However,
he doesn't want to see the Minnesota Vikings running back break the
NFL's single-season rushing record against his team on Sunday.
"If
anybody deserves to get the record, it's definitely (Peterson), no
doubt about it. But unfortunately, they're playing us,"
Williams said. "We want to put our best foot forward. It's
going to be a tough task; we know that already. But if history is on
our side, A.P. had his good game against us already. Hopefully, we
can come back and get our good game against him.
"If it
happens, we've shown already that he can run for 200 and still win.
But we want to play our best ball, we want to control all we can
control, and the way the guys are playing, we think that we can put
a better performance than we did the first game."
Peterson
rushed for 210 yards on 21 carries in the Packers' first game
against the Vikings, on Dec. 2 at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won the
game 23-14.
Now, Peterson
enters the regular-season finale with 1,898 yards, needing 208 yards
to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105
yards, set in 1984.
The Vikings
(9-6) have a simple playoff scenario against the Packers: Win, and
they're in.
If the Vikings
lose, they'll need a loss by the Chicago Bears to the Detroit Lions,
a loss by the New York Giants to the Philadelphia Eagles and a loss
by the Dallas Cowboys to the Washington Redskins to get into the
playoffs at 9-7.
Meanwhile, the
Packers (11-4) can clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC and earn a
first-round playoff bye with a victory over the Vikings.
Vikings coach
Leslie Frazier made it clear Wednesday that getting Peterson the
record is not as important as winning the game — and thereby
clinching the sixth and final NFC playoff berth.
"We're
going to have to call a regular game and if the record comes in the
midst of us getting a win, that would be great," Frazier said.
"Adrian will be the first to tell you that the most important
thing for our team is to win. If we don't get the record and we win,
he's going to be a happy dude, no matter what. He wants to win the
game, and that's how we're approaching it. We've got to find a way
to win the game."
Peterson
rushed for just 86 yards against the Houston Texans last Sunday in
the Vikings' 23-6 victory, as the Texans put eight defenders in the
box on most plays in an effort to keep Peterson in check.
Peterson's
final carry came with 6:46 left in the game, and a strained
abdominal muscle kept him from practicing Wednesday.
"I don't
think anyone really shuts him down. He's amazing," Packers
inside linebacker A.J. Hawk said. "But it's going to be
awesome. What a great challenge coming down to the last game. They
have to win to get in (to the playoffs); we're looking to get better
position in the playoffs. That's a lot riding on the 16th game of
the season, so that's exciting. That'll be fun to be a part of that
one."
Meanwhile,
Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings created a bit of a stir last
week when he said that he wanted to see Peterson get the record.
Asked if he
wanted to revise his remarks about Peterson and the record, Jennings
said no.
"It's one
of those situations where he's playing against us in the last game
of the season, so if he were to get it, it would have to be against
us," Jennings said.
"That's
the thing. You have to learn to appreciate what you have out there.
I mean, who knows if that will ever happen? Just like with (Lions
wide receiver) Calvin (Johnson) breaking Jerry
Rice's record.
I (wanted) him to do it. That's just the way it is. Records are
meant to be broken, whether it's against you or someone else."
But Jennings
apparently is alone in his position.
"I hope
he doesn't break it against us," wide receiver James Jones
said. "Great season he's had. To be even close to the
2,000-yard mark is unbelievable. But hopefully he doesn't break it
against us because we've got to stop him and win the ballgame."
Added outside
linebacker Dezman Moses: "We've got a lot of pride. We're men,
too. We don't want anybody to (set) a record. We understand what's
at stake, and we definitely want to be the team to stop him. That's
a big task, but something we're up for."
NOTES: Three
Packers were chosen for the NFC Pro Bowl roster: Quarterback Aaron
Rodgers, who could start for the NFC; outside linebacker Clay
Matthews; and veteran center Jeff Saturday. Saturday was benched
last week in favor of backup Evan Dietrich-Smith. ... Kick returner
Randall Cobb and right guard Josh Sitton were selected first
alternates. ... Wide receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring) returned to
practice and expects to play Sunday. ... Kicker Mason Crosby was
sent home with the flu. . Sitton did not practice because of a
concussion, but coach Mike McCarthy was hopeful he'd be cleared on
Thursday.
Packers
Matthews, Rodgers, Saturday in Pro Bowl
GREEN BAY —
Three Green Bay Packers have been named to the Pro Bowl.
Linebacker
Clay Matthews earned his fourth career selection Wednesday and
became the first Packer to earn Pro Bowl recognition in each of his
first four seasons in the NFL. He becomes the second linebacker in
Packers history to be named to the Pro Bowl four times, joining Bill
Forester.
Matthews leads
the team with 12 sacks, despite missing four games because of
injury.
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers received the third Pro Bowl selection of his career.
Rodgers also was named a starter for the NFC squad for the second
consecutive season.
Center Jeff
Saturday earned his sixth career Pro Bowl bid and first as a Packer.
