-AND NOW THERE ARE...Placekicker Ryan Longwell needs kick only one extra point tonight to become only the fourth player in Green Bay's 81-year NFL history to score 700 points in a career. If and when that (or a field goal) eventuates, he will join Don Hutson, the team's all-time leader with 823 points, Chris Jacke (820) and Paul Hornung (760).
Longwell enters the game with 699 points, via 240 conversions (in 243 attempts, a 98.8 percentage) and 153 field goals (in 189 attempts, an 80.95 percentage).
The 28-year-old Cal-Berkeley alumnus, who owns an exceptional 84.54 field goal success percentage in capricious Lambeau Field (82 of 97), also comes into the contest having made his last 11 consecutive field goal attempts and 47 extra points in succession.
-FAVRE NEARS YET ANOTHER RECORD: Quarterback Brett Favre needs just 43 passing yards tonight to post his eleventh consecutive 3,000-yard season and extend his NFL record. When he does, he will have scaled the 3,000-yard plateau in each of his 11 seasons in a Green Bay uniform, including a career-best 4,413 yards in 1998.
Dan Marino, who has passed for 3,000 yards in nine seasons, is runner-up to Favre in NFL annals.
-FAVRE ALSO IS making his 170th consecutive start, likewise extending his league record for quarterbacks. It also is the NFL's longest active starting streak at any position. Additionally, he is playing in his 172nd consecutive game, the second-longest streak in team history, behind Forrest Gregg's 187 straight.
-AHMAN GREEN is in position to join Favre in invading the Green Bay record book tonight, assuming he is cleared to play (he has been listed, throughout the week, as questionable for the game with a knee problem). With just 33 rushing yards, he would become only the third running back in Packers history to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. He launched his skein with 1,175 in 2000, bettered that production with 1,387 in 2001 and has gained 967 yards in 12 games this season.
Hall of Famer Jim Taylor is the team's all-time leader with five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (1960-64), followed by John Brockington (1971-73).
Green also needs only 4 catches to supplant Taylor in 19th place on the Packers' lifetime receiving list. He has 184 receptions, three fewer than Taylor registered during a nine-year playing career for Green Bay.
-WITH FOUR GAMES REMAINING in the '02 season, the Packers' defense already has matched last year's team interception total, 20. Safety Darren Sharper has accounted for 5 of them, rookie Marques Anderson weighing in with 4.
-SPEAKING OF SHARPER, the sixth-year professional has personally posted 20 "picks" himself over the past three seasons, including a league-leading 9 in 2000.
-QUICK QUOTE: Mike Sherman, on balancing the dual roles of head coach and general manager: "In any season, a coach is going to be a coach first. I've hired good people and they do a good job...That makes it a lot easier."
-STEVE AZAR, a country recording artist, will sing the national anthem prior to tonight's game.
-'FREE' WHEELS: Some fortunate fan will drive out of Lambeau Field with a brand new Chevy Silverado tonight. Contestants in a passing contest from throughout the season, will compete one last time - at halftime - to win the truck.
NEXT WEEK: The Packers head west for an inter-divisional matchup with the 49ers, leaders of the NFL's NFC West Division, at San Francisco's 3Com Park next Sunday (December 15). Kickoff is set for 3:15; CST (Wisconsin time).
