The Packers head to 3Com Park for the third straight season looking to regain their winning edge in this always-entertaining rivalry as these clubs battle for the seventh time (including postseason) in five years.

Including playoffs, this series is now tied (26-26-1) between these teams, which includes Green Bay's 3-1 postseason mark as these teams battled in the playoff for four consecutive years from 1995-98.

A year ago, these clubs met twice during the season for the second time in three years. In Week 9 at Lambeau Field, Packers QB Brett Favre would throw for 279 yards and three scores but was also picked off three times, but the Green Bay defense harassed 49ers QB Steve Young all afternoon, sacking him nine times as the Pack continued its recent dominance of this series with a resounding 36-22 victory.

Two months later in the 1998 NFC Wild Card Game at 3Com Park, a see-saw affair had the 49ers leading 23-20 in the fourth quarter until Favre led a march that concluded with a 15-yard TD pass to WR Antonio Freeman with only 1:56 to play to give Green Bay a 27-23 advantage, but Young retaliated with a 76-yard march and found WR Terrell Owens in a crowd down the middle with a 25-yard strike in the end zone with just 0:03 left on the clock as San Francisco snapped a frustrating five-game losing streak (including playoffs) to the Pack, 30-27.

Including playoffs, the Packers are 3-1 in their last 4 visits to 3Com Park dating back to 1989.

Numbers: In the last six games (including playoffs) between the Packers and 49ers (1995-98), the Packers have committed 10 turnovers and allowed just eight sacks, while the 49ers have committed 18 turnovers and allowed 20 sacks. Including playoffs, Packers QB Brett Favre is 5-1 vs. the 49ers, throwing for 1,566 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. After throwing 145 touchdown passes and just 56 interceptions in 64 games (1994-97), Favre has thrown 45 TD passes and 38 interceptions in his last 26 contests (1998-99). Since 1995 (84 games, including playoffs), Favre is 60-24, throwing for 146 touchdowns and just 46 interceptions in his 60 wins compared to 31 scores and 42 interceptions in 24 losses. Favre has thrown for 21,397 yards in those 84 games.

The Packers have scored 134 points in five wins, 58 points in five losses in '99. They have forced 15 turnovers in five wins, but have totaled just 11 takeaways in five losses in '99. The Packers have committed seven turnovers in five wins, 16 turnovers in five losses in '99. The Packers have forced two or more turnovers in five straight games. They have been limited to fewer than 100 yards rushing in 3 straight games.

In their last six games (0-6), the 49ers' offense has scored three touchdowns, while their defensive unit has scored four touchdowns. Dating back to 1997 (including playoffs), 49ers' offense has totaled 101 touchdowns and 50 field goals in 30 wins, 16 touchdowns and 26 field goals in 16 losses. The 49ers have committed two turnovers in three wins, 21 turnovers in seven losses in '99. The 49ers have been outscored a combined 79-6 in the third quarter in 10 games in '99. They have been limited to 16 or fewer points in four straight games, including seven or fewer points in three straight contests. The 49ers have allowed 140 or more yards rushing in four straight games.

Things to look for: Less than a calendar year ago, the Packers and 49ers were matched up in the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Now, there's a very good chance that neither club will be around for the postseason party. Still, Packers' QB Brett Favre comes off his best game in nearly two months and his receiving corps should have its way with a demoralized and undermanned San Francisco secondary.

Etc.: The 49ers are 3-7 for the first time since 1980, when they opened 3-8 and finished 6-10 under since-departed head coach Bill Walsh. They have lost six straight games for the first time since 1980, when they dropped 8 straight games.

The Packers are making their second of three Monday night appearances this season (0-1 in '99) and are just 14-16-1 lifetime on Monday Night Football, including 8-12 on the road. The 49ers are making their second of 3 Monday night appearances this season (1-0 in '99) and are 34-18 lifetime on Monday Night Football (24-7 on Monday night since 1988), including 19-8 at home.

The 49ers have won nine straight games on Monday Night Football dating back to 1996, by a combined score of 285-114, their last loss on Monday Night Football a 23-20 overtime loss in '96 at Lambeau Field to the Packers. Packers head coach Ray Rhodes is 0-7 lifetime on Monday Night Football dating back to 1995 (0-6 with Eagles from 1995-98, 0-1 with Packers in 1999) and has been outscored a combined 202-83 in those seven losses. 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci is 7-0 lifetime on Monday Night Football dating back to 1997 (all with 49ers) and has outscored the opposition a combined 231-90 in those 7 victories. The 49ers have lost 7-of-10 games in '99, five of those defeats by 18 or more points. From 1981-98 (including playoffs), a total of 313 games (280 regular season, 33 postseason), the 49ers lost just six games (4 regular season, 2 postseason) by 18 or more points. They have lost three straight home games. The 49ers have not been shutout in an NFL-record 348 consecutive games.

In 36 Monday night appearances, 49ers WR Jerry Rice has caught 201 passes for 3,171 yards and 30 touchdowns, plus rushed for two touchdowns. With his appearance in this game, Rice will tie Dan Marino (37) for most games played on Monday Night Football. Rice (17,962), already the NFL's all-time leader in receiving yardage, needs 38 yards to reach 18,000 receiving yards. Rice has caught at least one pass in an NFL-record 203 straight games.