Packers (5-5) at 49ers (3-7)
9 p.m. ET, ABC
Line: Packers by 6
Preview | Baxter's Bits | War Room Preview
Ron Jaworski's Monday night breakdown
Inside the Playbook: Brett Favre's 94 delay route

	Brett Favre should have an improved offensive line this season.

Why to watch:
Wow! Has a lot changed in the last 11 months or what? The last time these two clubs met, it was in a thrilling NFC wild-card game that went down to the final play at 3Com Park.

So, what's different since Terrell Owens' dramatic TD catch gave San Francisco a 30-27 victory over Green Bay? Try this on for size: Mike Holmgren left for Seattle, Carmen Policy and Dwight Clark took off for Cleveland, Bill Walsh returned to the Niners, Ray Rhodes returned to the Packers, Garrison Hearst broke his leg, Lawrence Phillips came and left, Robert Brooks and Reggie White retired, Jerry Rice and Steve Young are thinking about it and Brett Favre became a new man.

Oh, and we forgot to mention that both teams are now shells of their former playoff selves. San Francisco is mired in its worst losing streak in 19 seasons, having dropped six games in a row. In their last four defeats, the Niners offense has mustered a whopping one touchdown.

The Packers haven't quite reached those depths -- primarily because they still have Favre -- but Green Bay has plenty of problems of its own. At 5-5 and in fourth place in the tightly packed NFC Central, the Pack is right in the middle of ... well, the pack. After finally ending a three-game losing streak and an unheard-of two-game skid at Lambeau Field with a victory over Detroit last week, Green Bay plays four of its last six on the road.

Although Favre says his thumb is feeling better than it has all season, the Packers are definitely going to have to earn their seventh consecutive playoff trip the hard way. As for the Niners, they've had their string of 16 consecutive 10-win season already snapped and have been all but eliminated from the postseason chase. For San Francisco, these final six games are about evaluating some of their aging players and deciding how to rebuild for the future.

Who to watch:
Favre, who had his first 300-yard passing game last week since Week 5, is sure to attack a 49ers' pass defense that ranks 29th in the NFL. However, Favre might not have his favorite target, Antonio Freeman. After suffering a concussion, Freeman is also bothered by a hamstring problem and missed practice early in the week. However, the big-play wideout is listed as probable for Monday night's game. While Freeman is expected to play, he definitely won't be 100 percent.

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With Freeman hobbled, it will put an onus on Packers WRs Corey Bradford and Bill Schroeder to step up. Bradford had 10 catches for 163 yards last week, including a spectacular TD catch. Schroeder has been relatively quiet of late, averaging just 3.7 catches for 49 yards over the last six games.

The Packers used a lot of the no-huddle offense last week against the Lions, and Favre seems to thrive in the quick-hit attack. Packers RB Dorsey Levens, who had a career-high 10 catches for 99 yards last week, has become Favre's release valve in the no-huddle. Packers TE Tyrone Davis could have a big day against a 49ers linebacking corps that has struggled in pass coverage.

49ers RB Charlie Garner is the team's most effective offensive weapon, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. However, Garner has had more than 16 carries only twice. 49ers QB Steve Stenstrom remains the starter, although he was replaced by Jeff Garcia in last week's loss to the Rams.

Although Owens had the Niners' first 100-yard receiving game of the season last week, San Francisco isn't getting much production from its three talented wideouts. The 49ers have not had a TD catch by a receiver since Jerry Rice reached the end zone in Week 6.

49ers CBs Monty Montgomery and Ramos McDonald are the team's sixth and seventh different starting cornerbacks this season, and they did a fair job against the Rams' explosive receivers last week. 49ers DTs Bryant Young (five sacks) and Junior Bryant (four sacks) must get some heat on Favre up the middle.

Packers' numbers to know:
Despite all the talk about the Packers' problems in the red zone, Green Bay ranks 15th in the NFL in touchdown percentage inside the opponents' 20-yard line. The Pack has scored 14 touchdowns (45.2 percent) and 11 field goals in its 31 trips into the red zone.

49ers' numbers to know:
San Francisco has allowed a league-high 21 TD passes. Although Favre has not thrown more than one TD pass in a game since Week 7, the Packers QB could break out in a big way Monday night. The Niners, meanwhile, have scored a total of 19 points in their last three games.

What it means:
The Packers are only game out of first place in the NFC Central. However, Green Bay is only a half-game out of last place, and there are three teams ahead of the Packers. In other words, Green Bay cannot afford many more losses, especially with its brutal finishing schedule.

The Niners are playing for pride. This aging team in transition will try to show some resolve in a national TV game and perhaps deal the rival Packers a serious blow to their playoff hopes.

Sean Salisbury's breakdown
Packers' game plan:
The offense needs to quit relying on Favre all the time. Last week, for instance, Bradford made a spectacular one-handed catch in the end zone. Everybody needs to get involved, not just Favre. The Packers are less successful when Favre feels like he has to make every play.

Favre must distribute the ball to Bradford, Freeman and Levens in the first quarter, so everyone feels involved. If those players are left out of the game plan, the Packers will then sit back and depend on Favre to win the game. One advantage for the Packers is that Favre is still the best player in football, and San Francisco's secondary is horrid. You can expect Freeman and Bradford to have big days.

49ers' game plan:
The Niners need to find a quarterback who can make some plays, whether it's current starter Stenstrom or Garcia. Rice needs to be more involved. Even though he is now 37, Rice can still make plays and change the complexion of a game. They should at least throw the ball to Rice to open up things for Owens and J.J. Stokes. Without Young in the lineup, the 49ers offense doesn't scare teams anymore.

Garner has been an effective running back, but the passing game needs to produce -- meaning more Rice. The 49ers must make a concentrated effort to get the ball into his hands as often as they can, starting in the first quarter. If Rice gets more than 100 yards receiving, I think the 49ers have a chance. The defense has put them in a bind, and the offense hasn't made plays. But Rice needs the ball to see if that helps, because not much else is working.

Pivotal Player:
Stenstrom. He must make some plays early. He is not a physically gifted quarterback. He is smart, methodical and cerebral. He must get the ball to Rice. If the 49ers have any chance of winning, Stenstrom must play well.