MINNEAPOLIS -- Observed in the locker room following the Minnesota Vikings' 44-31 loss to the Green Bay Packers:
Jennings absent: After sharing a long postgame exchange with Aaron Rodgers and giving a few quick on-field remarks to TV reporters, Greg Jennings was nowhere to be found in the Vikings' locker room. Jennings, who tossed barbs at his former team and quarterback throughout the offseason, wasn't much more noticeable on the field, either, catching one pass for 9 yards. It appeared Jennings did most of the talking during the postgame hug with Rodgers, and while Rodgers didn't answer a question about Jennings after the game, he gave one answer that let on he might have been thinking about Jennings. "I wasn't going to let this team beat us," Rodgers said.
Patterson trying to break record? Cordarrelle Patterson tied an NFL record with his 109-yard return of the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and broke the Vikings record he set in Week 2 with his 105-yard return against Chicago. What can Patterson do for an encore? "I can go 110," he said. If he were to do that, he'd probably have to catch on with a team in the Canadian Football League; he couldn't return a kickoff 110 yards in the NFL, of course, without stepping on the end line and going out of bounds.
Allen not speculating on trades: Defensive end Jared Allen, who will be a free agent after the season, did not want to discuss the possibility that he could be traded before Tuesday's deadline. Allen has a $14.28 million base salary this season, meaning whoever acquired him would have to have plenty of cap room left. "I am not going to speculate on something I have not had a conversation about, and I can't speculate on something that hasn't happened," Allen said. "I cross all bridges when I get to them, and right now I am trying to find a way to make this defense better."
Robinson: 'Defense isn't very tough mentally': Cornerback Josh Robinson, who has been one of the more-maligned players on the Vikings' defense this season, had company Sunday night. Rodgers spent much of the night targeting rookie Xavier Rhodes on back-shoulder throws to Jordy Nelson, and the Vikings allowed the Packers to convert on 13 of 18 third-down attempts. Afterward, Robinson said, "It's very frustrating; this defense isn't very tough mentally. We will be upset about the game, but all you can do is try to work, improve, correct the mistakes and get better."