FOR USE AS DESIRED

            NFL-83             11/30/01

 

PACKERS-JAGUARS ON MONDAY NIGHT: SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE

 

One team is trying to turn its season around while the other is looking to keep pace with the leader of its division.

 

Both clubs have quarterbacks ranked among the winningest in the NFL.

 

Something has to give when the Green Bay Packers visit the Jacksonville Jaguars this week on Monday Night Football.

 

The 7-3 Packers have won three of their past four games and aim to stay close to the NFC Central-leading Chicago Bears (8-2).  Green Bay’s offense is paced by NFC rushing leader AHMAN GREEN (938 yards) and quarterback BRETT FAVRE, the conference’s second-ranked passer (94.3 rating). 

 

“We're ready for Green Bay,” Jacksonville cornerback FERNANDO BRYANT says.  “My biggest thing is being ready for Brett Favre and Ahman Green.  Both are playing at a high level right now.  We've got to find a way to stop them.”

 

On Monday nights, Favre has been hard to stop.  He has thrown for 4,111 yards and 27 touchdowns in 18 MNF games.  His 27 scoring passes tie for fifth-most in the history of the series.  Following are the players with the most touchdown passes on Monday Night Football:

 

 

The 3-7 Jaguars are seeking to reprise some of their magic from 1996.  That season, the club opened at 4-7 before winning its final five games, earning a playoff berth and advancing all the way to the AFC Championship Game.  Had they won that game, the Jags would have faced…the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. 

 

The Jaguars have never lost a Monday night home game (4-0), so this week could be the start of a similar run.

”They’ve played with some major injuries to their team and gave up some games that they normally wouldn’t have given up,” Packers head coach MIKE SHERMAN says of the Jaguars.  “I’m sure after losing last Sunday, they feel their backs are against the wall.  We’re going to have to play a heck of a football game, on Monday night in Jacksonville on the road, to win.”

 

To win, Sherman’s club must defeat Jacksonville quarterback MARK BRUNELL – a former Packers backup to Favre --  who has an 11-to-four touchdown-to-interception ratio and is the AFC’s third-ranked passer (90.2 rating).

 

Brunell, along with Favre, is also one of the NFL’s winningest quarterbacks.  Following are the active quarterbacks with the best win-loss records in the league (minimum 50 wins):