Saturday was named to the Pro Bowl five times with the Indianapolis
Colts.
AP
Pro32 comments about Packers
NEW YORK —
Comments on the Green Bay Packers by the AP Pro32 panel (ranking in
parentheses):
___
GREEN BAY
PACKERS (3)
Chris Berman
(ESPN, 3) — Like Santa, Aaron Rodgers ready to deliver.
Clifton Brown
(Sporting News, 6) — Last season they faded late. This season,
they could be peaking.
Cris
Collinsworth (NBC Sports, 4)
Rich Gannon
(CBS Sports/SiriusXM NFL Radio, 3) — Mike McCarthy has done a
terrific job keeping this train rolling winning nine of their last
10 without some key players on both sides of the ball.
Bob Glauber
(Newsday, 6) — Pack assured of No. 3 seed in the playoffs, but
they get the No. 2 — and a bye — with a win over the Vikings on
Sunday.
Rick Gosselin
(Dallas Morning News, 4) — Ever so quietly, Aaron Rodgers has put
himself in position to win back-to-back NFL passing titles. He takes
an efficiency rating of 106.2 into the finale. The last QB to win
back-to-back was Peyton Manning in 2005-06.
Clark Judge (CBSSports.com,
3) — Suddenly, the Packers have a new legion of Cheeseheads:
Bears' fans who want them to beat Minnesota.
Ira Kaufman
(Tampa Tribune, 3) — Don't sleep on the Packers, especially if
they nail down a first-round bye.
Pat Kirwan (SiriusXM
NFL Radio/CBSSports.com, 6) — The Packers are very dangerous right
now and getting healthy at the right time. Aaron Rodgers and his
receiving weapons are too much to handle if the line can protect
him.
John Lynch
(Fox Sports, 2)
Alex Marvez (Foxsports.com,
6) — A 55-7 rout of Tennessee was impressive, but think just how
good the Packers could be when wide receiver Jordy Nelson
(hamstring) and strong safety Charles Woodson (collarbone) are back
for the playoffs.
Dan Pompei
(Chicago Tribune, 2) — If they can deny Adrian Peterson and the
Vikings from making the playoffs, they will make a major statement
about where they could be headed.
NFL Preview:
Packers at Vikings
GREEN BAY (11-4) At MINNESOTA (9-6)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. FOX
OPENING LINE — Packers by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD — Green Bay 9-6; Minnesota 8-7
SERIES RECORD — Packers lead 54-48-1
AP PRO32 RANKING — Packers No. 3; Vikings No. 12
LAST MEETING — Packers beat Vikings 23-14, Dec. 2
LAST WEEK — Packers beat Titans 55-7; Vikings beat Texans 23-6
PACKERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (13), RUSH (20), PASS (10)
PACKERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (10), RUSH (14), PASS (12)
VIKINGS OFFENSE — OVERALL (23), RUSH (3), PASS (32)
VIKINGS DEFENSE — OVERALL (16), RUSH (13), PASS (20)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Packers have won 12 straight against NFC
North opponents, tied for longest since realignment in 2002. A win
would help them surpass Colts from 2004-06 and Ravens from 2010-12
for longest streak of new alignment era. ... Packers have won four
in row and 10 of last 11. ... Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown
for 5,927 yards, 49 TDs and just eight INTs in 20 career games
indoors. His 116.1 QB rating indoors is best in NFL history. ...
Rodgers has thrown 20 TDs and four INTs in nine career starts vs.
Vikings. ... Packers averaging 129.9 yards per game on ground,
seventh in NFL, over last seven games. ... Fifteen of last 20
regular-season games between these rivals have been decided by seven
points or less. ... Vikings RB Adrian Peterson 102 yards away from
2,000 for season and 208 away from breaking Eric Dickerson's
single-season rushing record set in 1984. He rushed for 210 in a
loss to Packers Dec. 2. ... Peterson has rushed for more yards
(1,243) against Packers than any other opponent. ... Vikings lead
NFL with 29 runs of at least 20 yards and seven runs of at least 50.
... Vikings DE Jared Allen has 15 sacks in 10 career games vs.
Packers, his most against any team.
Unflappable Frazier leads Vikings to
playoff brink
| Minnesota
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier, left, celebrates with Cullen
Loeffler, right, after a touchdown against the Houston Texans
during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec.
23, 2012, in Houston. The Vikings won 23-6. |
 |
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Leslie Frazier took over a team in
turmoil. After one rocky season, the unflappable coach has the
Minnesota Vikings one victory away from a playoff berth.
Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf tapped Frazier to be the
interim coach in 2010 when Brett Favre and the rest of the team
were falling apart. Frazier stepped in and impressed his bosses
with how smoothly he navigated the collapse of the Metrodome
roof, earning him the full-time job going into 2011.
Even when the Vikings lost four out of five games in the
middle of this year, Frazier was able to hold the team together.
He has one more year left on his deal. He says he's focused
solely on beating Green Bay on Sunday and getting into the
playoffs.
