At present, some websites are reporting that the Packers own the tie-breaker against the Vikings because they have a better record against common opponents, which is the third criterion for breaking division ties between two teams (after head-to-head records and won-lost percentage against division opponents).

What those breakdowns fail to take into consideration however is that record against common opponents will be moot by the end of the season, because the Packers and Vikings have already played their two games against uncommon opponents this season and went 1-1: the Packers defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Vikings defeated the Atlanta Falcons and lost to the New York Giants.

In other words, the Packers may hold the edge over the Vikings against common opponents at present, but Minnesota has yet to play the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals, two teams the Packers went 0-2 against, while the Packers have yet to play the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos, teams the Vikings went 1-1 against.

Thus, by the end of the season -- when it matters -- if the Vikings and Packers are tied overall, their records against common opponents will be identical.

The next tie-breaking criterion is record against conference opponents. In order for the Vikings (7-4) and Packers (7-5) to tie on that mark, the Vikings must lose to the Cardinals in the final week of the regular season.

Linebacker Nick Barnett of the Green Bay Packers, tight end Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers, cornerback Terence Newman of the Dallas Cowboys, running back Onterrio Smith of the Minnesota Vikings, and cornerback Charles Tillman of the Chicago Bears are the finalists for Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week honors for games played on December 14-15, the NFL announced Tuesday.

Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com from Tuesday morning until 9:00 AM ET Thursday to determine the Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week. The Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week will be announced Thursday on NFL.com.

After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors.

Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston.

Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com from Tuesday morning until 9:00 AM ET Thursday to determine the Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week. The Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week will be announced Thursday on NFL.com.

After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors.

Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston.
 

The family of Irvin "BIG IRV" Favre wishes to extend sincere, heartfelt gratitude to the entire Green Bay Packers organization and its families, the Wisconsin media, the entire NFL, and to you – the greatest and most loyal fans.

In addition, thank you to the Oakland Raiders and their fans for the outpouring of respect and dignity you showed on December 22, 2003; what a tremendous gesture.

All of you have helped to ease our grief by your overwhelming support of cards, calls, Masses, prayers, flowers and donations to the Catholic Church of Delisle Building Fund. It is because of you that our family has realized how much we all need each other in times of hardship and pain. We are most definitely blessed to have been showered with so many caring and supporting people throughout this trying time.

May God bless each and every one of you!

Bonita, Scott, Morgan, Max, Brett, Deanna, Brittany, Breleigh, Jeff, Rhonda, Dylan, Jade, Jaxson and Brandi Favre

Ahman Green of the Green Bay Packers, Priest Holmes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens are the finalists for FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Year honors, while quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, and Steve McNair of the Tennessee Titans are the finalists for FedEx Express NFL Player of the Year honors, the NFL announced Monday.

Fans can vote for one player in each category on NFL.com from Monday, January 5 through Monday, January 19 to determine the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year.

The FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year winners will be announced Wednesday, January 28 at a press conference in Houston, Texas, site of Super Bowl XXXVIII.

The six finalists were chosen by a panel of NFL experts and after tabulating this season's fan voting. Each week, nominees in each category were chosen and NFL fans voted for the winner on NFL.com.