Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field is obviously the No. 1 story line this week, but the outcome of Sunday's game might hinge on whether the Packers offensive line can do a better job against the Vikings pass rush.
The Vikings sacked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers eight times, including a career-high 4.5 by Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen. That was the second-highest sack total for a single game in Vikings history. Allen destroyed Daryn Colledge that night and he'll likely go against rookie left T.J. Lang on Sunday. Lang made his first career start in place of injured starter Chad Clifton (ankle) last week and there's a good chance he will start again Sunday. Clifton was limited in practice on Wednesday. Allen was asked in a conference call with Packers writers if he's licking his chops to face a rookie. "I have to be honest, if I was licking my chops over a dude, I'd be scared of myself," he said. "I'm going to prepare as if Clifton is there. I'm going to prepare as though both of them are starting. We'll see how salivated I am come Sunday. The Vikings knocked Rodgers around in the first meeting, which they'll try to do again Sunday with the Packers still lacking cohension along the line. Allen said it's not easy to rattle Rodgers though. "[Rodgers] is a tough guy," Allen said. "He's a good quarterback. He makes plays. He gets hit and he gets back up and he throws the ball. Hats off to him."
