PACKERS FACE EAGLES IN 2007 OPENER
-Green Bay kicks off its 89th season in franchise history Sunday - its 87th as a member of the National Football League - by welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to historic Lambeau Field.
-The Packers are 47-36-3 (.564) all-time in season openers but have lost three of their last four.
-Sunday marks the beginning of a year-long celebration honoring the 50th anniversary of the opening of Lambeau Field. The NFL's longest-tenured facility, only Boston's Fenway Park (1912) and Chicago's Wrigley Field (1914) have hosted their respective teams for a longer uninterrupted period.
-The Packers and Eagles have met five times over the past four seasons, including an NFC Divisional Playoff game in 2003, with Philadelphia earning the win in each of the five contests.
-By virtue of Green Bay's four-game winning streak to close the season, only defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis (now winners of six straight) has a longer winning streak than the Packers.
YOUTH WILL BE SERVED
-Following roster moves made this week, the Green Bay Packers open a
second-straight season as the youngest team in the NFL.
-Since taking over general manager duties in 2005, Ted Thompson has vowed to build the team's foundation through the draft. Of the 53 active roster players, 21 have been drafted by Thompson.
-A look at the five youngest teams in the NFL:
Green Bay - 26 years, 89 days
Indianapolis - 26 years, 91 days
NY Giants - 26 years, 190 days
Dallas - 26 years, 197 days
Carolina - 26 years, 252 days
- Statistics provided by Elias Sports Bureau
HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE
-65 of the 109 living Medal of Honor recipients will be honored in a ceremony prior to kickoff.
-The award is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States.
-Award-winners have been in town for their annual conference since Monday and have participated in a host of activities around the Fox Valley.
-As part of the 'Operation Fan Mail' program - in which the Packers and Festival Foods recognize a military family at each home game - Sgt. Kelly Bourgeois will be honored at today's game. Sgt. Bourgeois (boar-JWAH) has been a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard 1157th Transportation Company for 11 years and previously served in the Minnesota Army National Guard for 6 years. She served a tour of duty in Afghanistan and recently returned home from Iraq, where she spent 11 months in Camp Taji. Joining Sgt. Bourgeois at today's game are her husband Mike, son Chris and daughter Josie.
WEARING THE STRIPES
-Today's officiating crew includes referee Mike Carey (94), umpire Dan Ferrell (64), head linesman Kent Payne (79), line judge Mark Perlman (9), field judge Buddy Horton (82), side judge Tom Fincken (47) and back judge Bill Schmitz (122).
NEXT WEEK
-The Packers head east to take on the New York Giants on Sept. 16, at 12 noon CDT. The Eagles return home to host the Redskins on Monday Night Football.
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WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2007 -
4 BRETT FAVRE
-Has played in 239 straight games (257 including playoffs) and started 237 in a row (257 including playoffs), the NFL's record among quarterbacks. By starting the first four games of 2007, would surpass Mick Tinglehoff's stretch of 240 straight starts (1962-78), the second-longest recorded streak in NFL history. Only Jim Marshall (270, 1961-79) has been documented to have more consecutive starts.
-Needs six TD passes to match Dan Marino's NFL record, 420. Favre enters with 414.
-Needs one win to tie No. 1 John Elway (148-82-1, .643). Favre enters tied with No. 2 Dan Marino (147-93-0, .613) on the all-time quarterback wins list.
-Needs 136 passing attempts to break Dan Marino's career record, 8,358. Favre enters with 8,223.
-Needs 3,862 passing yards - or less than his totals in each of the past three seasons - to break Marino's record (61,361) for career passing yards. Favre enters 2007 with 57,500.
80 DONALD DRIVER
-Has a reception in 80 consecutive games, the franchise's second-longest streak behind Sterling Sharpe's 103 (1988-94).
-Could tie a franchise record with 1,000 yards in a fifth overall season. Only James Lofton and Sharpe have five 1,000-yard campaigns.
88 BUBBA FRANKS
-Needs one TD reception to reach 30 career. In team history, only 11 previous players have reached the milestone, including Driver in '06.
76 CHAD CLIFTON
-Needs five starts for 100 career. Clifton enters with 95.
65 MARK TAUSCHER
-Needs seven games played and nine starts for 100. He enters with 93 games and 91 starts.
74 AARON KAMPMAN
-Needs one sack to become just the eighth player to record 30 in a Packers uniform. Kampman, who had five sacks over his last three games, enters with 29.
94 KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA
-On Green Bay's all-time sacks list, needs four to match Reggie White's career record, 681/2. Gbaja-Biamila enters with 641/2.
56 NICK BARNETT
-Bids for a fifth consecutive 100-tackle season.
21 CHARLES WOODSON
-Carries into 2007 a streak of three games with an interception. With an INT in the season opener, would extend the stretch to four games, longest since John Symank in 1961. Irv Comp holds the team record, with five in 1943.
