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. 11 GREEN BAY, OCT. 4, 2005 FIFTH GAME NEW ORLEANS (2-2) at GREEN BAY (0-4) THE HARD-LUCK 0-4’s: Many, many teams have opened 0-4, including the Sunday, Oct. 9 z Lambeau Field z Noon CDT last Packers team to do it, in 1988 under first-year head coach Lindy Infante. Since 1990 alone, 51 teams have lost their first four. However, most teams that open 0-4 don’t have a very healthy outlook on THIS WEEK’S NOTABLE STORYLINES: X the rest of their season. Not in Green Bay, though. That’s partly because XRefusing to give up after an 0-4 start — and the Packers have lost their last three games by three points or less. They three straight losses by a combined six points haven’t been blown out, and have had legitimate opportunities to win — the gutsy Packers bid for their first win. each of the four contests. XThe Packers, still only a couple games out of According to Elias Sports Bureau, only five clubs in 86 NFL seasons have first, play another non-divisional opponent. X lost their first four with three of those losses by a field goal or less: Only two of the team’s first nine are against Team Year Finish Place division foes in a clouded NFC North race. Detroit Lions 1974 7-7 second, NFC Central XGreen Bay hosts New Orleans for the first Cincinnati Bengals 1978 4-12 last, AFC Central time since 1989, ending one of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1991 3-13 last, NFC Central longest droughts between same-conference Buffalo Bills 2004 9-7 third, AFC East opponents. The Saints make only their sec- Green Bay Packers 2005 ond trip to Lambeau Field. XHoping to get back on track, the Packers look THE CHALLENGE: Earlier this year, during the team’s difficult start, Brett for their first home victory. Counting only Favre said that if the team can turn around its season, this may be one of their first two home games, the Packers are the most memorable years in his distinguished career. Obviously, this year just 1-5 (.167) since 2003. In home games might become the most forgettable, too. And don’t even think any of the 3-8 since 2003, Green Bay is 8-4 (.667). humbled players or coaches are looking past the New Orleans game XThe Packers meet former cornerback Mike Sunday. McKenzie for the first time since trading him But if by some incredible U-turn the Packers are able to earn a playoff to New Orleans one year ago this week. The X berth, they will join an exclusive group. Saints meet Grady Jackson for the first time Elias Sports Bureau research reveals that since 1990 when the league since Green Bay claimed him on waivers X expanded its playoffs from 10 teams to 12, only one of 51 teams has from New Orleans in 2003. overcome an 0-4 start to make the playoffs: the 1992 San Diego Chargers. That club went 11-1 over its final 12, won its division with a TELEVISION: FOX Sports, now in its 12th season as a network television share of the AFC’s best record, and advanced to the second round of the partner, will air the contest to a regional audience. Veteran play-by-play playoffs. man Kenny Albert calls the action with color commentator Brian Baldinger in the booth. Producer Barry Landis’ crew, including director Michael BRETT FAVRE DAY: By direction of the Wisconsin Senate, documented in Frank, is in the truck. Joint Resolution 14, the state has declared this Monday Brett Favre Day. Monday is the quarterback’s birthday. PACKERS RADIO: Milwaukee’s WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games The Senate passed the resolution in March following Favre’s announce- since 1929, heads up the 62-station Packers Radio Network, with versatile X ment that he would return for another NFL season. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (color). Spanning five states, the network covers 50 markets in SCHEDULE & RESULTS the upper Midwest. The broadcast also is available to NFL Field Pass sub- scribers on packers.com. Sun., Sept. 11 at Detroit Lions . .L, 3-17 (61,877) Sun., Sept. 18 CLEVELAND BROWNS . .L, 24-26 (70,400) BACK IN THE CARDIAC-PACK DAYS: The last time these teams met in Sun., Sept. 25 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS . .L, 16-17 (70,518) Wisconsin, 16 years ago, Don Majkowski was at the helm of a unit that Mon., Oct. 3 at Carolina Panthers . .L, 29-32 (73,657) authored several, come-from-behind