Monday Night a Crucial Game for Both Teams

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) _ The Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans insist Monday night's matchup between desperate, disappointing 1-3 teams has lost none of its luster. <br/><br/>It's certainly

Sunday, October 10th 2004, 3:48 pm

By: News On 6

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) _ The Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans insist Monday night's matchup between desperate, disappointing 1-3 teams has lost none of its luster.

It's certainly increased in importance for two teams who had visions of competing for a championship and who are unaccustomed to facing also-ran status just as the leaves are beginning to fall.

``It makes for a good game, that's what it makes for,'' Titans receiver Derrick Mason said. ``Two teams that should be 3-1 instead of 1-3. Two teams at the beginning of the season people were saying these are Super Bowl contending teams. Not to say we aren't now because we still have a long season.''

It could be a very long season for either or both, regardless of what happens Monday night.

But the winner will at least have put a halt to a three-game losing streak.

The Titans and Packers haven't won since opening weekend because they can't stop the run or move the ball. Their notoriously tough-man quarterbacks are banged up and several key starters are on the sidelines.

Steve McNair is expected to return Monday night after missing Tennessee's last game with a bruised chest. Brett Favre will extend his NFL record streak with his 213th straight start, counting playoffs, even though he was knocked out of his second straight game last week, this time with a mild concussion.

Favre also skipped practice Saturday to attend the funeral of his 24-year-old brother-in-law, who died in an ATV accident on the Favre family home in Mississippi.

Favre has a long history of playing well through adverse times _ he threw for nearly 400 yards and four TDs in a crucial win at Oakland last year a day after his father died _ and is 7-2 in games following serious injuries in his career.

Doubts about salvaging the season will loom larger for whichever team leaves Lambeau Field 1-4.

``You never like to say 'must win,''' Titans cornerback Andre Dyson said. ``The only thing we can think about is getting to 2-3.''

Packers guard Mike Wahle suggested there was a world of distinction between 2-3 and 1-4, because ``every time you lose, you dig yourself farther into a hole and eventually you're not going to be able to get yourself out of it.''

The Titans have this to fall back on: They recovered from just such a start two years ago to go 11-5 and reach the AFC championship game. But it's not anything they want to go through ever again.

The Packers haven't gone 1-4 since Lindy Infante's last team finished 4-12 in 1991, the year before Brett Favre arrived and the Packers started a string of 12 straight winning seasons.

``Who would have thought that both of these teams would be in identical situations?'' Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. ``I'm sure Coach (Mike) Sherman is saying the same thing I'm saying to our club and that's to let go of the past and see this as a great opportunity to go on.''

The Titans are missing three injured linebackers, including Rocky Calmus (back) in the middle, as well as strong safety Lance Schulters. Top tight end Erron Kinney (calf) is out, left guard Zach Piller was lost for the season in the opener, and two of Tennessee's top four receivers have played a combined two games.

The Packers have two huge holes on both lines: 350-pound nose tackle Grady Jackson (knee), who was lost in the opener, and Pro Bowl center Mike Flanagan, who underwent season-ending knee surgery last week.

The Packers tried to plug the hole on defense by re-signing Larry Smith last week so they could move Cletidus Hunt back to defensive tackle. Center Grey Ruegamer needs to rebound from his painful debut as Flanagan's fill-in last week, when he killed a drive with two penalties, ran the wrong way on a running play and whiffed on the defender who dumped Favre on his head.

``I'm going to have to be fighting uphill for a long time to gain anybody's respect,'' Ruegamer said.

Like the Titans, the Packers just hope they're not facing an uphill climb _ from 1-4.