- Final0MIN
GB7
97
9 - Final1KC
OAK20
920
9 - Final2CAR
ATL10
310
3 - Final3TEN
BUF30
2930
29 - Final4TB
CLE22
722
7 - Final5CHI
DET26
2126
21 - Final OTOT6WSH
STL31
3731
37 - Final7NO
NYG30
730
7 - Final8BAL
PIT31
731
7 - Final9NE
JAC24
2124
21 - Final10IND
HOU24
2724
27 - Final11ARI
SF26
2026
20 - Final12CIN
DEN23
2423
24 - Final13SD
SEA20
1720
17 - Final14PHI
DAL23
723
7 - Final15NYJ
MIA13
1013
10
Final
Coverage: NFL
8:00 PM ET, December 21, 2006
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- 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 • For more Elias Says, Click here. |
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.
Favre looked down the left sideline for rookie receiver Greg Jennings, but threw the ball directly into Smoot's hands as Jennings continued running down the field. Smoot tried to celebrate by doing a "Lambeau Leap" into the stands but was pushed back onto the field by fans.
"When Smoot took his TD back to score, I thought we had the game right there," Sharper said.
| Most Wins as a Starting QB | ||
|---|---|---|
| Seasons | Wins | |
| John Elway | 1983-98 | 148 |
| Dan Marino | 1983-99 | 147 |
| Brett Favre | 1991-06 | 146 |
Favre rallied the Packers for a potential go-ahead drive early in the fourth, but tight end Bubba Franks fumbled near the goal line -- the third time in the game the Packers drove deep into Vikings territory but came away empty-handed.
Favre drove the Packers right back into Vikings territory in the final three minutes with a 36-yard pass to wide receiver Ruvell Martin. The drive stalled on Packers penalties on back-to-back plays before Rayner delivered the winning kick."I just think it shows [Rayner's] resiliency," McCarthy said. "I had full confidence he would make that kick."
Favre finished the game 26-for-50 for 285 yards with the two interceptions. He didn't throw a touchdown for the second straight game, meaning he still needs eight more TD passes to break Dan Marino's career record of 420.
Favre won ugly for the second week in a row -- he threw three interceptions in a victory over Detroit on Sunday -- but he certainly outperformed Vikings rookie Tarvaris Jackson, who was making the first start of his career.
| Most Career TD Passes Against One Opponent | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dan Marino | Jets | 72 |
| Dan Marino | Colts | 54 |
| Brett Favre | Bears | 51 |
| Dan Marino | Bills | 50 |
| Brett Favre | Vikings | 49 |
| Brett Favre | Lions | 49 |
Childress said he would stick with Jackson, even though "the numbers aren't going to bear out that he did anything of merit."
Despite the Vikings' shoddy offensive performance, it seemed like Green Bay might make enough mistakes to lose.
"When you have as many opportunities as we did in the red zone and only come away with three points, it's only a matter of time that momentum may go against you," McCarthy said.
But Green Bay did win, and Favre could wind up playing for more than another week this season.
"I'm hoping that he comes back, but you never know," Packers' wide receiver Donald Driver said. "We're all going to sit back and wait."
Game notes
Mark Tauscher started at right tackle for Green Bay after missing five straight games with a groin injury. ... Driver briefly went to the locker room with a shoulder injury, but returned. ... Vikings punter Chris Kluwe sustained a hamstring injury.
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Team Stat Comparison
Minnesota | Green Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 3 | 19 |
3rd down efficiency | 2-14 | 7-19 |
4th down efficiency | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| Total Yards | 104 | 319 |
| Yards per play | 2.3 | 4.2 |
| Total Drives | 0 | 1 |
| Passing | 27 | 273 |
Comp-Att | 10-20 | 26-51 |
Yards per pass | 1.4 | 5.4 |
Interceptions thrown | 1 | 2 |
Sacks-Yards Lost | 3-23 | 1-12 |
| Rushing | 77 | 46 |
Rushing Attempts | 22 | 24 |
Yards per rush | 3.5 | 1.9 |
| Penalties | 10-68 | 4-35 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
Fumbles lost | 0 | 1 |
Interceptions thrown | 1 | 2 |
| Possession | 25:21 | 34:39 |
Scoring Summary
| FIRST QUARTER | MIN | GB | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | FG | 5:51 | Dave Rayner 38 Yd Drive: 9 plays, 44 yds, 3:42 | 0 | 3 |
| SECOND QUARTER | MIN | GB | |||
![]() | FG | 15:00 | Dave Rayner 44 Yd Drive: 5 plays, 19 yds, 1:14 | 0 | 6 |
| THIRD QUARTER | MIN | GB | |||
![]() | TD | 9:50 | Fred Smoot 47 Yd Interception Return (Ryan Longwell Kick) | 7 | 6 |
| FOURTH QUARTER | MIN | GB | |||
![]() | FG | 13:26 | Dave Rayner 44 Yd Drive: 7 plays, 41 yds, 3:13 | 7 | 9 |




