Monday Night Matchup

Packers playing for postseason, while Raiders want to play spoiler

Green Bay Packers (8-6) at Oakland Raiders (4-10) Monday, 9 p.m. EST Network Associates Coliseum (63,132)

It'll be playoff hopeful against postseason spoiler when Monday Night Football travels to Oakland for an interconference game between the Packers and the Raiders.

Oakland snapped a three-game losing streak with a 20-12 win over Baltimore last week and will be looking to make it two in a row at home. Green Bay found itself behind in the fourth quarter to San Diego last week before exploding for 21 unanswered points.

The Packers hold the tiebreaker over Minnesota and can't afford to look past a proud Raiders team that's already damaged the Ravens' chances of a divisional title.

Raiders offense vs. Packers defense

Rick Mirer Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

To say that the Raiders' offense is suffering from a lack of continuity would be a gross understatement. So far this season, Oakland has started three quarterbacks while 10 players have carried the ball and 14 have caught passes.

Rick Mirer, who took over for the injured Rich Gannon and Marques Tuiasosopo, has completed fewer than half of his passes in each of his past three starts. Mirer, who struggles as a pocket passer due to his sidearm delivery and a penchant for throwing off his back foot, looked more comfortable last week rolling out of the pocket.

Future Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (51 receptions, 13.6 yards per catch) and Tim Brown (47 receptions, 11.3 yards per catch) have been hampered by the changes at quarterback and inconsistent pass protection that has altered their route running. Rice, Brown and Jerry Porter (28 receptions, 12.9 yards per catch) have combined for just five touchdown catches.

Tyrone Wheatley and Charlie Garner have 1,113 combined rushing yards and six touchdowns, with rookie Justin Fargas averaging 5.1 yards on his 40 carries. Look for the Raiders to pound the ball early in an attempt to get Green Bay to commit a safety to run support, which would create better opportunities in the passing game.

The Packers' run defense has stiffened significantly with the midseason additions of DTs Grady Jackson and Larry Smith. The massive Jackson has tremendous quickness, which forces offensive linemen into holding penalties. Case in point: A 52-yard fourth-quarter run last week by LaDainian Tomlinson was negated by a hold and served to crush San Diego's attempt to get back in the game.

Rookie LB Nick Barnett, who leads the team with 101 tackles, has the range to pursue the outside run or cover tight ends and backs in coverage. Cornerbacks Al Harris and Mike McKenzie are very aggressive players groomed to take on the bigger, physical receivers of the NFC North but have had problems with the smaller, speedier wideouts around the league. Harris and McKenzie match up favorably with Rice and Brown, which will allow the safeties to disguise coverages and blitz Mirer into making bad decisions.

Packers offense vs. Raiders defense

Brett Favre Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Packers' offense has become more run-oriented this season thanks to Brett Favre's broken right thumb. While the injury has been the major reason for Favre's 20 interceptions, he has still managed to break a franchise record that had stood for 61 years by throwing at least one touchdown pass in 23 consecutive games.

The ground game sizzled in November, averaging 233.4 yards for three consecutive games until it came back down to earth in the past three weeks (77.3 yards average). Ahman Green, like Favre, also smashed a long-standing team record; the halfback broke the mark for single-season rushing, set by Jim Taylor 41 years ago.

But when Green isn't on the field, it's not as if defenses get the chance to catch their collective breath. Najeh Davenport has averaged a whopping 5.9 yards on 65 carries, and Tony Fisher has been equally effective (31 carries, 5.5 average) in short stints.

Until last week, the Packers didn't have a receiver with a 100-plus-yard day in 2003. It's no coincidence that WR Donald Driver had his best performance of the season (eight receptions, 112 yards) on the same day that Favre was able to throw for the first time without being hampered by his thumb. It will be interesting to see if the success enjoyed in sunny San Diego will carry over to the "frozen tundra" of Lambeau Field next week.

The Raiders' run defense, ranked last in the league, has allowed 149.4 yards per game. Injuries have depleted the depth of the defensive line and allowed marquee backs such as Priest Holmes (123 yards), Clinton Portis (170 yards) and Jamal Lewis (125 yards) to control the clock and tempo.

Last Sunday, after Phillip Buchanon returned an interception 29 yards to the Baltimore one-yard line, the Raiders converted the score and were finally afforded the rare opportunity to play with a lead. Defensive tackle Rod Coleman was selected AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his play (two sacks and a forced fumble).

