By Arnie Stapleton
The Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Ryan Longwell has some nice memories of playing against the Philadelphia Eagles. Green Bay's kicker also has some bitter ones.

Just four times in quarterback Brett Favre's 198-game starting streak have the Packers failed to score a touchdown. Two of them have come against the Eagles, who visit Lambeau Field on Monday night in a matchup of teams on the surge after slow starts.

On Sept. 7, 1997, in the second game of his rookie season, Longwell slipped on wet turf at Veterans Stadium and shanked a chip shot as time expired in a 10-9 loss.

Redemption came in Green Bay on Sept. 17, 2000, when he hit a 38-yarder with three seconds left for a 6-3 win over Philadelphia. It was his first game-winning field goal in the NFL, college or high school, and it gave Mike Sherman his first victory as an NFL head coach.

"It was big because the Eagles, the second game of my career, was a hiccup," Longwell said.

Off to the best start of his seven-year career, Longwell is breathing a whole lot easier now. So are the Packers (4-4) and Eagles (5-3), both of whom have rebounded thanks to a quarterback playing through pain to mask an injury-depleted defense and provide hope for a strong second half.

Despite a sprained thumb, the Eagles' Donovan McNabb has overcome a poor start to post a 96.8 passer rating in wins over the Jets and Falcons the last two weeks.

Despite a broken thumb, Favre has had two spectacular games at St. Louis and Minnesota, where a victory last week rejuvenated the Packers and kept them in the NFC North race.

But they're concerned about Favre's thumb in the cold. The forecast calls for rain, wind and temperatures in the 30s, all of which could affect Favre's accuracy, if not his pain threshold.

That's where Longwell comes in.

He's made 11 straight field goals and all 27 of his extra points to start the season. Going back to last year, he's made 14 straight field goals, a personal best.

"There's nothing easy about kicking field goals in the NFL, especially when you kick them at Lambeau Field," he said. "But I am hitting the ball well. I take more pride in that than I do any streak."

He credits the 100 percent accuracy on 85 percent effort.

"It's the Payne Stewart swing versus the Tiger Woods swing," Longwell explained. "I don't swing that hard when I kick the ball. My leg will get it there at 80, 85 percent. It's all rhythm, and my rhythm is very accurate."

Longwell, whose father, Paul, is a former PGA golf pro, often likens kicking a football to hitting a golf ball.

"I could put a driver in your hands and if I could get you to swing the club at 80 percent, I guarantee you'll hit more fairways than you will swinging at 100 percent," he said.

"There's a reason Phil Mickelson can hit the ball a country mile, but can't hit the fairway, and Fred Funk may only hit it 270 yards, but he hits every fairway."

Longwell is three shy of Chris Jacke's team record of 17 consecutive field goals and also three shy of Jacke's team record of 173 career field goals.

With the Packers averaging 32 points over the last five games, much has been made of Favre's resurgence, the balanced offense, the superb line play and all the sure-handed receivers.

But wideout Robert Ferguson said Longwell is the overlooked link.

"Ah, man, that's like a bonus once we get to a certain point on the field," he said. "We're automatic with some points. That's inspiring for our offense and it gives confidence in the play-calling for the coaches."

PHILADELPHIA (5-3) At GREEN BAY (4-4)

9 p.m., ABC (Chs. 9, 2)

SERIES RECORD - Packers lead 22-9.

LAST MEETING - Packers beat Eagles 6-3 on Sept. 17, 2000.

LAST WEEK - Eagles beat Falcons 23-16. Packers beat Vikings 30-27.

EAGLES OFFENSE - OVERALL (28), RUSH (8), PASS (31)

EAGLES DEFENSE - OVERALL (16), RUSH (9), PASS (19)

PACKERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (3T), RUSH (3), PASS (14)

PACKERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (30), RUSH (18) PASS (22)

KEY MATCHUP - Eagles QB Donovan McNabb vs. Packers QB Brett Favre. Both have been bothered recently by injured thumbs, but have persevered and led their teams to wins. McNabb was 17-of-23 in win over Jets, then threw for season-high 312 yards last week against Falcons. Favre threw three TDs in win over Vikings last weekend and needs four TD passes to tie Dan Marino's NFL record of 10 straight seasons with at least 20 TD passes.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Eagles LB Nate Wayne started 40 games for Packers from 2000-02. He led Green Bay with career-high 132 tackles last season and is second on Eagles this year with 44. . . . Packers K Ryan Longwell has yet to miss a kick this season, going 11-for-11 on FGs and 27-for-27 on PATs. . . . Eagles have won 21 of their last 28 road games.

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