The Packers' victory in San Francisco last season was one of five road wins in 2006.
As the Packers hit the road for the first time in 2007, they do so not only with a win under their belt and a five-game winning streak dating back to last December.
They also do so with a history of playing well on the road under Head Coach Mike McCarthy.
In his first season as head coach last year, McCarthy posted a 5-3 road record, the most road wins in franchise history by a coach in his first year.
McCarthy has joked that the cramped quarters of visiting locker rooms have brought his team closer together and contributed to their success on the road. While there may be a kernel of truth to that, McCarthy also has set up a road schedule for the players that fosters some team camaraderie.
On the Saturday before a road game, the team takes care of its meetings and walk-thrus at Lambeau Field prior to heading to the airport, and upon arriving in the visiting city, the players have a few hours to go out to dinner together before an evening team meeting at the hotel.
"I think it's a positive when guys go out to dinner together, because they're doing things together, and it's all part of building that chemistry," McCarthy said. "I think that may also help."
More than anything, though, winning on the road comes down to a team's focus in the opposing stadium, and the Packers' early success on the road under McCarthy is somewhat surprising in that respect because the team is one of the youngest in the league.
How much the veteran leadership sprinkled around the roster plays a role is difficult to say, but it likely will be needed this week. The Giants will be playing their home opener, a game fans are genuinely fired up about. Last year, the Packers didn't go on the road until Week 3 and were not another team's home opening opponent.
Injury update
The Packers have a total of 11 players listed on the week's first injury report. Of those 11, only defensive end Michael Montgomery (knee) has been ruled out of this week's game.
Defensive end Aaron Kampman (rib) and guard Jason Spitz (calf) did not participate in practice Wednesday, though both injuries are ones those players have dealt with in the past week. Kampman played with his sore side/oblique against the Eagles, while Spitz came out in the second half when he re-aggravated his strained calf.
If Spitz is unable to play this Sunday, third-year lineman Junius Coston would start in his place.
Safety Nick Collins also missed practice. McCarthy said it was for a "positive personal matter."
Running back Ryan Grant is still listed with a hamstring injury, though he fully participated in practice on Wednesday.
Six players were listed as limited participation - cornerback Al Harris (elbow), receivers Carlyle Holiday (knee) and Greg Jennings (hamstring), tackle Tony Moll (neck/stinger), running back Vernand Morency (knee) and safety Aaron Rouse (hamstring).
{sportsad300}Harris practiced with a brace on his right arm to keep it stabilized, but McCarthy said he probably wouldn't wear the brace in a game. Whether or not he would play with the same tight wrapping on his arm that was utilized against the Eagles would be determined later in the week.
Jennings, who didn't play against the Eagles, said he felt getting extra rest was good for his hamstring, and he's hoping that by getting adequate rest he'll prevent the injury from being the lingering type, like his ankle injury last year that bothered him much of the second half of the season.
Barnett faces charges
Linebacker Nick Barnett is expected to be charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct stemming from an altercation in an Appleton, Wis., bar in June.
Barnett said he plans to have his lawyers handle the legal matter so he can concentrate on keeping the Packers defense playing well. Barnett led the team with 14 tackles (11 solo) in the season-opening win over Philadelphia.
"I wouldn't do my family justice -- and when I talk about family, I'm saying this locker room -- if I was to sit and focus on something else other than football," Barnett said. "I have to sit here and focus on what's important, and that's playing football right now."
With the penalties being imposed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for off-the-field incidents, it's possible Barnett could face a suspension stemming from the charges, but the league has taken no action yet. McCarthy said if that were to occur, he would treat it the same as a player getting injured, and the team would forge ahead until that player is able to return.
"I really hate talking about it and taking attention from what we've been doing good as a football team," Barnett said. "I'm going to try to focus on football and try to keep this thing going in the right direction."
