Packers down Vikes in possible Favre Lambeau send-off

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12/22/2006 - Green Bay, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In possibly his last game at Lambeau Field, Brett Favre threw for 285 yards on 26-of-50 passing with no touchdowns and two interceptions as the Green Bay Packers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 9-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Favre, who started his 236th straight game, became the first quarterback in NFL history with 5,000 completions on a fourth-quarter pass to Ahman Green.

Donald Driver caught nine passes for 99 yards and Ruvell Martin hauled in three passes for 69 yards for the Packers (7-8), who have won two straight games.

Tarvaris Jackson made his first NFL start and completed 10-of-20 passes for 50 yards with an interception, while Chester Taylor ran the ball 15 times for 49 yards and made three catches for 18 yards for the Vikings (6-9), who were eliminated from playoff contention.

Fred Smoot intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown for Minnesota, which set a franchise low with just three first downs in the contest.

The Vikings were just 2-of-14 on third downs, gained 104 yards of total offense and were penalized 10 times for 68 yards.

Favre came out passing on the Packers' first possession, including a pair of completions to Driver and a 19-yarder to Bubba Franks before a 38-yard field goal from Dave Rayner gave Green Bay a 3-0 lead.

After Minnesota's fifth three-and-out of the first half, the Packers got the ball at the Minnesota 45 with 1:14 left. Favre threw a 13-yard pass to Martin followed by a two-yard reception from Greg Jennings, and three plays later Rayner booted a 44-yarder as time expired for a 6-0 margin.

Despite the score, the Vikings' offense was overmatched in the first 30 minutes, making only one first down, compared to 14 for the Packers, and gained only 38 total yards of offense while not crossing midfield.

Minnesota finally started moving the ball on its first possession of the third quarter, converting its first third down attempt of the game and making it as far as the Green Bay 33, but Charles Woodson picked off Jackson to halt the drive.

With 5:10 left in the third quarter, the Vikings got on the board, but it came on the defensive side of the ball. Favre dropped back to pass, but with the blitz coming Jennings didn't run the hot route and Smoot was there to pick off the pass, which he ran back 47 yards for the score and a 7-6 lead.

On the Packers' next offensive play Favre grossly overthrew his receiver and was picked off by former Packer Darren Sharper at the Minnesota 29, but the Vikings' offense continued to struggle with another three-and-out, their seventh of the contest.

Green Bay was marching downfield for what seemed like the go-ahead score, but Franks caught a pass and ran down to the one before Napoleon Harris, who was just called for a roughing the passer penalty, knocked the ball loose and Antonio Whitfield came up with it with just over 8 1/2 minutes to play.

The Packers got the ball back with 4:47 remaining and on the second play of the drive Favre hit Martin with a 36-yard pass to the Minnesota 27 with under 3 1/2 minutes on the clock. Two plays later, on 3rd-and-17 at the Vikings 34, Favre threw a scree pass to Green, who ran 30 yards, but Franks was called for offensive holding.

The spot foul put the ball at the Vikings 27. After a one- yard run from Noah Herron, Rayner kicked a 44-yard field goal for a 9-7 advantage with 1:34 left.

Game Notes

Rayner missed a 38-yarder in the first quarter after losing his footing on the muddy, slick field, and missed a 34-yarder in the second when his kick hit the left upright...Favre set a career-high with 33 pass attempts in the first half...Jackson became the 201st quarterback to start a game since Favre's consecutive starts streak began in 1992...Favre recorded his 36th fourth- quarter comeback of his career. He is five interceptions shy of tying George Blanda (277) for the most all time. Favre is 82-27 at Lambeau Field, including 29-5 in December. He (146-90) is one win shy of John Elway (147-93) and two short of Marino (148-82-1) for the most on the all-time quarterback wins list...The Packers lead the all-time series is 46-45-1...Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman had three sacks, totaling 15 1/2 for the season...Since 1990 only 2-of-59 teams that have started 6-8 have made the playoffs.