GAME: Atlanta Falcons (9-6-1) at Green Bay Packers (12-4).
TIME: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Brett Favre doesn't really care that he was denied a fourth MVP award this week. His second Vince Lombardi trophy is another matter.
Favre and the Green Bay Packers begin their quest for a Super Bowl title as they host Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons in a first-round NFC playoff game at historic Lambeau Field.
The ballots for the MVP came back 19-15 in favor of Oakland's Rich Gannon over Favre on Wednesday, keeping the only three-time winner of the award from adding to his surefire Hall of Fame resume.
The 12-year veteran, who has won one Super Bowl and lost another during his 11 seasons with the Packers, was quick to shrug off any disappointment at not receiving the NFL's most prestigious individual honor.
``I mean, it wasn't upsetting. That's the way it goes,'' he said. ``Gannon was deserving of it. (Tennessee's Steve) McNair was deserving of it. If I'd have won it, fine, great. But it ain't the end of the world.''
Favre is much more interested in becoming the second Packers quarterback to win two Super Bowls, a feat Bart Starr accomplished during the game's first two years of existence. He's even gone as far as hinting that he might consider retirement if he wins another NFL title.
``The thing that sometimes gets overlooked is the team, and if we can somehow get to the Super Bowl and win it, that's what we're looking for,'' said Favre, who has not reached the league's title game since a 31-24 loss to Denver in 1997.
Favre led the Packers to the Super Bowl title in '96, throwing two touchdown passes and scoring on a 2-yard run in Green Bay's 35-21 triumph over New England.
``We have bigger fish to fry this week,'' Favre said. ``To win the MVP and lose this weekend, I can't see going home saying, 'At least I got the MVP.' I'd much rather win and go on.''
The Packers squandered a golden opportunity to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with Sunday's 42-17 loss to the New York Jets -- their worst defeat in the regular season since Favre arrived in Green Bay in 1992.
Considering Green Bay's perfect 11-0 postseason record at Lambeau, Favre and his teammates know they may have blown their best chance of reaching the Super Bowl.
But Green Bay coach Mike Sherman insists that the Packers will not let last week's performance hinder their effort Saturday.
``Things happen for a reason. Maybe it gives us a chip on our shoulder,'' Sherman said. ``Maybe it motivates us to greater heights. Maybe it brings us closer together because everyone is down on them.
``Now, would I rather have won the game? You'd better believe it. At the same time, I think ... it'll be a rallying force for our football team.''
Vick and the Falcons are also entering the playoffs off a loss. With a chance to win its way into the postseason, Atlanta was stopped at the goal line on four straight plays in the final moments of Sunday's 24-16 setback at Cleveland.
Fortunately for the Falcons, the New Orleans Saints lost their season finale to Carolina, allowing Atlanta to back into its first playoff appearance since losing the 1998 Super Bowl to Denver.
Now all the Falcons have to do is become the first visiting team ever to win a playoff game at Lambeau.
Atlanta coach Dan Reeves knows how difficult a task it will be.
He was a running back on the Dallas Cowboys' 1967 team which lost the legendary ``Ice Bowl'' NFL championship game in Green Bay. With this game to be played at night, conditions could be quite uncomfortable for the Falcons, who play their home games inside the Georgia Dome.
``I don't think you practice to get ready for that,'' Reeves said. ``First of all, I think the conditions like the Ice Bowl, I don't think they had any advantage over us. I don't think they were used to that. You can't try to get used to that kind of weather, it's ridiculous.''
Vick, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards while running for 776 during a breakout campaign in his second NFL season, likely gives the Falcons their best shot at overcoming Favre, the Packers and the ghosts of Lambeau.
``It still boils down to the players and they've got an outstanding quarterback,'' Reeves said. ``I think that's going to be really something for the fans to see -- two great quarterbacks.
``One that's been a great quarterback for a long time and a young one like Mike who's in to his first playoff game.''
FINAL STANDINGS: Falcons - 2nd place, NFC South. Packers - 1st place, NFC North.
FALCONS LEADERS: Offense - Vick, 2,936 passing yards, 16 passing TDs and 8 rushing TDs; Warrick Dunn, 927 yards rushing; Brian Finneran, 56 receptions, 838 receiving yards and 6 receiving TDs. Defense - Keith Brooking, 140 tackles; Patrick Kerney, 10 1/2 sacks; Keion Carpenter and Juran Bolden, 4 INTs.
PACKERS LEADERS: Offense - Favre, 3,658 passing yards and 27 passing TDs; Ahman Green, 1,240 rushing yards and 7 rushing TDs; Donald Driver, 70 receptions, 1,064 yards and 9 receiving TDs. Defense - Nate Wayne, 111 tackles; Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, 12 sacks; Darren Sharper, 7 INTs.
FALCONS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 148 yards per game (4th in NFL); Passing Offense - 197.9 ypg (23rd); Total Offense - 345.9 ypg (14th). Rushing Defense - 127.9 ypg (23rd); Passing Defense - 205.4 ypg (16th); Total Defense - 333.4 ypg (13th).
PACKERS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 120.8 ypg (12th); Passing Offense - 226.7 ypg (10th); Total Offense - 347.5 ypg (13th). Rushing Defense - 124.9 ypg (21st); Passing Defense - 186.7 ypg (3rd); Total Defense - 311.6 ypg (21st).
LAST MEETING: Sept. 8; Packers 37-34, OT. At Green Bay, Wis., Ryan Longwell made a 34-yard field goal with 5:15 left in overtime.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Falcons - FB Bob Christian will miss the playoffs after sustaining a concussion in a Dec. 22 victory over Detroit. The Falcons placed Christian on injured reserve Wednesday, and signed rookie DT Ryan Watson off the practice squad. ... Failing to get in the end zone during the waning moments of the Cleveland game was the latest episode in a disturbing trend for the Falcons. In its last 19 trips into the red zone, Atlanta has managed only five touchdowns and seven field goals. ``We're struggling right now,'' Vick said. ``We're not executing. I don't know what else to say.'' Packers - QB Favre may be without his favorite target Sunday as WR Driver sat out practice Tuesday, along with S Sharper. Both are listed as questionable with shoulder injuries. ... The Packers actually own a 13-0 home record in the playoffs, having beaten the New York Giants in the 1939 NFL title game at State Fair Park in Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Rams in a Western Conference playoff at Milwaukee County Stadium in 1967.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Falcons - 4-3-1 on the road; Packers - 8-0 at home.
INJURIES: Falcons - OUT: RB Christian (concussion); C Roberto Garza (knee); LB John Holecek (knee). QUESTIONABLE: WR Shawn Jefferson (hamstring). PROBABLE: CB Juran Bolden (calf); LB Chris Draft (back); DT Edward Jasper (back). Packers - QUESTIONABLE: WR Driver (shoulder); CB Tod McBride (groin); S Sharper (knee). PROBABLE: RB Antonio Carter (shoulder); QB Favre (ankle/knee); WR Robert Ferguson (back); RB Tony Fisher (neck); CB Erwin Swiney (quadricep).