The Seattle Seahawks’ first appearance on NFL Monday Night Football since November 30, 1992 will not be the only return when the 4-2 Seahawks visit the 4-2 Green Bay Packers tonight.

The contest also marks the return of Seattle executive vice president, general manager and head coach MIKE HOLMGREN to Lambeau Field, where he coached the Packers for seven seasons (1992-98).

Holmgren and Packers safety LE ROY BUTLER this week talked about the excitement that will be in the air tonight…

THE LAMBEAU LEGEND

"I asked our players how many have not played at Lambeau Field before," says Holmgren. "There were quite a few of them. I told them that it is a very special place. It's OK to soak in that atmosphere. It's a special place to play a game. I remember when I was in college at Southern Cal and you'd go in and play Notre Dame at Notre Dame. That was special. I think there are special places to play football in this country and Lambeau Field is one of them."

Holmgren ranks second in Green Bay history with a .667 career winning percentage (84-42), trailing Pro Football Hall of Fame coach VINCE LOMBARDI (.758, 98-30-4). In addition, he led the Packers to six playoff berths in seven seasons, two Super Bowls and a Super Bowl XXXI title.

Holmgren’s record at home was even more impressive. His Packers teams won 47 of 52 games (.904) at Lambeau, including five playoff victories.

"They have some of the greatest fans in the world," says Holmgren. "They root for the Green Bay Packers. I'm no longer a Green Bay Packer. When I was there, they rooted hard for me. I know that. And I appreciated every minute of that."

PLAYING AGAINST MIKE

Butler speaks of his former coach with respect and admiration.

"It feels this week as if I'm playing against my dad, because he has taught me so much as a person and as a player," says Butler. "Without Mike Holmgren, there's no way I would be in the situation I'm in now. It's going to be fun. It's going to be fun seeing him on the other sideline."

THE NEW CLUB

Holmgren’s Seahawks have won four of their past five games. Seattle has also won four consecutive Monday-night games and has league’s best winning percentage (.688, 11-5) on Monday Night Football (minimum 10 games). Holmgren is 7-5 in Monday-night games.

"If you can compete with the Green Bay Packers and top teams in the league," says Holmgren, "then you can kind of measure where your team is. It's a confidence thing for your own team. We're too early in this thing to say we've arrived. I'd equate it with when we beat San Francisco in that game in '95 (NFC Divisional playoff). We were able to go into a hostile environment against a good football team and win. And that really put a stamp on our team and that was really a launching point for us. This is too early for that, but it certainly would be something."

ON THE GAME

"This game is a tremendous challenge for us," says Holmgren. "We're going against the best quarterback in football (BRETT FAVRE)…the best receiver, probably, in football (ANTONIO FREEMAN)…and one of the best, if not the best, running back in football right now (DORSEY LEVENS). It's a tremendous challenge for our defensive team. I know how good that team is.

"Statistically over the last few years, Favre has clearly been the best. I think he has the physical tools that no one can match right now in the game. He has the ability to take over a game by himself, which is the mark of a great player. And I think what he has done this year in those three wins that they've come from behind on in the last drive -- that's remarkable."

Butler compares Monday’s game to a Super Bowl.

"It's like a Super Bowl, if you ask me, because that's the way our guys are thinking," he says. "We've got to have this.

It's important for us to go out and show America what kind of Packer team we are. We've been inconsistent, so it's an opportunity to show America we are the Packers of old in front of a great home crowd."