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Packers Look To Bounce Back From First Loss Against Undefeated Panthers; Rams in Minnesota

Although they've shown poise at critical times while extending their historic run, the Carolina Panthers are still looking to put together a complete performance.

The Green Bay Packers, meanwhile, aren't panicking following one of the worst games of Aaron Rodgers' career.

 width=In a showdown between two of the NFC's elite, the Panthers seek a team-record 12th consecutive win Sunday when the visiting Packers try to rebound from a humbling defeat.

Carolina coach Ron Rivera says his team still has plenty to work on despite emerging from last weekend as the lone unbeaten in the NFC. The Panthers had a 17-point fourth-quarter lead Monday night before Indianapolis rallied with two touchdowns in less than five minutes and hit a tying field goal at the end of regulation.

The Panthers (7-0) haven't lost since Nov. 30, when they had a 3-8-1 record before going on to win the NFC South. They haven't been dominant this season, winning six of seven by 11 points or fewer.

After averaging 248.5 passing yards with 15 touchdowns during the Packers' 6-0 start, Rodgers was 14 of 22 for 77 yards - a career low for a start he was able to finish - and no scores. The star had thrown for at least one TD in 41 of his previous 44 games.

It wasn't all his fault with Green Bay's receivers having a difficult time getting open against the Broncos' top-ranked defense and running back Eddie Lacy being limited to 38 yards on 11 carries.

The Packers, one of the league's best offensive teams since Rodgers arrived, ranks an uncharacteristic 27th in passing yards per game (210.1) and 28th in total offense (332.1).

Clay Matthews is likely to play despite injuring his ankle last week.

 width=>>Rams in Minnesota

It seemed shocking when Adrian Peterson was able to begin one of the greatest seasons for a running back in NFL history less than nine months after tearing his ACL.

Todd Gurley was a senior in high school when Peterson suffered his injury, and it would be less than three years later that he would be setting a similar goal of getting back on the field at 100 percent as quickly as possible.

The comparisons extend beyond their time spent rehabbing, though, and they'll share the field for the first time when Peterson's Minnesota Vikings host Gurley's St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

The 21-year-old St. Louis rookie didn't play in the first two games and had only six carries for nine yards in his debut. Back to full strength, Gurley became the first back in league history to rush for at least 125 yards in his first four starts.

Gurley is averaging a league-high 6.12 yards per carry and finished with 133 - including a 71-yard touchdown run - in last week's 27-6 win over San Francisco.

St. Louis, which hasn't won three straight since coach Jeff Fisher's first season in 2012, has confidence it can slow the Vikings' offense.

The Vikings are no slouches defensively, either. They rank seventh in total defense - one spot behind St. Louis - allowing an average of 334.0 yards. They're 25th in yards allowed per carry at 4.39, but they've held opponents to fewer than 100 yards five times.

>>Bengals Blast Browns

Andy Dalton connected with tight end Tyler Eifert for three scores and played the role of blocker on Mohamed Sanu's reverse for a touchdown, setting up Cincinnati's 31-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.

Dalton finished 21 of 27 for 234 yards with a passer rating of 139.8.

The Bengals improved to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history, their longest winning streak within a season.

Johnny Manziel finished 15 of 33 for 168 yards and was sacked three times, all in the fourth quarter.

Manziel had some of his best NFL moments during a 10-play, 92-yard drive late in the first half that cut it to 14-10. He scrambled and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Duke Johnson with 19 seconds left.

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