The way the playoff picture is shaping up in 2009 reminds me of 2004 in the NFC North. The Vikings lost to the Packers in both games during the season on last-second field goals by Ryan Longwell, and Green Bay won the division with a record of 10-6.  While the Vikings' luckily got into the playoffs with a 8-8 record and lost their final two games of the season.

So the Vikings headed to Green Bay for their first playoff game against a team that beat them twice during the season and had won their final two regular-season games. The Vikings were lucky to get into the playoffs and had nothing to lose in this game. As a Viking fan I was just happy that the Vikings got in the playoffs and were getting another chance to beat the Packers.

The Vikings got off to a great start and were up 24-10 by halftime and the game was over.  Brett Favre threw two interceptions in the first half and two more in the second half. Daunte Culpepper played a great game, including getting cornerback Al Harris to bite on a double move for a touchdown pass to Randy Moss in the second half. The Vikings whipped the Packers pretty good that day, and it proves that it is very difficult to beat the same team three times in one year.

So now we move to 2009. The Packers started off slow but are now 8-4 and have been playing some good football as of late. If the season stopped today the Packers would be the last seed in the NFC playoffs. However, their record of 8-4 is the same as the third, fourth, and fifth seeds in the NFC. The Packers will make the playoffs this year. Again, if the season stopped today the Packers would be heading to Arizona for the wild card playoff.  The Vikings would be the second seed in the NFC getting the first weekend off.  If the Packers win at Arizona it would set up the third matchup of the 2009 NFL season between the Packers and the Vikings, with a lot more on the line.

Do you really think that Packers GM Ted Thompson and Packers Coach Mike McCarthy haven't thought about this scenario?  They have, and they would jump at the chance to get another shot a Favre in the playoffs.

Yeah Brett Favre came back as a Viking and whipped on the Packers pretty good on two occasions during the season. But if this plays out and the Packers would beat the Vikings in the playoffs would anyone really remember the two games during the season?

Do Vikings fans really care that the Packers beat the Vikings twice during the 2004 season?  Of course not.  They remember the Moss double move touchdown against Al Harris.  They remember the "Moss moon". They remember sticking it to the Packers at Lambeau field, being up 24-10 at halftime, and the four interceptions by Brett Favre.  If the cards play out, the Packers might have a chance to get the last laugh against Brett Favre and the Vikings.

-- PAUL GANTNER