CAROLINA COMES TO LAMBEAU FOR WEEK 11 CLASH
-The Packers host their second consecutive home game one week after improving to 8-1 for the first time since 2002.
-Green Bay comes into the contest winners of 12 of its last 13 games and tied for the NFC's best record.
-Sunday marks the 251st consecutive regular-season sellout (264 including playoffs) at Lambeau Field, the league's longest-tenured stadium.
-With a win, the Packers would earn the best start in team history since 1962, when Vince Lombardi led Green?Bay to a 10-0 start en route to their eighth world title.
-A familiar non-divisional foe, the Panthers come to Lambeau Field for the first time since 2002.
-Sunday is the 10th meeting in 12 years between the teams. The Packers hold a 2-1 advantage in the three games played in Green Bay.
-The two clubs first met in 1996 in the NFC Championship game. Antonio Freeman's go-ahead TD catch gave the Packers their first lead of the day, as Green Bay earned its first Super Bowl berth in 29 years.
NOBODY'S BETTER AFTER THE CATCH
-The league's No. 1-ranked passing offense has been bolstered by its receivers' ability to run after the catch.
-Wins over San Diego, Denver and Kansas City have all been highlighted by long touchdowns passes by Brett Favre. Not to be overlooked is who he is throwing to, and what they are able to do once the ball is in their hands.
-Led by wide receivers Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and tight end Donald Lee, Green Bay has amassed 1,300 yards after the catch, tops in the NFL.
-Behind the Packers at No. 2 is a team with a much more publicized group of receivers - the New England Patriots at 1,157 yards after the catch. The NFL average is 820 yards.
-The big-play ability of the Packers offense shouldn't come as a total surprise. Green Bay finished second in yards after the catch, behind New Orleans, in 2006.
McCARTHY TOPS THROUGH 25
-Head Coach Mike McCarthy's 16-9 record since taking over head coaching duties at the offices on Lombardi Avenue is the best mark through the first 25 games in franchise history.
-Vince Lombardi and Mike Sherman had previously topped the list, as both went 15-10 to open their coaching careers in Green Bay. Mike Holmgren went 14-11 through his first 25.
-According to Elias Sports Bureau, McCarthy ties Joe Gibbs for the best career start of any active head coach over 25 games.
A CHANCE AT NFL HISTORY
-If Panthers QB Vinny Testaverde (44 years, 5 days old) starts against Favre (38 years, 39 days old), they would combine for the oldest starting QB duo (82 years, 44 days) in history.
HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE
-As part of the 'Operation Fan Mail' program, the Packers and Festival Foods will recognize a military family with Wisconsin ties at each home game.
-This week, the Packers and Festival Foods honor Specialist Gregory Manning. A Green Bay, Wis., native and 2001 graduate of Green Bay Preble High School, Manning serves as a medic for Echo Troop 105th Cavalry, a National Guard unit from Antigo, Wis. Manning has served in Iraq since August and is currently on leave for two weeks. Manning is joined at the game today by his father Gerald, brother Gerald Jr., and girlfriend Sally.
WEARING THE STRIPES
Today's officiating crew includes referee Bill Leavy (127), umpire Richard Hall (49), head linesman Gary Slaughter (30), line judge Darryll Lewis (130), field judge Rob Vernatchi (75), side judge Mike Weatherford (116) and back judge Kirk Dornan (6).
NEXT WEEK
The Packers travel to Detroit to play the Lions in a nationally televised Thanksgiving contest while the Panthers return home to host the Saints.
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WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY:
4 BRETT FAVRE
-Has played in 248 straight games (268 including playoffs) and started 246 in a row (266 including playoffs), the NFL's record among quarterbacks and the second-longest recorded streak in NFL history. Only Jim Marshall (270, 1961-79) has been documented to have started more in consecutive fashion.
-Needs 243 passing yards to extend another NFL record - what would become his 16th season with 3,000 yards passing.
-Needs 1,105 passing yards - a number he is on pace to eclipse this season - to break Marino's record (61,361) for career passing yards. Favre enters with 60,257.
-Threw his 200th TD pass at Lambeau Field in Week 10 to extend the league's single-stadium record. He enters with 202.
-Has 61 games with at least three TD passes, one behind Dan Marino's (62) NFL record.
-Has 40 career game-winning comebacks (fourth quarter deficit or tie), including four this season.
-Has 54 career 300-yard passing games.
80 DONALD DRIVER
-Has a reception in 89 consecutive games, the franchise's second-longest streak behind Sharpe's 103 (1988-94).
-Needs 121 receiving yards to surpass No. 5 Antonio Freeman (6,651) and 388 to surpass No. 4 Boyd Dowler (6,918) on the Packers' all-time list. Driver (6,531) enters No. 6 in team history.
-Needs 20 receptions to surpass No. 3 Don Hutson (488) and 62 to surpass No. 2 James Lofton (530) on the Packers' franchise list. Driver enter with 469 catches, having surpassed Boyd Dowler (448) in?Week 5.
-Needs two receptions to become one of four players in team annals to produce as many as six 50-catch seasons, joining James Lofton and Sterling Sharpe (both seven) and Antonio Freeman (six).
-Stands 175 Lambeau Field receiving yards from surpassing No. 2 James Lofton (3,330) and 322 from becoming the stadium's all-time leader ahead of Antonio Freeman (3,477). Driver enters with 3,156.
89 JAMES JONES
-Needs 8 receptions to surpass No. 5 Keith Woodside (39, 1988) on the team's list for most single-season receptions by a rookie.
74 AARON KAMPMAN
-Needs 4 sacks to surpass No. 4 Ezra Johnson (411/2) on the franchise list. He enters with 38 career sacks.
21 CHARLES WOODSON
-Needs two interceptions for 30 career.
31 AL HARRIS
-Has played in 163 straight games (153 regular season, 10 playoffs), a streak that began in Philadelphia in 1998. Since coming to Green Bay in 2003, has started all 76 games (73 regular season, 3 playoffs) as a Packer.
