The Packers have played some of their most memorable games in the last decade at the stadium Bay area fans like to call The Stick. Sunday's might not have lived up to some of those other contests, but it allowed the Pack to keep pace in the battle for home field advantage in the playoffs.

Philadelphia and Tampa Bay won earlier in the day to move to 11-3. So, the Packers knew if they had any chance of staying in the race for the all important home field rights they had to win.

After a boring first half, Brett Favre and the Pack stepped it up on offense to score 17 points in the second half. The defense came up with some big plays against perhaps the best receiver in the NFL in Terrell Owens to hold on to a 20-14 win, which also put the Pack at 11-3.

"This game should propel us through the last two games and into the playoffs," said Packers' safety Darren Sharper. "This should prove to us we can play in playoff caliber games and win them."

Sunday's game might not have matched a couple of the big playoff wins at the Stick, nor did it have the drama of the 1999 loss to the Niners. But, the game was a highly competitive contest in the second half and could end up very important if the Packers manage to slip past the Eagles and Bucs and play all their playoff games at Lambeau Field.

"I've played in a lot of big games, but that one was a good one," Favre said Sunday. "It could have gone either way. Both teams played well."

Coach Mike Sherman and his assistants obviously made several key adjustments at halftime, when the 49ers led 6-3. Favre, who had thrown mostly short passes in the drizzly weather in the first half, started going to medium range passes and hit Donald Driver, Terry Glenn and Tyrone Davis on some big plays early in the third quarter.

Once the 49ers' defense loosened up a little because of those pass plays, Ahman Green could become more effective running the ball. So, the Packers adjusted to pass the ball so they could run the ball, rather than the reverse strategy, which so often is used in football.

The Packers made some adjustments on defense, so they could start to put more pressure on the Niners' Jeff Garcia. They also did a good job of making sure Owens did not break numerous big plays. He did score on a 45-yard pass play, but otherwise gained relatively short yardage on his receptions (8 catches for 75 yards).

By no means should you get ready to spend all the month of January in long johns in Green Bay yet. Philadelphia and Tampa Bay still have the tiebreakers with the Packers.

But, the game in San Francisco was the toughest one left on the Packers' schedule. Now they just have to make sure they don't slip up at home against Buffalo next Sunday or in New York against the Jets on Dec. 29, and hope for some help from their friends who play the Eagles and Bucks.

"This was a big win for us," Green said Sunday. "We can't worry about what other teams are doing. We just have to take care of the Green Bay Packers' business."

Gilbert Brown didn't suit up for Sunday's game because of an injury, but still might have had a big play. Late in the game, with the 49ers driving for what could have been the winning touchdown, Garcia banged into Gilbert on the sidelines at the end of a play.

Even though Garcia was the guy wearing the pads, he went down hard while the 300-plus Gilbert stood his ground like the Alcatraz prison. Garcia dinged his ankle on the play, and at least according to the TV announcers didn't have the same mobility in the closing seconds.

Steve Mariucci, the 49ers' coach, former Packers' assistant and former Yooper, has caught some heat all season from fans for being too conservative on offense. He certainly could be questioned why he didn't go to the no huddle offense in the closing minutes.

The Niners started the game with a no huddle and ran it fairly effectively, yet when the game was on the line they stayed with the huddles, which ate up valuable time.

After a mediocre first half, Brett Favre completed 13 straight passes in the second half and finished with 25 for 33 for 201 yards.

Green finished with 90 yards rushing. On defense, Vonnie Holliday and Na'il Diggs had a big play, and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila kept the pressure on Garcia.

Also give a special mention to Racine native Kevin Barry, who played right tackle in place of the injured Earl Dotson and handled his Niners' opponents. Barry became the latest of several rookies who have stepped up big time.

Certainly, the last play of the game, on which Garcia threw a fourth down incompletion, has to get top mention. The secondary did a great job on Owens and the other SF receivers, and KGB put some pressure on Garcia.

"I had confidence in our defense, but, man, I was also pretty confident they could score there," Favre said.

Touchdowns by Green and Driver also were keys. An interception of a deflected pass by Holliday, who then lateraled to Diggs for a long return also was a big play.

Mariucci gets a set of horns for not putting a sense of urgency into the 49ers in the closing minutes. The no huddle would have bought the Niners at least 4-5 more plays. Packers' fans should be happy Mooch screwed up.

Buffalo, at 7-7, comes to Lambeau for what should be a sure win, but the Packers can't take either of their remaining opponents likely.