MIKE SHERMAN IS in pursuit of a sixth consecutive victory in the series today - and a seventh win in eight encounters with the Lions as Green Bay's head coach. In 2000, his first season as the Packers' field leader, he split with Detroit, then scored a sweep in both 2001 and 2002 and followed that parlay by leading Green Bay to a 31-6 win in the first meeting of the current season.
FAVRE 'JOINS' GREGG IN RECORD BOOK: Quarterback Brett Favre today takes his remarkable durability streak to a new level. He will play in his 187th consecutive game and thus tie the Packers' all-time record, established by Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg (1956, 1958-70).
Favre launched his streak against the Buccaneers in Tampa Sept. 13, 1992, in the Packers' second game of the season, seeing action in a relief role in the second half.
He replaced an injured Don Majkowski in a game against Cincinnati the following week (Sept. 20), pulling out a 24-23 victory with a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kitrick Taylor in the final minute of play.
Favre subsequently was called upon to start in Week 4 (Sept. 27) when Majkowski remained sidelined and he has been Green Bay's starting quarterback ever since.
He thus today makes his 185th consecutive start, extending his NFL record for quarterbacks. It also is the longest current starting streak among NFL players at any position.
FAVRE, TODAY MAKING his 24th career start against Detroit, has registered more 300-yard passing games against the Lions - seven - than another NFL opponent.
Favre also has passed for more yards against Detroit - 6,148 - than against any other league foe. Overall, he has completed 509 off 816 passes for 41 touchdowns, with 28 interceptions.
FAVRE, ON THE PACKERS' PERSONNEL: "I feel the talent level is by far the best we've ever had."
IN SIGHT: If Ahman Green can match last weekend's 154-yard rushing performance against San Francisco (or any three other 150-yards-plus efforts to date in the '03 season) he will set a new Packers single-season record.
The record, set by Hall of Famer Jim Taylor in 1962, is 1,474 yards. Green goes into action with 1,326 yards and needing 149 to eclipse Taylor's record.
Just for the record, Green rushed for 160 yards in the Packers' first '03 meeting with the Lions, in Lambeau Field (Sept. 14).
PLACEKICKER RYAN LONGWELL, who Sunday became only the third player in the Packers' 84-year history to score 800 points in a career (he now has 802), needs only 22 points
to break Green Bay's career scoring record (823), set by the fabled Don Hutson, who closed out a distinguished, 11-year NFL career in 1945.
Longwell needs only 19 points to surpass second-ranking Chris Jacke (820).
CURIOUSLY ENOUGH, the highest scoring game in the Packers' Thanksgiving Day "series" with the Lions - today's matchup is their 17th such holiday encounter overall - came in their very first Thanksgiving Day meeting, which occurred on Nov. 22, 1951, in what was then known as Briggs Stadium (later to become Tiger Stadium).
The Lions prevailed, 52-35, in that contest, and the 87 points they and the Packers mutually amassed still stand as the most ever collectively scored (by the Lions and any opponent) in any game in the history of Detroit's holiday series, which dates back to 1934.
The Packers also own a share of the second-highest scoring game in the series, one of more recent vintage. The Packers won that 84-point struggle, 44-40, on Nov. 27, 1986 - 17 years ago today - by way of a last-minute, 83-yard scoring punt return by Walter Stanley.
Next up in the series, an 82-point shootout in 1995, one which saw the Lions outscore the Minnesota Vikings, 44-38.
THE PACKERS COME INTO today's game with 15 players having started in all 11 regular season games to date - seven on offense and eight on defense.
They include tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera, center Mike Flanagan, quarterback Brett Favre and halfback Ahman Green on offense and end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, tackle Cletidus Hunt, linebackers Nick Barnett, Na'il Diggs, and Hannibal Navies, cornerbacks Mike McKenzie and Al Harris and safety Darren Sharper on defense.
NEXT WEEK: The Packers return to Lambeau Field a week from Sunday (Dec. 7) for a 166th encounter with the Chicago Bears. The kickoff is set for 12 noon, CST (Wisconsin time).
