- Final OTOT0PIT
CIN23
2623
26 - Final1SF
DAL21
2721
27 - Final2CHI
DET24
024
0 - Final3MIN
GB13
2413
24 - Final4CLE
TEN41
3841
38 - Final5IND
STL17
4217
42 - Final6ATL
MIA14
2114
21 - Final7BUF
NYJ14
914
9 - Final8ARI
CAR30
730
7 - Final9KC
JAC30
2630
26 - Final10NYG
PHI21
2421
24 - Final11OAK
DEN17
2317
23 - Final12SEA
SD25
2225
22 - Final13WSH
NO40
1040
10 - Final14BAL
TB10
2210
22
Final
Coverage: FOX
1:00 PM ET, December 30, 2001
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Brett Favre warmed up just in time.

Green Bay's Bubba Franks (88) and Corey Bradford (85) congratulate Donald Driver after scoring a TD on a 31-yard reverse.
I don't think so -- I don't think the Packers played very well at all. They were facing Spergon Wynn, the Vikings' third-team quarterback, and it looked like the Packers may have relaxed some. The D gave up some easy yards rushing. The Packers didn't come ready to play. They just played well enough to win. The Packers will have to play much better than this (on defense and offense) if they want to get very far in the playoffs. ESPN.com's Vinny Cerrato was director of player personnel for the Redskins and 49ers. |
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The Packers' victory prevented the Chicago Bears from wrapping up the NFC Central title. The Packers (11-4) can still win the division if they beat the New York Giants next week and the Bears lose to Jacksonville.
Spergon Wynn, who had just one completion in the first half, gave Minnesota a 13-10 lead in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard scoring pass to tight end Byron Chamberlain on third-and-10. "It kind of energized our team," Chamberlain said. "But unfortunately they came back down and put it in the end zone. That's what championship-caliber teams do. They answer a score with a score." Before that play, Wynn had just 16 yards passing. He finished 11-of-30 for 114 yards, with three interceptions. Favre threw for 72 yards on the 79-yard drive, which was capped by Green's 4-yard run to give Green Bay a 17-13 lead with 6:28 remaining. "I think they put together the best drive of the day," Vikings coach Dennis Green said. "They hit some passes and made a lot of plays and that's what Brett Favre does so extremely well. That was probably our worst defensive series of the day. The guys played a little too soft, weren't aggressive. But every pass Favre threw was on the money." Bill Schroeder had receptions of 12 and 14 yards and Antonio Freeman caught passes of 7 and 19 yards. After a 3-yard run by Green, tight end Bubba Franks pulled down a 20-yard pass inside the 5-yard line, setting up the touchdown. Favre said the only thing he changed on the drive was his luck. "The one to Free, I thought I was throwing the ball out of bounds. It must have been a wonderful catch," Favre said. "The one I threw to Bubba, they had a great pass rush. I was on my back and didn't know he caught the ball." Mike McKenzie sealed the victory when he stepped in front of Cris Carter and returned an interception 38 yards for his first career touchdown with 5:25 left. Both offenses struggled in the cold on a clear day with winds of 15 mph. Wynn's only completion in the first half was a 3-yarder to Randy Moss just before the two-minute warning. The Packers gained just 16 yards on their first four possessions before putting together a seven-play, 70-yard touchdown drive aided by three Minnesota penalties to take the 7-3 halftime lead. Driver scored on a 31-yard reverse after Favre leveled safety Orlando Thomas at the 25. "That's the only way I know how to play," Favre said. "Give it up for the team." The Vikings (5-10) made seven lineup changes, including four on defense, and they held Green to 31 yards rushing on 16 carries. Michael Bennett ran 25 times for 104 yards for Minnesota, which gained 199 yards on the ground. "Let them do that all they want," Packers safety Bhawoh Jue said. "Just keep Randy Moss out of the end zone. The more they run, the fewer times Moss gets his hands on the ball." The Vikings won the toss and started the game with 11 straight hand-offs, something that apparently didn't sit well with Moss, who said something on the sideline to Green, who brushed him off and turned away.Game notesMoss and Carter combined for three catches for 21 yards. ... Green's long gain was 6 yards. ... Vikings CB Dale Carter left in the first half after pulling a hamstring. Also, FB Jim Kleinsasser (ankle) and wide receiver Chris Walsh (groin) got hurt.



