Packers Public Relations z Lambeau Field Atrium z 1265 Lombardi Avenue z Green Bay, WI 54304 z 920/569-7500 z 920/569-7201 fax Jeff Blumb, Director; Aaron Popkey, Assistant Director; Zak Gilbert, Assistant Director; Sarah Quick, Coordinator; Adam Woullard, Coordinator VOL VII; NO. 16 GREEN BAY, NOV. 8, 2005 NINTH GAME GREEN BAY (1-7) at ATLANTA (6-2) 1-7 COMPARISONS: Green Bay, according to Elias Sports Bureau, is Sun., Nov. 13 z Georgia Dome z 3:15 p.m. CST/4:15 p.m. EST z FOX the first 1-7 team in NFL history to outscore its opponents (168-159). XThe last time the Packers were 1-7, 19 years ago in 1986, the team’s THIS WEEK’S NOTABLE STORYLINES: morale and outlook were much different. That season, Green Bay had XVictimized by a perilous streak of unfortunate cir- already been blown out four times, including a disheartening season cumstances, the Packers continue the search for opener vs. Houston and a 42-7 loss at Minnesota. In ‘86, opponents their second win. through eight games had outscored Green Bay 222-108, and there was XGreen Bay makes its first trip to the Georgia Dome little discussion of several close losses hinging on 1-2 plays, like ‘05. in 13 years, ending the Packers’ longest active XThis year, the Packers may have lost Pro Bowlers Javon Walker and stretch without an appearance in an NFC city. Ahman Green to season-ending injuries, but those two are the only XThe last time the Packers played at Atlanta, Oct. 4, starters on injured reserve. In 1986 at the season’s halfway point, Green 1992, the Georgia Dome was brand new and Brett Bay listed 12 on injured reserve, including six starters. Favre was 22 years old. Green Bay sustained a 24- XThe Packers enter the second half four games out of first place, with two 10 loss to the coach that had traded Favre the pre- still to play against division-leading Chicago. In 1986, the Packers were vious February, Jerry Glanville. It marked start No. well out of the race, seven games behind the Bears (7-1). 2 in his current 213-game starting streak. XAnd in 1986, the Packers’ defense was giving up points and yards at a XHad Green Bay defeated Minnesota in the 2004 much more alarming rate than the 2005 club, and the field general was NFC Playoffs, the Packers would have traveled to Randy Wright, who even on his best day was not Brett Favre. Favre Atlanta for the Divisional round. refuses to quit in hoping to steer Green Bay out of its current situation. XGreen Bay and Atlanta meet for the first time since the 2002 playoffs, when Dan Reeves’ Falcons MIDSEASON PROJECTIONS: At the season’s halfway marker, notable avenged his Ice Bowl loss with a stunning, 27-7 “on pace” forecasts, both as a team and individually over the next eight win, the Packers’ first-ever home playoff defeat. games: XBrett Favre already has completed passes to 16 targets, the most play- TELEVISION: FOX Sports will air the contest to a regional audience. ers to record a catch since 1998 (also 16). If Andrae Thurman catches a Play-by-play man Dick Stockton, now in his fourth decade as a profes- pass, the 17 receivers will become the team’s most since 1987 (19). sional broadcaster, joins former Pro Bowler Daryl “Moose” Johnston in the XFavre is on pace for 592 attempts (would be second-most ever; he had booth. Tony Siragusa, a key cog in Baltimore’s 2000 Super Bowl title, is on 595 in 1999), career-highs in completions (388), completion percentage the sideline. And, veterans Bob Stenner (producer) and Sandy Grossman (65.5) and interceptions (28), and a second straight season with 4,000 (director) are in the truck. yards passing (4,128) and at least 30 touchdowns (30). He already owns the NFL record for 30-TD seasons (8). PACKERS RADIO: Milwaukee’s WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games XDespite their large amount of passes, the Packers have allowed just 10 since 1929, heads up the 62-station Packers Radio Network, with versatile sacks and with 2,009 net passing yards, are on pace to top 4,000. After Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry a franchise-record 4,449 net passing yards in 2004, the team would McCarren (color). Spanning five states, the network covers 50 markets in accomplish consecutive 4,000-yard seasons for the first time ever — a the upper Midwest. The broadcast also is available