Former Packer Derrick Mayes has been Jon Kitna's go-to receiver.

Two weeks ago, the Packers really struggled against Denver. But last week against San Diego, it was clear the Packers wanted to get Brett Favre back in his groove. While the Broncos had hurried and harassed Favre, the Packers came out early against the Chargers with a lot of maximum protection, keeping seven guys into block. They gave Favre time to throw the football.

Early in the game, the Packers attacked with play-action down the field 40 to 50 yards. That loosened up the Chargers defense and gave time for Favre to throw the ball. Even it it wasn't vintage Favre, he was able to regain his rhythm and improve significantly over the Denver game. The Packers coaches clearly put him in a position to make plays by giving him the protection he needs.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, are a fun team to watch. The first thing you notice about them is how fast they are defensively. Sam Adams and Cortez Kennedy are big men who move well on the line of scrimmage. Michael Sinclair makes plays off the edges. The Seahawks have quick linebackers and defensive backs, and the entire unit swarms to the ball. Seattle should be competitive in every game because of its defense.

Against Buffalo, the Seahawks put tremendous pressure on Doug Flutie. They are relentless when they get into known situations defensively, getting ahead and then attacking the quarterback.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Running on empty: The Seahawks are the only team in the league that has yet to score a rushing touchdown. A very sweet home: The Packers have won 33 of their last 34 games at Lambeau Field. During that span, Ray Rhodes is 3-0, and Mike Holmgren is 30-1. It's been a long time: Seattle holds a .688 winning percentage (11-6) on Monday Night Football. That's the best winning percentage of any team that has made at least 10 appearances. However, the 'Hawks will be playing their first Monday night game since Nov. 30, 1992 - a string of 105 games.

On offense, Holmgren has done a terrific job with limited talent and speed. You can see the void Joey Galloway leaves in the Seattle offense. Derrick Mayes was an outstanding acquisition because he is a good possession receiver and route runner, and he understands the offense. He gives quarterback Jon Kitna a go-to guy. The Seahawks get receivers open more by design than natural ability.

Another offensive player who sticks out is Ahman Green. Ricky Watters is a pounder who will gain three or four yards, a tough, hard-nosed, north-south runner. Green, however, gives the Seahawks a burst. He appears to be out of Holmgren's doghouse after getting a few carries last week. We will see a lot more of Green in the Seattle offense because he gives them big-play ability and the speed they lack.

Here are the keys to Monday night's game for each team:

Seattle Seahawks
1. Control the clock: The Seahawks won't spread the field and attack. Although I think Kitna is having a tremendous year and is a perfect fit for the offense, they will try to run the ball and control time of possession. That's what Seattle does anyway, but it will be more important against the Packers. Green Bay has an ability to score quickly with Favre and Antonio Freeman, making it more important for the Seahawks to establish the run. They won't get the big running plays, but they will control the clock and methodically move the ball. Because the teams know each other so well, it will be interesting to see what Seattle does with formation variation and motion, but they should be basic and pound the football. The Packers defense, ranked 25th in the league, hasn't been consistent. The Seahawks will try to take advantage of the Green Bay defense by pounding the football.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seahawks QB Jon Kitna: The third-year pro leads the AFC with a 92.4 passer rating, and he has thrown just two interceptions in 1999. Seahawks WR Derrick Mayes: Seattle's leading receiver will be the second-most important former member of the Packers organization to return to Lambeau Field this week. Seahawks PR Charlie Rogers: The rookie leads the NFL in punt returns with a 20.0 average, which includes a 68-yard return and a 94-yard touchdown. Packers QB Brett Favre: The durable Favre will be making his 116th consecutive start, tying Ron Jaworski's NFL record. Favre has not missed a start since September 1992. Packers RB Dorsey Levens: Out of 124 carries by Green Bay running backs, Levens has 118 of them. Packers DE Vaughn Booker: Reggie White's replacement has three sacks in 1999, one short of his career high.

2. Pressure, pressure, pressure: The Seahawks need to get in Favre's face. Even when he won three straight MVPs, Favre has always had a tendency to break down when faced with quick pressure. The Seahawks defenders need to flash in front of him and make him move so he throws off balance. When Favre is off balance, he will be erratic. If he is given time in the pocket, he will tear them up.

3. Get the ball to Mayes: He is Seattle's new offensive catalyst. When Mayes is getting the ball, the Seahawks seem to be more efficient on offense. He has a good understanding of Holmgren's offensive design and where to go against certain coverages. When he is in the game, everything seems to flow from him.

Green Bay Packers
1. Improved offensive line play: When the Seattle defense has its motor running, they have the ability to be as good as anyone. If the Packers fall behind, the line will have trouble with the Seahawks' front seven. I don't think the Packers' offensive line -- in particular guard Marco Rivera and tackle Ross Verba -- is having a consistent season. They haven't been able to put the group of five guys together so they are playing as one. The Seahawks will try to exploit a suspect Packers line. The Seahawks pose a tough matchup for the Packers' offensive front.

2. Spread the field: When the Packers went with their play-action and threw downfield against San Diego, that was done to stretch the defense vertically -- and to great effect. When they spread the field sideline to sideline with their multiple formations, they did a good job of finding voids in the defense. As Favre gains confidence in his line and they show they can protect him, we will see the Packers running more formation variation and spreading the field.

3. Get a good pass rush: The Packers defense needs to cave in the pocket on Kitna. He has great awareness for a quarterback who has only started 13 games. He does a good job of moving around in the pocket as opposed to moving outside the pocket. It will be more important for the Green Bay defense to bring pressure up the middle, collapsing the pocket, than to rush hard from the outside. They need relentless pressure on Kitna.

Former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski appears each week on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown and Edge NFL Matchup. He breaks down the Monday Night Football matchup each week on ESPN.com.