Throughout this season, Head Coach Mike McCarthy has talked about wanting to re-establish the home-field advantage at Lambeau Field after a .500 mark in '08, and the Packers have an opportunity to post their second-best record at home in seven seasons with a win on Sunday over Seattle.
Green Bay enters Sunday's contest with the Seahawks with a 5-2 record at home this season, with the only losses coming in Week 2 to Cincinnati and Week 8 against Minnesota. The Packers went 4-4 at Lambeau Field last season, including losses in two of their final three contests at home.
"We have a great home-field advantage," McCarthy said. "We got stung there early in the season with Cincinnati and then obviously Minnesota came in here and beat us. 6-2 is better than it has been last year, but it's something that we'll continue to emphasize.
"We're just so fortunate to have the unique home-field advantage that we do, and our fans are definitely there every week. I know they'll be there this week. 6-2 is the best we can do, so that's what we are focused on."
In 2006, McCarthy's first season, the Packers posted a 3-5 record at Lambeau Field, the second consecutive year that the team had a sub-.500 mark at home. Prior to 2005 (3-5), Green Bay hadn't had a record under .500 since a 2-6 mark in 1991 (three of those games were played in Milwaukee).
But that changed in McCarthy's second season, with the Packers losing just one home game in 2007 on its way to a 7-1 record. That was the best mark since a perfect 8-0 season in 2002. Green Bay's 16-7 mark (.696) at home since '07 ranks No. 8 in the league over that span.
"(6-2) is definitely progress, but we let two of them kind of get away," wide receiver Greg Jennings said. "You always want to be better at home than on the road. You want to be good on the road but you want to be great at home, so coming home everyone is playing uphill and we're playing down."
The Packers have also had success of late in home finales, winning all three during McCarthy's tenure and four straight overall. Prior to losing to Jacksonville on Dec. 19, 2004, in the Lambeau finale, the Packers hadn't lost a home finale since 1991, a string of 12 straight seasons.
If Green Bay can come away with a victory against the Seahawks, it would also continue its trend of late-season success at home. Since 2000, the Packers have a 19-4 mark (.826) at Lambeau Field in December/January. Only New England (19-3, .863) has a better record at home over that period.
"We don't want people to come in here and be excited to play at Lambeau," guard Daryn Colledge said. "We want the home-field advantage. I think the fans have been really good this year with it. They have been behind us, they've been loud, and we want to continue winning here so they continue getting louder."
Injury/participation update
Linebacker Jeremy Thompson will miss his fourth straight game due to a neck injury.
Cornerback Trevor Ford (knee) and nose tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring) are questionable for Sunday.
Pickett worked out last Sunday prior to the game in Pittsburgh, and McCarthy said he will probably do the same again this week before the team makes a determination on his availability. McCarthy said on Wednesday that Pickett, who played only five snaps in the game, took a "step backwards" in the Steelers contest.
McCarthy said Ford will also be a game-day decision.
Linebackers Nick Barnett (knee) and Brandon Chillar (back), safety Nick Collins (calf), defensive ends Cullen Jenkins (quad) and Johnny Jolly (knee), and cornerbacks Brandon Underwood (hip) and Charles Woodson (shoulder) are all probable.
For Seattle, linebacker Aaron Curry (shoulder) is doubtful. Wide receiver Nate Burleson (ankle), who leads the team with 812 receiving yards, is also doubtful.
Running back Julius Jones (rib) and wide receiver Ben Obomanu (hamstring) are questionable.
