PACKERS-REDSKINS HIGHLIGHT WEEK 6 NFC SCHEDULE
-Two of the surprise teams in the NFC thus far - the 4-1 Packers and 3-1 Redskins - square off at historic Lambeau Field this afternoon. It marks the 249th consecutive regular-season sellout (263 including playoffs) at the NFL's longest-tenured stadium.
-The Packers saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end last Sunday night against Chicago in a 27-20 loss, while Washington comes off a 34-3 victory over Detroit.
-Green Bay achieved a 4-0 start for the ninth time in team history and the first time since 1998. Seven of those Packers teams went on to win an NFL championship (1929, '30, '31, '44, '62, '65, and 1966).
-Luckily for the Packers, former GM Ron Wolf was not discouraged by Brett Favre's first career appearance against Washington. Favre got his most extensive playing time as a 1991 rookie with the Falcons, at RFK Stadium, going 0-for-4 with two INTs in a 56-17 loss to the Redskins.
-Joe Gibbs returns to Lambeau Field for the first time since 1986, when he and quarterback Jay Schroeder registered a 16-7 win. Three years earlier in Green Bay, Gibbs and Joe Theismann sustained a 48-47 loss in the highest-scoring game in Monday Night Football history.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A QUICK START
-There's no secret that early success increases an NFL team's chance to earn a playoff berth.
-One of Packers' early goals this season - getting off to a quick start - was accomplished with the 4-0 start.
-Slow starts have plagued the Packers the past three seasons, only one of which resulted in a postseason appearance (2004). That season, the team started 1-4 but won nine of its last 11 games.
-In 2005, injuries contributed to a 1-7 start while a 1-4 start in 2006 proved too much to overcome.
-Both Washington and Green Bay now have the odds in their favor. A look at how important fast starts have become to eventual playoff success in the NFL, compiled from 1990-2006:
Record through 4 games (% of teams in playoffs)
0-4 (1.8%)
1-3 (15.8%)
2-2 (35.6%)
3-1 (65.2%)
4-0 (83.7%)
- Statistics provided by Elias Sports Bureau
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 Spc. Douglas Frisque. A resident of Green Bay, Frisque was first deployed to Iraq with the 192nd QM Company from Milan, OH, in January 2007. Most recently he was stationed at Camp Strike in Iraq. Frisque is currently home for 15 days of rest and relaxation and is scheduled to return to Iraq October 18. His projected date of return is early February 2008. Frisque is accompanied this afternoon by members of his family.
WEARING THE STRIPES
Today's officiating crew includes referee Terry McAulay (77), umpire Bruce Stritesky (102), head linesman Jim Mello (48), line judge Mark Steinkerchner (84), field judge Greg Gautreaux (80), side judge Michael Banks (72) and back judge Steve Freeman (133).
NEXT WEEK
The Packers enter their bye week while the Redskins return home to host the Arizona Cardinals.
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WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY
4 BRETT FAVRE
-Has played in 244 straight games (264 including playoffs) and started 242 in a row (262 including playoffs), the NFL's record among quarterbacks. Only Jim Marshall (270, 1961-79) has been documented to have started more in consecutive fashion.
-Needs one TD pass at Lambeau Field to extend the league's single-stadium record to 200. He enters with 199.
-Needs 1,228 passing yards at Lambeau Field to surpass John Elway (27,889 at Mile High Stadium) for the single-stadium record. Favre has 26,662.
-Threw for three touchdowns in Week 3, the 60th game of his career with at least three TD passes. Stands two games behind Dan Marino's (62) NFL record.
-Has 38 career game-winning comebacks (fourth quarter deficit or tie), including two this season.
-Has 51 career 300-yard passing games.
80 DONALD DRIVER
-Has a reception in 85 consecutive games, the franchise's second-longest streak behind Sharpe's 103 (1988-94).
-Needs 44 receiving yards to surpass No. 6 Max McGee (6,346) on the Packers' all-time list. Driver (6,303) enters No. 7 in team history.
-Stands 276 Lambeau Field receiving yards from surpassing No. 2 James Lofton (3,330). Driver (3,055) enters at No. 3.
-Needs two TD receptions to become only the eighth player in franchise annals to reach 40 career, joining Don Hutson (99), Sterling Sharpe (65), Antonio Freeman (57), Max McGee (50), James Lofton (49), Billy Howton (43) and Boyd Dowler (40). Driver enters with 38.
85 GREG JENNINGS
-Needs 160 receiving yards for 1,000 career. Jennings enters at 840.
88 BUBBA FRANKS
-Needs one touchdown catch to tie No. 10 Robert Brooks (32) on the team's all-time list.
-Needs two starts for 100 career. Franks enters with 98.
-Surpassed 250 career catches against Chicago in Week 5. Franks enters with 252 career receptions.
-Needs 64 receiving yards to surpass No. 4 Ed West (2,321) on the team's all-time tight ends list. Franks enters at 2,258 receiving yards.
74 AARON KAMPMAN
-Needs 1/2 sack to surpass No. 7 Vonnie Holliday (32) and 1 sack to surpass No. 6 Bryce Paup (321/2) on the Packers' all-time list. Kampman enters with 32 career sacks.
31 AL HARRIS
-Has played in 159 straight games (149 regular season, 10 playoffs), a streak that began in Philadelphia in 1998. Since coming to Green Bay in 2003, has started all 72 games (69 regular season, 3 playoffs) as a Packer.
