Favre, Packers Win in Ugly Fashion
Green Bay 9, Minnesota 7
Friday, December 22, 2006; 1:38 AM
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It might have been Brett Favre's final fling at Lambeau Field, and it wasn't pretty. But after nearly throwing the game away, Favre helped the Green Bay Packers pull out yet another come-from-behind victory.
Favre threw an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter, then rallied the Packers for a late field goal and a 9-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
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Packers kicker Dave Rayner, who had missed two field goals earlier in the game, hit a 44-yarder with 1:34 remaining. "It was probably the most nervous I had ever been in my entire life, but it worked out," Rayner said.
It was the 36th game-winning comeback for Favre, who has not yet announced whether he will play next season and did not speak with reporters following the game.
He held the ball aloft after the final gun, and hugged a couple of former teammates now with the Vikings, safety Darren Sharper and kicker Ryan Longwell. He also saluted his family in a Lambeau skybox, along with the fans surrounding the tunnel to the locker room.
"I'm hoping he comes back and I get more opportunities (for interceptions)," said Sharper, who picked off Favre's next pass after the TD return. "Talking to him after the game, he looked like he didn't know either."
Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said he talked with the three-time MVP before the game _ and as far as McCarthy is concerned, Favre is still under contract. "We're going to take the time and talk about it after the season," he said.
For now, the quarterback helped the Packers (7-8) keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
"I'm trying to stay away from that 'p-word,'" McCarthy said.
The Vikings (6-9) managed only three first downs all game, the lowest total in a game in team history.
"You can't have 9 out of 13 series go three and out and beat anybody," Vikings coach Brad Childress said.
But it didn't seem to matter after cornerback Fred Smoot returned Favre's pass 47 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter, giving Minnesota a 7-6 lead.
