green Bay defense was eager to prove itself against Peterson is an understatement.

"I was tired of hearing about him this week," Packers defensive tackle Corey Williams said. "Every time we turned around, it was Adrian this and Adrian that. He did this last week. He did this against San Diego, or he did that against San Diego. It gets old after a while."

For those who hadn't heard, Peterson set the NFL record for rushing yards in a game (296) against the Chargers on Nov. 4. As the next team on the schedule, the Packers faced the same question over and over.

"It was, 'Can the Packers stop Adrian?' or 'Is there any way the Packers can stop Adrian?' " linebacker Nick Barnett said. "We definitely got tired of hearing about him, and I'm really glad we proved we're a good defense by stopping him today."

Peterson was held to 45 yards on 11 carries before leaving because of his knee injury. Barnett and Williams said the Packers didn't do anything differently to stop Peterson.

"Just our normal gap control," Williams said. "And, obviously, all the talk about him was a big motivator right from the start."

Packers defensive tackle Ryan Pickett said that despite the success the Vikings had on the ground against San Diego, their approach to the run changed Sunday. "They ran something different today," he said. "A lot more zone. ... I think their whole thing was spreading us out on the inside and cut it downfield. So we kind of adjusted the second half and kind of backed up off the ball. I think it was something they were watching on film. They came out and they were trying to cut block us and stuff."

All's well with Robinson

Former Vikings receiver Koren Robinson, who led the Packers with five catches for 45 yards, spoke to Childress on the field after the game. Childress released Robinson before last season after Robinson was arrested on alcohol-related charges in Mankato.

Robinson said it was nice to see his former team, adding with a smile that it was even nicer to beat his former team.

"I think we could have had 600 yards of offense, but other than that, yeah, it feels great," said Robinson, a Pro Bowl kick returner in 2005, his lone season with the Vikings. "Everything is cool, 8-1 feels good."

Robinson's 4-yard catch on fourth-and-3 from the Vikings 34 led to the Packers taking a 7-0 lead on their opening possession.

"That was big, real big," Robinson said. "That helped us in making a statement early on."

Favre: 'We're pretty good'

With Green Bay at 8-1, Favre was asked if he's ready to declare the Packers a "great" team.

"I don't know what you would classify 'great' as," Favre said. "I think our record would indicate that we're pretty good. But I keep saying this week in and week out. I think there's so much more out there for us to do to be more consistent in all phases."

Favre also said running back Ryan Grant reminds him of former Packers back Dorsey Levens.

"A lot," Favre said. "The [jersey] number [25] obviously is striking from that standpoint. But he is a big, physical back. Deceptively fast, kind of sneaks up on you."

Etc.

• The Packers set a Lambeau Field record by drawing 70,045 to Sunday's game.

KEVIN SEIFERT, JUDD ZULGAD, MARK CRAIG AND JIM SOUHAN