-As the snow piles up in Green Bay, the Packers head south to Florida to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
-Green Bay lost its fifth game of the season by four points or less last Sunday, with the Texans hitting a game-winning field goal as time expired.
-It was the third consecutive loss for the Packers, who have lost five of six since the bye weekend.
-The Packers will look to end that skid, and a three-game road losing streak, today in Jacksonville. The Packers are 2-4 on the road thus far.
-Both of the clubs have been unable to duplicate their success from a year ago. Green Bay finished as the NFC North champions at 13-3, ultimately losing in the NFC Championship Game. Jacksonville finished 11-5 and defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round before falling to New England in the Divisional Playoffs.
-There isn't a whole lot of history between the two franchises. They have met just three times since 1995, when the Jaguars entered the NFL.
-The road team has won all three contests in the series, with Green Bay taking both contests in Jacksonville. The Packers beat the Jaguars 24-14 in 1995, the second home game for the Jaguars in franchise history, and won the 2001 meeting as well. Jacksonville was victorious in 2004 in its first-ever appearance at Lambeau Field.
-For the Jaguars, they enter play looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Most recently, they lost to the Bears in Chicago, 23-10. Jacksonville is just 1-5 at home.
-Jacksonville will have a quick turnaround following the Packers contest, as they host the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night in their final home contest of 2008.
GRANT NEARS 1,000-YARD MARK
-Second-year pro Ryan Grant needs 20 rushing yards to hit the 1,000-yard milestone for the first time in his career.
-He nearly hit the mark last season, totaling 956 yards on 188 carries (5.1 avg). Grant entered the final regular-season contest of '07 with 899 rushing yards. After totaling 57 yards on six carries, Grant left the game with a stinger and was held out for the remainder of the game by a coaching decision as the team got ready for the playoff push.
-A 1,000-yard season would be the 20th in Packers history. Grant would become the eighth Packers player to surpass the 1,000-yard mark.
-Grant's position coach Edgar Bennett, a Jacksonville, Fla., native, accomplished the feat with the Packers in 1995 when he rushed for 1,067 yards on 316 carries.
-RB Ahman Green was the last Green Bay running back to accomplish the feat, which he did six times (2000-04, 2006).
-It has only been 25 games, including playoffs, since Grant took over duties as the team's full-time back. Over that time, Grant has piled up 2,139 rushing yards and 15 TDs on 469 carries (4.56 avg).
TAKEAWAY POINTS KEY FOR PACKERS
-Green Bay (plus-seven) stands tied for seventh in turnover ratio in the NFL and seems to have an advantage in the area over Jacksonville (minus-three), which ranks 22nd in the NFL in turnover ratio, one of football's most important statistics.
-Green Bay has 24 takeaways (18 interceptions, six fumble recoveries) on the season against 17 turnovers.
-The Packers lead all NFL teams with 114 points off takeaways. Baltimore (110) is the only other club which has been able to generate more than 100 points off takeaways.
PACKERS TRIO TOUGH TO THROW ON
-Last weekend, CB Tramon Williams joined teammates Nick Collins and Charles Woodson atop the NFC leaderboard with five interceptions.
-Green Bay is the only NFL team with three players at five or more interceptions, while its 18 interceptions is the third highest total in the NFL.
-It is the first time since 1996 that the Packers have had three players with five interceptions in a season. In '96, Eugene Robinson picked off six passes and LeRoy Butler and Doug Evans each posted five.
RETURNS KEEP COMING
-DE Jason Hunter returned a fumble 54 yards for a score against Chicago, Green Bay's ninth return touchdown of the season, a Packers record.
-The fumble return set another franchise record, becoming the seventh defensive touchdown of the season.
-The Packers lead all NFL clubs in return touchdowns (9), defensive touchdowns (7) and interception returns for touchdowns (6).
WEARING THE STRIPES
-Today's officiating crew includes referee Jerome Boger (23), umpire Carl Paganelli (124), head linesman Jerry Bergman (91), line judge Jeff Bergman (32), field judge Terry Brown (43), side judge Scott Steenson (88) and back judge Billy Smith (2).
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WHAT TO WATCH FOR
36 NICK COLLINS
-First NFL safety to have three interception return TDs since Kansas City's Lloyd Burruss in 1986.
-Needs one INT TD to match the NFL record.
-Tied with Herb Adderley (1965) for team single-season record with three interception returns for touchdowns.
-Third in team history with 230 interception return yards, trailing only Darren Sharper (233 in 2002) and Bobby Dillion (244 in 1956).
2 MASON CROSBY
-With 105 points, eclipses the 100-plus point mark for the second consecutive season.
-For his career, has hit 33-of-36 field goals from 39 yards and closer.
-Has hit 14-of-19 field goals from 40-49 yards.
-Has hit 6-of-10 field goals from 50-plus yards.
80 DONALD DRIVER
-For the seventh time has 50-plus receptions, joining James Lofton and Sterling Sharpe (both seven seasons) on top of the team's all-time list.
-Has a reception in 108 consecutive games, besting the franchise's previous long streak of Sharpe's 103 (1988-94).
25 RYAN GRANT
-Needs 20 rushing yards for his first career 1,000-yard season.
-When he carries the ball 20-or-more times, the Packers are 8-1.
85 GREG JENNINGS
-Ranks fourth in the NFL in receiving yards (1,131), first in 20-plus yard catches (19) and tied for first in 40-plus yard catches (seven).
-Has caught a pass in 40 consecutive games.
74 AARON KAMPMAN
-His 37 sacks since 2006 ranks second among all NFL players (DeMarcus Ware, Dallas, 40.5).
12 AARON RODGERS
-Has seven games with a passer rating over 100.0 this season.
