• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Packers seek 5-0 start against reeling Bears

Oct 7, 2007 - 10:31 AM Chicago (1-3) at Green Bay (4-0) Sunday 8:15 pm EDT

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- With their fans basking in the glow of Brett Favre's accomplishments, the Green Bay Packers now have a chance to accomplish something thay have not done since the days of Vince Lombardi.

The Packers seek their first 5-0 start in more than 40 years on Sunday when they host the Chicago Bears in an NFC North battle.

Green Bay has not opened a season with five straight victories since 1965, when the Lombardi-led Packers won the first of three straight NFL championships.

Green Bay also has a chance to all but bury one of their biggest rivals. A victory Sunday will give the Packers a four-game lead over the Bears.

But recent history shows that the Bears can recover from their slow start. They also opened 1-3 in 2005 and rebounded to finish 11-5.

Last week, Favre broke Dan Marino's NFL record of 420 touchdown passes as the Packers defeated another division foe, the Minnesota Vikings. The 23-16 victory gave Green Bay its first 4-0 start since 1998.

The 37-year-old Favre is playing like the Favre of 10 years ago, completing completed 32-of-45 passes for 344 yards against the Vikings. He threw two TDs, raising his career total to 422.

Favre has cut down on his interceptions, tossing only two in Green Bay's first four games. In the last two years, he threw 47, including a league-high 29 in 2005.

The real question for the Packers, however, is if they can continue to win without an effective running game. Green Bay ranks last in the NFL in rushing.

"Our run game at this point is non-existent," Favre admitted. "I don't think we can win consistently unless we get more balanced."

The reeling Bears will look to bounce back after surrendering an NFL-record 34 points in the fourth quarter of last week's 37-27 loss to the Detroit Lions. They led, 13-3, after the third quarter.

Brian Griese replaced Rex Grossman, who was benched, and completed 34-of-52 for 286 yards and two TDs. But Griese also threw three interceptions.

Chicago coach Lovie Smith gave no indication that he would go back to Grossman this weekend.