Brett Favre will be 36 in October, and although he hasn't said it yet, this could be his last season in the NFL.

If so, it may not be a pleasant ending. Favre is still one of the league's best and bravest quarterbacks. He completed 64.1 percent of his throws a year ago, has started in 225 straight games including playoffs and delivered 30 touchdown passes a year ago. But he also threw 17 interceptions plus four more in a playoff loss, so he's slipping a little.

Forced to do more than is wise at times, Favre can become stubborn and make mistakes. He's playing with a defense that isn't always stout and for a coach who isn't always under control on game day. That can be a recipe for disaster when the pressure is really on him. Adding to the difficulties this season is the free-agent loss of guards Mike Wahle, who was a key component in the Packers power running game, and Marco Rivera. They'll be replaced by oft-injured Adrian Klemm and Matt O'Dwyer, neither seems a step up. Klemm has been hurt every year he's been in the NFL and barely played in New England. Now he's being asked to replace Wahle at left guard, which is the key position in Green Bay's pulling runs. Good luck with that.

A year ago, Ahman Green rushed for over 1,000 yards for the fifth straight time, but Favre still threw for an average of 278.1 yards a game. How much will he have to do this year if the running game slips because of offensive line problems?

Defensively, new coordinator Jim Bates is installing the stack defense he learned from Jimmy Johnson, which favors small but quick defensive ends, big tackles, little blitzing and mobile linebackers. That's great except two of the linebackers he inherited, Na'il Diggs and Hannibal Navies, had 1 1/2 sacks and no interceptions, forced fumbles or fumble recoveries between them a year ago. That's why Navies is gone and young Raynoch Thompson was signed but he can't replace both of them.

One linebacker who does fit the Bates' scheme is Nick Barnett, who is fast and can make plays. Bates is the Packers third coordinator in three years, and he inherits a group that a year ago allowed opposing quarterbacks to post a 101.5 efficiency rating in 17 games, giving up 33 touchdown passes in the regular season and four more in a playoff loss to the Vikings. They also had only eight interceptions and lost both safeties including another playmaker in Darren Sharper so Bates will be looking for one thing more than anything else: replacement parts.

HOT SEAT: Mike Sherman. The lame-duck coach was in the last year of his contract before new GM Ted Thompson decided to grant him an extension. Sherman does have the same regular-season record as Bill Belichick the past five years, but you don't quite get the same feeling of self assurance when you're around him. Sherman was stripped of the GM title and powers after last season and told to focus on coaching. That's what he's doing, understanding that not even his three straight division titles are enough to change his status from uncertain at the moment. He's posted a 55-31 record but the Packers have been a playoff disappointment. He should feel safer with that extension in his pocket but not when he watches his team play defense.

OVERHEARD: For some reason it's not as fearsome coming into Lambeau Field anymore. Four years ago the Packers were 8-0 on the frozen tundra. Then they were 5-3. Last year they were 4-4. Worse, they've lost two of their last three home playoff games. What's going on here? Maybe the address was never as important as the players who played on it?

OUTLOOK: This may be Favre's last stand and Sherman's as well. That may be inspiration enough for everyone to stay focused on the task at hand, but the Lions and Bears are improved, the Vikings will be formidable even without Randy Moss and so a Packers team with questions on defense and an offensive line with two new faces that may prove to be downgrades could struggle this time out.

PREDICTION: Fourth.

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