Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,854
- 0
GREEN BAY – History doesn't converge like this very often, if ever.
Certain players on division rivals naturally rack up a lot of appearances against the Packers because they face off twice per season. Rivalry games will feature such a player that a team has battled, seemingly, countless times.
Former Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton started 28 games against Green Bay. Bears running back Walter Payton squared off against the Packers 24 times. Including playoffs, for Lions running back Barry Sanders it was 21 games and for Vikings receiver Randy Moss 17, counting his late-career stop in San Francisco.
But rarely do two familiar foes with such long, productive histories against one team wind up together in the same game after all these years.
Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Adrian Peterson present that unusual duo Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Stafford, of course, has spent his entire career with the Lions since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2009, while Peterson was drafted by the Vikings No. 7 overall in 2007. They've now joined forces as Peterson is extending his Hall of Fame career with his fifth team, and third one to face Green Bay.
Sunday will mark Stafford's 19th game against the Packers dating back to his rookie year, and while that's a long way from Tarkenton's 28, he's still in a very historic place statistically.
Last year in his one meeting with the Packers before he got injured, Stafford surpassed Tarkenton for the most passing yards against the Packers in their history, becoming the first to eclipse 5,000 yards. He's at 5,186 and counting to Tarkenton's 4,978.
Stafford did not throw a touchdown pass in that game, though, keeping him tied for first with Johnny Unitas atop that category, with 34 vs. Green Bay. Unitas faced the Packers 23 times. Tarkenton is right behind on that TD passes list with 33.