The Green Bay Packers try to keep their unbeaten streak going Sunday as they take on the Oakland Raiders.

The Packers have won 18 consecutive games after last week's roller-coaster 38-35 win at New York. Mike McCarthy's crew is just three wins away from tying the New England Patriots all-time consecutive streak of 21 straight wins in 2003-04.

"I'm not going to talk about 16-0 or anything," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said this week. "We've got the playoff spot, division, hopefully getting the first-round bye and then fortunate enough to be undefeated. I want to talk about something else."

Whether Rodgers likes it or not, that will be the focus of the ever growing number of national media types who are descending upon Green Bay until either the Packers lose, or until they finish the season 19-0.

The good news for Green Bay; cornerback Charles Woodson will return after suffering a concussion last week at New York. The bad news for the Packers; running back James Starks is unlikely to go because of a bad ankle.

The Green Bay offense has been making up for glaring weaknesses all season long on the other side of the ball. Wednesday, McCarthy admitted that things have to improve.

"The reality of our defense is that it's seven percent off of the production that we accomplished last year," McCarthy told reporters. "We're looking at five plays that we need to win as opposed to lose. Our guys are in tune with it, but the biggest emphasis as a football team is to focus on the basics."

Three key matchups:

Oakland RB Michael Bush vs. Green Bay's defensive line: Bush has been subbing for the injured Darren McFadden (foot) for the last five games and has done remarkably well up until the last two weeks. Prior to that, he had consecutive games of 157 and 109 yards rushing, respectively. The Packers have been a middle-of-the-pack (no pun intended) club at stopping the run all season long. Ironically, Green Bay RB Ryan Grant ran for a career high 156 yards the last time these two teams played in 2007. With Starks' injury, Grant will carry most of the load again.

Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers vs. Oakland cornerbacks Stanford Routt and Chimdi Chekwa: Simply put, Rodgers is having a historical season. The lone critic (Skip Bayless?) had to be silenced after last week's 80-yard, game-winning drive that took just 58 seconds because that is all Rodgers had. Routt has three interceptions this season; free safety Michael Huff has two. Statistically, Rodgers is coming off of his worst performance of the season a week ago. If that was his worst, the Raiders are in trouble.

Oakland DT Richard Seymour vs. Green Bay RG Josh Sitton: Sitton has struggled at times this season, as has the entire offensive line. Seymour has six sacks to his credit and could feast on a line that has been beset with injuries and ineffectiveness. It is never a good thing when your pass-happy quarterback is constantly being flushed out of the pocket and forced to run. That, however, is preferable to him getting hit with just four games left until the playoffs start.

NFL Team Ranks:

Total offense: Packers, 4 - Raiders, 12

Passing offense: Packers, 3 - Raiders, 16

Rushing offense: Packers, 29 - Raiders, 4

3rd down offense: Packers, 2 - Raiders, 22

Total points scored: Packers, 1 - Raiders, 15

Total defense: Packers, 31 - Raiders, 26

Passing defense: Packers, 31 - Raiders, 17

Rushing defense: Packers, 13 - Raiders, 28

3rd down defense: Packers, 29 - Raiders, 26

Total points allowed: Packers, 17 - Raiders, 27

Other key games around the NFL:

(9-3) Houston at (7-5) Cincinnati: The Houston Texans are snake bitten, but they still keep on winning. In the Dilfer-esque tradition of not apparently needing a quarterback to win, the Texans have turned to fifth-round draft choice T.J. Yates after both Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart were lost for the season due to injury. However, the Texans are third in the NFL in rushing offense and second in total defense and scoring defense. Cincinnati started the season 5-0, but has lost three out of their last four; although playing Baltimore and Pittsburgh will do that to a team. Prediction: Houston 24, Cincinnati 21

(9-3) New Orleans at (7-5) Tennessee: The Saints have been playing like the Super Bowl contenders most figured they would be as of late, having won four consecutive games, outscoring their opponents 133-80 in the process. Drew Brees would be having an MVP-caliber season any other year that some fellow named Rodgers wasn't intent on shattering record books, and Darren Sproles is closing in on 1,000 yards from scrimmage. The Saints shaky defense will need to contain Tennessee running back Chris Johnson, who seems to have regained his all-world form of the last two seasons. Prediction: New Orleans 42, Tennessee 35

(7-5) Chicago at (7-5) Denver: If Jay Cutler were healthy, this would have been one of the more interesting reunions of player and former city. As it stands, the reeling Bears come in to Denver with virtually no offense, mounting injuries, little confidence, and just one home game left. The Bears are clinging to life a berth in the NFC playoffs, but encounter a team that is playing on a higher level. It's as if the Broncos have had some mystical supreme being looking out for them over their last five games, all wins. Prediction: Denver 24, Chicago 6

Broadcast information:

Television: CBS-58, WDJT-TV: Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Phil Simms (analyst)

Local Radio: WTMJ – AM 620; Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and Larry McCarren (analyst)

For what it's worth:

The Packers can clinch a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs with a win over Oakland. The Raiders bay-mates, the San Francisco 49ers, are 10-2 and are the only team that could mathematically leapfrog Green Bay for the No. 1 overall seed, should the Packers win on Sunday.

Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements did not deny a report that he is a candidate to become the new head coach at Penn State. Clements only experience as a college coach was at Notre Dame from 1992-95, where he served as quarterbacks, wide receivers, and assistant head coach.

The first time the Packers played the Raiders was in Super Bowl II. Green Bay won 33-14 in what was Vince Lombardi's final game as Packers coach.

My prediction:

Green Bay 35, Oakland 22