victories. Sun., Oct. 9 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS . .12 noon FOX XIn fact, the Packers rallied from 21 down to beat New Orleans in Week 2 Sun., Oct. 16 Open Date . Sun., Oct. 23 at Minnesota Vikings . .12 noon FOX that season, and Green Bay went 10-6, just missing the playoffs. Lindy Sun., Oct. 30 at Cincinnati Bengals . .12 noon FOX Infante was NFL Coach of the Year. Sun., Nov. 6 PITTSBURGH STEELERS . .3:15 p.m. CBS XMost points overcome to win a game in Packers history: Sun., Nov. 13 at Atlanta Falcons . .3:15 p.m. FOX Opponent Date Final Trailed Mon., Nov. 21 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (Gold Pkg.) . .8 p.m. ABC 23 vs. L.A. Rams Sept. 12, 1982 35-23 23-0 Sun., Nov. 27 at Philadelphia Eagles . .3:15 p.m. FOX 21 vs. New Orleans Sept. 17, 1989 35-34 21-0 Sun., Dec. 4 at Chicago Bears . .12 noon FOX 18 at Detroit Oct. 17, 1965 31-21 21-3 Sun., Dec. 11 DETROIT LIONS . .7:30 p.m. ESPN 17 at Washington Nov. 30, 1941 22-17 17-0 Mon., Dec. 19 at Baltimore Ravens . .8 p.m. ABC Sun., Dec. 25 CHICAGO BEARS . .4 p.m. FOX at Detroit Oct. 16, 1972 24-23 17-0 Sun., Jan. 1 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS . .3:15 p.m. FOX OCT. 4, 2005 z Pg. 2 THE WAIT IS OVER: Where were you in 1989? Well, Mike Sherman was coaching offensive line at Texas A&M. Brett Favre was a junior at Southern THE DOPE ON Miss. Jim Haslett was a defensive coordinator at the University of Buffalo THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT: and Aaron Brooks was in the eighth grade. Packers vs. New Orleans Saints: XWhile New Orleans has made several preseason trips to Wisconsin, the All-time regular season: 13-5-0 Packers haven’t hosted the Saints in a game that counted since Sept. 17, (no postseason meetings) 1989. No other team has waited longer to play a regular-season road All-time, Lambeau Field: 1-0-0 game against one opponent within its own conference. Streaks: Packers have won three of last four After the Saints’ 16-year drought ends Sunday, New England will be the X Last meeting, regular season: only other club who has had to wait longer to play at Lambeau Field; the Sept. 15, 2002, Superdome; Saints won, 35-20 Patriots’ last Green Bay appearance was 1979. Last meeting, Wisconsin: XKansas City’s string of seasons without a trip to Pittsburgh will become Sept. 17, 1989, Lambeau Field; Packers won, 35-34 the league’s longest intra-conference stretch. After the Saints traveled to Green Bay, the Chiefs made their most-recent appearance in the Steel COACHES CAPSULES City, later in that ‘89 season. Mike Sherman: 55-35-0, .611, sixth NFL season, sixth with Packers XIncluding all series (inter-conference and intra-conference), the longest Jim Haslett: 45-41-0, .523, sixth NFL season, sixth with Saints active stretches (Elias Sports Bureau): Head to Head: Haslett 1-0 vs. Sherman Visitor Home Team Last Meeting vs. Opponent: Sherman 0-1 vs. Saints; Haslett 1-0 vs. Packers Tampa Bay Pittsburgh 1983 Pittsburgh Minnesota 1986 MIKE SHERMAN…Is in his sixth year as the Packers’ 13th head coach. Tampa Bay Kansas City 1986 XIs no stranger to adversity, having overcome several hurdles each of the Philadelphia New England 1987 past three seasons to win a trio of NFC North titles. Adversity is again Pittsburgh Washington 1988 in the Packers’ path this season. Minnesota Miami 1988 XSince the 1993 collective bargaining agreement, teams have made 84 New Orleans Green Bay 1989 coaching changes and only Sherman’s tenure has produced winning Kansas City Pittsburgh 1989 records in each of its first five seasons. Minnesota Cleveland 1989 XOver their first five regular seasons as an NFL coach, since 1970 only Chuck Knox, George Seifert, Joe Gibbs and Mike Ditka produced better DON’T TAKE 1,000-YARD RUSHERS FOR GRANTED: These two teams records than Sherman (53-27, .663). own two of the league’s longest active streaks of seasons with a 1,000- XIn 2004, his team became only the ninth in NFL history to reach the yard rusher. playoffs after a 1-4 start. Yrs Club 1,000-yard rushers ‘04 Leader XHas led the Packers to three straight division titles and four consecu- 9 N.Y. Jets A.Murrell 1996-97, C.Martin, 1998-2004 Martin 1,697 tive playoff appearances. 7 Seattle R.Watters 1998-2000, S.Alexander 2001-04 Alexander, 1,696 XIs 6-0 against teams in the Super Bowl the previous season.