to NFL Field Pass sub- remarkable feat considering the toll of free agency and injuries on their scribers on packers.com. SCHEDULE & RESULTS FAVRE IN DOMES: Perception says that Favre has struggled in domes. In reality, especially of late, Favre has played very well under roofs. He’s Sun., Sept. 11 at Detroit Lions . .L, 3-17 (61,877) compiled a 95.6 passer rating over his last nine starts in domes: Sun., Sept. 18 CLEVELAND BROWNS . .L, 24-26 (70,400) Date Opp Result Att Cmp Pct Yds TD Int Rtng Sun., Sept. 25 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS . .L, 16-17 (70,518) Mon., Oct. 3 at Carolina Panthers . .L, 29-32 (73,657) Oct. 19, 2003 at StL L, 24-34 32 23 71.9 268 2 1 104.7 Sun., Oct. 9 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS . .W, 52-3 (70,580) Nov. 2, 2003 at Min W, 30-27 28 18 64.3 194 3 1 105.4 Sun., Oct. 16 Open Date . Nov. 27, 2003 at Det L, 14-22 37 23 62.2 296 2 3 71.5 Sun., Oct. 23 at Minnesota Vikings . .L, 20-23 (64,278) Sept. 26, 2004 at Ind L, 31-45 44 30 68.2 360 4 0 123.3 Sun., Oct. 30 at Cincinnati Bengals . .L, 14-21 (65,940) Oct. 17, 2004 at Det W, 38-10 38 25 65.8 257 2 0 102.6 Sun., Nov. 6 PITTSBURGH STEELERS . .L, 10-20 (70,607) Nov. 21, 2004 at Hou W, 16-13 50 33 66.0 383 1 2 79.0 Sun., Nov. 13 at Atlanta Falcons . .3:15 p.m. FOX Dec. 24, 2004 at Min W, 34-31 43 30 69.8 365 3 1 109.2 Mon., Nov. 21 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (Gold Pkg.) . .8 p.m. ABC Sept. 11, 2005 at Det L, 3-17 44 27 61.4 201 0 2 53.3 Sun., Nov. 27 at Philadelphia Eagles . .3:15 p.m. FOX Sun., Dec. 4 at Chicago Bears . .12 noon FOX Oct. 23, 2005 at Min L, 20-23 36 28 77.8 315 2 0 121.6 Sun., Dec. 11 DETROIT LIONS . .7:30 p.m. ESPN Totals 352 237 67.3 2639 19 10 95.6 Mon., Dec. 19 at Baltimore Ravens . .8 p.m. ABC Sun., Dec. 25 CHICAGO BEARS . .4 p.m. FOX Sun., Jan. 1 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS . .3:15 p.m. FOX Pg. 2 z NOV. 8, 2005; GREEN BAY at ATLANTA offensive line. Net passing yards are gross yards minus yards lost on sacks allowed. THE DOPE ON XPunter B.J. Sander is on pace to record the team’s highest gross aver- THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT: age (42.3) since Josh Bidwell (42.5) in 2001. However, Sander’s 38.9 Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons: net average would represent the team’s best figure in 42 years, since All-time regular season: 11-10-0 Jerry Norton compiled a 39.2 net average in 1963. All-time, Atlanta: 3-7-0 (0-1, Georgia Dome) XAntonio Chatman’s 9.0-yard punt-return average would mark the Streaks: Falcons have won two of last three, Packers’ highest since 1998 (Roell Preston, also 9.0). including postseason XNick Barnett is on pace to post 218 total tackles, which would shatter the All-time, postseason: 1-1-0 team’s known single-season record, 180 by Mike Douglass in 1981. The Postseason meetings: Packers have recorded tackles since 1975. Dec. 31, 1995, Lambeau Field, Packers won, 37-20 The defense has allowed just 296.4 yards per game, which would be its X (1995 NFC Wild Card) fewest since 1998 (281.7). Jan. 4, 2003, Lambeau Field, Falcons won, 27-7 That season, 1998, also marked the last year Green Bay did not have a X (2002 NFC Wild Card) 1,000-yard rusher. The team’s current six-year streak of seasons with a Last meeting: Jan. 4, 2003, Lambeau Field; Falcons won, 27-7 1,000-yard carrier is a franchise record. (NFC Wild Card playoff) Last meeting, Atlanta: THE DIAMOND RECEIVER: Walt Williams in the third quarter Sunday Oct. 4, 1992, Georgia Dome; Falcons won, 24-10 vs. Pittsburgh became the 75th player to catch a pass from Brett Favre since Favre launched his 213-game starting streak, an NFL record among COACHES CAPSULES quarterbacks. Earlier in that same drive, on which the Packers opened the Mike Sherman: 56-38-0, .602, sixth NFL season, sixth with Packers second half with an impressive 7-minute, 34-second march for a touch- Jim Mora: 18-8-0, .692, second NFL season, second with Falcons down, Samkon Gado became No. 74 on Favre’s list. Head to Head: First meeting XOthers to join the group this season are Vonta Leach and Terrence vs. Opponent: Sherman 1-2 vs. Falcons, Mora 0-0 vs. Packers Murphy (both Sept. 18). Donald Lee added himself with a 16-yard TD catch in the team’s valiant comeback attempt Oct.