ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 27, 1996 TAG: 9611270052
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: GREEN BAY, WIS.
SOURCE: Associated Press
THE RETURN of former Virginia Tech standout Antonio Freeman is one reason Green Bay is feeling confident heading into December.
The Green Bay Packers have been playing some ugly football lately, yet their December is looking awfully delightful.
The Packers (9-3) maintained their edge over San Francisco for home field advantage throughout the playoffs with their comeback victory over St.Louis on Sunday that broke a two-game skid.
With three of their final four games at Lambeau Field, where they've won 13 in a row, the Packers could ease the sting of back-to-back losses at Kansas City and Dallas, where they were shorthanded by injuries.
``We're still where we want to be,'' coach Mike Holmgren said.
He meant tied with the 49ers for the best record in the NFC, but he could just as easily have been talking about Lambeau, where his teams have never lost a game in December or January.
Several factors favor Green Bay, not the least of which is the likely return of wide receiver Antonio Freeman, the former Virginia Tech star who broke his left arm Oct.27.
Freeman's expected to play Sunday against Chicago. He burned the Bears with seven catches for 146 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Green Bay's 37-6 shellacking of Chicago at Soldier Field in Week 6.
Defensive end Sean Jones also was held out Sunday so his sore ankle could get better for the stretch run. He is the only defensive starter to miss a start this season.
But the biggest reason things are looking up for Green Bay is the return of Freeman. He gives quarterback Brett Favre a deep threat that's been sorely missing. And that, in turn, opens up Favre's short-passing game.
``It's a whole different picture now,'' Freeman said. ``Now defenses have to account for everybody across the board.''
With Freeman settling things on offense, Andre Rison looking like a steal after being plucked off waivers and a dominating defense getting back to its thieving ways, the Packers are entering the final month of the season looking much like the steamroller they were in the first month.
And you know what else? The Packers can't wait to show opponents what Wisconsin winters are like over the final month of the regular season, and especially in the playoffs.
``We've been on the road now it seems forever. So, it's great to be back home,'' Holmgren said. ``We need our home fans. And the yellow towels and all, I love that stuff. We've been good in the last few years in December. And certainly this year is as important to be good as any year we've had.
``We've got to play well down the stretch, and that means our defense has to keep playing the way they're playing and create turnovers, and then our offense really, we've got to get in sync if we can, get our guys back healthy, start feeling good,'' Holmgren said.
Favre loves the cold weather - he's 14-0 at home when temperatures are below 35 degrees, and halfback Edgar Bennett fancies Lambeau's frozen ground.
``He likes the bad fields. There's no question. He was happy the other day when the snow started,'' offensive coordinator Sherm Lewis said. ``He just feels good about it. He thinks he can stand up and just balance and everything better than the people he's playing against.''
Holmgren was thrilled with Rison, who had five catches for 44 yards in his first game for the Packers.
Rison, whose reputation for running lazy routes and spouting off in the locker room got him released from two teams in five months, fit right in.
``That was the most comfortable I've felt in three years,'' Rison said.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Freemanby CNB