Favre victorious in return to Lambeau Field

The Associated Press Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre (4) celebrates a Vikings touchdown during their game against Green Bay on Sunday in Green Bay, Wis. The Vikings won 38-26 in Favre’s return to Lambeau Field.

By COLIN FLY
Associated Press Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Brett Favre’s nerves were diminished playing against his former team this time. His resolve to beat the Packers again wasn’t.

“We played about as good as we could have played,” said Favre, who threw four TD passes to lead Minnesota to a 38-26 win over the Packers on Sunday.

Favre turned in another memorable performance at Lambeau Field – his first as a visitor – against the franchise he helped resurrect and restore to its Titletown moniker in the 1990s. He’s now thrown seven TDs and no interceptions in two wins against them this season.

Favre’s consistency has propelled the Vikings to a 7-1 mark, and at the season’s halfway point, Minnesota has a 2 ½-game advantage in the NFC North.

“We have had some tough tests, and we have responded very well,” said Favre, who finished 17 of 28 for 244 yards. “We are 7-1, and granted, that is very good, but we haven’t done anything yet.”

Favre’s TD binge tied Dan Marino for one of the few records the former Dolphins quarterback still holds with 21 career games of at least four TD tosses.

Just two years ago, Favre led Green Bay to a 7-1 start, too. But he failed to add to his only Super Bowl title in 1997 and the Packers lost in overtime in the NFC Championship to the New York Giants in what appeared to be his final game at Lambeau in January 2008.

He turned 40 last month but has flourished in his return to an offensive system he thrived in for 16 years with Green Bay.

“There is no such thing as too many good players or too many tools in the tool box,” said Vikings coach Brad Childress, who was criticized for his decision to bring Favre in. “I don’t know about vindication ... I didn’t bring him in to compete. That’s what he was going to do at Green Bay. He was going to come in and start, and rightfully so. He’s done a great job.”

Favre’s numbers don’t lie.

He now has 16 TD passes against just three interceptions, completing 67.9 percent of his throws. He’s on pace to have the fewest interceptions in his career. The all-time leader never threw fewer than 13 in his 16 years with the Packers.

The Vikings’ biggest offseason acquisition also got plenty of help from his crew – first-round pick Percy Harvin had 84 yards receiving and a touchdown on five catches and added 175 return yards.

“The big thing is just hitting the hole and not do a whole lot of dancing,” said Harvin, who had a 51-yard TD reception and a 77-yard kick return to keep giving Minnesota a short field to work with. “I just tell them – give me a hole and I’m going to hit it 100 miles per hour.”

Adrian Peterson added several big hits, too, bowling over Packers defenders and contributing 97 yards rushing and a touchdown. But the focus – and circus – was centered squarely on No. 4.

A camera followed him the entire game that fans could watch on a Webcast. A huge crowd of journalists crowded him on the field just after time expired and fans showed their support, or disgust, with his decision to don Vikings purple.

“Hey Favre Halloween is over! Take off that silly purple costume,” read one sign held by a man in an Aaron Rodgers’ jersey.

But Rodgers, Favre’s replacement, could do little to stop the tide despite rallying the Packers with 17 straight points to close the deficit to 24-20 in the second half and later 31-26. Rodgers threw for 287 yards and three TD passes himself, but Green Bay again failed to protect their new franchise quarterback.

Rodgers was sacked six times in the rematch after taking eight sacks in Minnesota’s 30-23 win on Oct. 5. Jared Allen tormented Rodgers again with three more sacks. The defensive end has all but three of his 10 ½ sacks this season against Green Bay.

“It’s tough to take that many shots,” Rodgers said.

While Rodgers danced and darted to try to buy time, his counterpart was given plenty of time to look downfield.

Just how good was Favre?

He silenced a record regular-season crowd of 71,213 that primarily booed him throughout, distributed 17 receptions to seven different receivers and was not sacked. Favre even bent over to make sure Greg Jennings wasn’t seriously hurt after the Packers wide receiver was slow to get up after a play late in the fourth quarter near the Vikings’ sideline.

Favre’s presence now has the Vikings on the path to a special season.

“We’re exactly where we want to be,” Allen said. “This is a team that continues to learn from our victories and from our losses.”

Or loss.

“It’s been amazing,” Peterson said. “Going into the bye, we’re in a comfortable position. We get time to relax now with our families, come back for the second half and continue it.”