Posted Saturday, September 8, 2012 --- 6:45 a.m.

Here is the latest Wisconsin sports news from The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — It was nearly seven hours of baseball and rain between the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals that didn't end until early this morning. Ryan Braun homered off Lance Lynn in the 13th to give the Brewers a 5-4 lead that proved to be the final margin. The start of the game was delayed by rain for more than two hours.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers know they must dramatically improve their defense to get back to the Super Bowl. Last year they had the league's worst-ranked defense and set a record for passing yards allowed. Their week one opponent has arguably the best defense in the league, the San Francisco 49ers.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon State is on notice: Montee Ball is in regular-season form. Last year's Heisman finalist ran for 120 yards and a touchdown last week over Northern Iowa. He'd missed part of fall camp because of a concussion he sustained during an attack near campus. But Bell says he's shaken off the offseason and is ready.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings could host a Super Bowl as early as 2018 under a formal bid the team has filed with the NFL. The team has applied to host either the 2018, 2019 or 2020 Super Bowls. The 2018 game will be awarded at league meetings in May 2014. Minnesota last hosted a Super Bowl in 1992.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.