While Buchanon and fellow cornerback Charles Woodson are solid in coverage, the loss of Rod Woodson has left safeties Derrick Gibson and Anthony Dorsett scrambling at times. Gibson was beat on a 13-yard touchdown pass last week and allowed Ravens TE Todd Heap to pick up 93 yards on six receptions. The defense tends to bite on play-action fakes and misdirection, which is the basis of the Green Bay offense.

Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski is enjoying his best season as a pro, converting 22 of 25 field goals (88 percent). He had a career-long 55-yarder against Detroit in Week 9. Punter Shane Lechler leads the league with a 46.6-yard average. Lechler also completed a second-half pass last week on a fake punt that was nullified by penalty. Buchanon is third in the AFC with 12.1 yards per punt return. Doug Gabriel set up a field goal against the Ravens by returning a kickoff 71 yards in the first quarter. With injuries forcing many backups into the starting lineup, the coverage teams have floundered at the bottom of the ratings.

Last week, kicker Ryan Longwell became the Packers' all-time leading scorer, breaking the legendary Don Hutson's record. Longwell has scored at least 100 points in each of his first seven seasons. Davenport has returned only 13 kickoffs but has a 30.2-yard average, bolstered by his 44-yard return last week against the Chargers.

QB Rick Mirer vs. Packers blitz package.

Mirer, the third quarterback to start for Oakland this season, has been bothered by neck and back pain to the extent that he missed valuable practice time last week. Green Bay has forced seven turnovers in the past two games and will come after the former Packers backup early and often to take him out of his game.

TE Bubba Franks vs. SS Derrick Gibson.

Gibson has trouble reading play-action fakes, especially when forced up into the box in run support. Franks, who has three touchdowns on 26 receptions, has always been a favorite target in the red zone and will be called upon more often now that Favre's thumb will allow him to throw on the run.

HB Ahman Green vs. Raiders run defense.

Pro Bowl-bound Green (1,538 rushing yards, fourth in the league) is healthier at this point in the season than ever before in his career. While his five fumbles are cause for concern, Green has held onto the ball the past four games. The Raiders can't rely on the big plays that turned the tide early for them last week and will have to commit eight to the box, leaving the pass coverage open to a healing Favre.

The Oakland defense has been doing a solid job of stopping teams on third down over the past three weeks (28.6 percent), but the offense (21.4 percent) hasn't taken advantage. The Raiders are ranked 28th in the league on third-down conversions (31.7 percent). Last week, short-yardage specialist Zack Crockett was denied on three of four third- or fourth-and-1 attempts. Rice was the favorite target against the Ravens, moving the chains twice and scoring a touchdown on five pass attempts.

The Packers' offense ranks 10th in the league on third down for the season (39.1 percent), but over its past three games has converted a paltry 27.5 percent. The defense has stiffened recently, holding Detroit, Chicago and San Diego to 36.0 percent. Green Bay tends to run routes short of the sticks, relying on yards gained after the catch to keep the drive alive. Last week, Driver became the go-to guy, moving the chains three of four times the balls were thrown to him on third down.

A season removed as the rookie head coach of a Super Bowl favorite, Bill Callahan has had to keep his team focused while grappling with reporters on the topic of his job security. The victory over Baltimore dispelled rumors that the players would mail in the rest of the season and proved that the Raiders are capable of beating quality opponents when they play up to their potential. With no assurances that he or his staff will be retained following a strong finish to the season, Callahan's poise under fire serves as a role model for his players and the Raiders' organization.

In the same week that Favre confirmed he will return to the Packers for the 2004 season, an "informed source" commented that there were members of Mike Sherman's staff who were upset with Favre's performance this year. Sherman swiftly denied the allegation.

Both clubs will start the game conservatively, running the ball early to gain confidence and control the clock. If his neck and back injuries persist, expect Mirer to sit in the pocket behind maximum protection in an effort to get the short and intermediate passing game on track. Green Bay will counter with disguised coverages in hopes that the Packers' multifaceted blitzing will force the Raiders quarterback into bad decisions.

Expect Green Bay to pound the ball between the tackles against a weak Oakland front seven. If the Raiders' cornerbacks neutralize the Packers' receivers, look for Franks and Wesley Walls to play a pivotal role against the safeties in the play-action series. Green Bay should score first, but the Raiders will make it a close game. Still, the Packers should win by a field goal to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Written by Dan Schwab of Real Football^TM. Throughout the season, the Real Football^TM staff will bring you an "insiders" analysis of key matchups in the league. The Real Football^TM staff includes coaches, players, scouts and other experts with real experience inside the NFL, who give you access to a unique, exclusive look inside the game.