GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- One year later, LeRoy Butler still remembers that feeling of utter helplessness.

The Minnesota Vikings did more than win a football game when they beat the Green Bay Packers 37-24 at Lambeau Field last season. They embarrassed the proud Packers franchise with a dazzling aerial offensive performance that left the Green Bay secondary looking short, slow and unprepared.

"It was bad. It was a low point for this team," said Butler, who was hobbled by bone chips in his ankle during the game. "We just didn't stop Randall Cunningham, we didn't stop (Randy) Moss, we didn't stop Cris Carter, we didn't stop anybody."

Butler said the Vikings used the game as a coming-out party and established themselves as the NFC's best team, a title Green Bay held the previous two years. If the Packers have any hopes of taking back that mantle, they say they must start by winning the rematch this Sunday.

The loss was even more galling to the Packers' legions of obsessive fans, because it came against Minnesota, their archrivals in the Upper Midwest. Tensions always run high in Green Bay the week before a Vikings game, and this year there is an added element of urgency after both teams' less-than-spectacular starts to this season.

"Both of us are a couple of plays from being 0-2," Packers defensive lineman Billy Lyon said.

While neither side is calling Sunday's game a must-win, the loser will be 1-2 in a competitive NFC Central. The Packers already had one division loss last week to Detroit, while the Vikings have been outscored 36-34 in their two games, something that would have been unthinkable last year.

Minnesota's image as an offensive juggernaut was born last October at Lambeau, and the team went on to set the NFL points record. So far this season, the Vikings aren't striking fear in their opponents' hearts with the deep passing game used so well under former offensive coordinator Brian Billick.

"I think it will make everybody associated with the Minnesota Vikings feel good if we break out in this game," said Randy Moss, who has just seven catches for 110 yards and no touchdowns this season.

Vikings quarterback Cunningham said Minnesota and Green Bay are just two of the many elite teams struggling to get on track this year. So far, the Vikings are behind new coordinator Ray Sherman's efforts, though a loss on Sunday might begin to erode that base of support.

The Packers have been preparing for Sunday's game for nearly a year. Rod Smith, Pat Terrell, Mike Prior and Craig Newsome are all gone from the Green Bay secondary, and three rookies have taken their places.

Mike McKenzie, Antuan Edwards and Fred Vinson realize the spotlight is on them and their six collective games of NFL experience. Butler, the emotional leader of the Packers defense with Reggie White in retirement, is happy with the new blood.

"I sleep a lot better knowing that Vinson is out there instead of Rod Smith," he said. "We have a better chance to win with these young guys."

Green Bay coach Ray Rhodes wasn't around for last season's loss, but he has watched it enough times on tape to feel like he was there. Rhodes said the Packers didn't apply sufficient pressure on Cunningham and allowed him to lob pass after pass over the Packers' defensive backs.

The solution might be an increase in blitzing, which the Raiders did to great effect in the second half of their win over Minnesota. After all, the Packers have Butler, who's still the best blitzing safety in the game.

"I think everybody in the league is blitzing more," Vikings coach Dennis Green said. "We haven't been scoring in the red zone, and we haven't been running the ball very consistently. ... That's going to encourage teams to attack your passing game."

Both teams have already had a common opponent. The Raiders lost 28-24 at Green Bay in Week 1 before beating the Vikings 22-17 last Sunday.

The Raiders would have won both games except for a dramatic 82-yard, last-minute touchdown drive led by Brett Favre that stole the first game for the Packers.

Favre remembers last season's loss to the Vikings as well as anyone.

"It made us take a step back and say, 'We're a good football team, but just being a good football team doesn't guarantee you a win,"' he said. "That game was a wakeup call."

MINNESOTA Season schedule and results

GREEN BAY Season schedule and results

September 12 @Atlanta W 17-14 September 19 Oakland L 17-22 September 26 @Green Bay 4:15pm ET October 3 Tampa Bay 1:00pm ET October 10 Chicago 1:00pm ET October 17 @Detroit 1:00pm ET October 24 San Francisco 1:00pm ET October 31 @Denver 4:15pm ET November 8 Dallas 9:00pm ET November 14 @Chicago 1:00pm ET November 28 San Diego 1:00pm ET December 6 @Tampa Bay 9:00pm ET December 12 @Kansas City 8:20pm ET December 20 Green Bay 9:00pm ET December 26 @NY Giants 1:00pm ET January 2 Detroit 1:00pm ET

September 12 Oakland W 28-24 September 19 @Detroit L 15-23 September 26 Minnesota 4:15pm ET October 10 Tampa Bay 8:20pm ET October 17 @Denver 4:15pm ET October 24 @San Diego 4:05pm ET November 1 Seattle 9:00pm ET November 7 Chicago 1:00pm ET November 14 @Dallas 4:15pm ET November 21 Detroit 1:00pm ET November 29 @San Francisco 9:00pm ET December 5 @Chicago 1:00pm ET December 12 Carolina 1:00pm ET December 20 @Minnesota 9:00pm ET December 26 @Tampa Bay 4:15pm ET January 2 Arizona 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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