Brett Favre orchestrated one of the most dramatic fourth-quarter comebacks of his career Friday, and he picked the perfect time to do it.
Favre led the Packers 76 yards on the game's final drive as Green Bay beat the Minnesota Vikings 34-31 on a game-ending field goal at the Metrodome. The Packers (9-6) clinched their third consecutive National Football Conference North title. Had the Vikings (8-7) won this meeting of rivals, they would have seized the division title.
PHOTO: AP
"Right now it ranks No. 1," Favre said of the 11-play drive that set up Ryan Longwell's winning 29-yard field goal. "I'm going to have to let it soak in."
Favre, who has led the Packers to 34 fourth-quarter comebacks, threw a fourth-quarter interception that Chris Claiborne returned 15 yards for a touchdown to put the Vikings ahead 31-24. But Favre guided the Packers 80 yards for a tying score.
"I'm at a loss of words, I really am," Favre said. "I'm proud of this team."
Favre avoided a blitz and connected with Javon Walker on a 31-yard pass with 25 seconds left to put the Packers in scoring position again. With three seconds left, Favre handed the game over to Longwell, who drilled a field goal to beat the Vikings for the second time this season and was mobbed by teammates.
"It's jubilation," Longwell said. "There's something to be said about when everything's on the line and your body can come through in that situation. It's something a lot of people on this planet will never get to feel."
Longwell kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired Nov. 14 against the Vikings in Green Bay. The Packers also won that game 34-31.
"I thought it was pretty weird that it was the same score, but there's nothing routine about kicking a field goal in this league," Longwell said.
The Vikings hoped the Packers would foul up the snap on the field-goal attempt.
Last week, a botched snap on an extra-point attempt by the Detroit Lions allowed the Vikings to escape with a victory.
"The snap had to be good, the hold had to be good and the kick had to be good," Packers Coach Mike Sherman said. "So it's a three-man team when we kick a field goal, but Ryan is Mr. Dependable."
The Packers began the season 1-4, and they entered this game having lost two of their past three games.
"That drive right there is sort of what our season's been all about," Favre said. "Ups and downs, but find a way to endure at the end."
The Vikings still have an excellent chance of landing a wild-card berth, even if they lose Jan. 2 at Washington. If either Carolina or St. Louis loses or ties one of its final two games, the Vikings are in. Minnesota has not been to the playoffs since 2000, when it last won the division.
"If our season was over, I think I'd be a little more upset, because I'd be going home without a chance of playing in the postseason," said Vikings receiver Nate Burleson, who scored on a 68-yard pass play in the 38-point second quarter. "But we still have a chance."
The Packers trailed 31-24 late in the fourth quarter. On fourth-and-goal from the 3, Sherman made his gutsiest call of the game and went for it. Favre delivered a bullet to Donald Driver, who made the catch while falling down.
Favre was 30 of 43 passing for 365 yards with three touchdowns and the interception. In the third quarter, he moved into third place on the NFL's career passing yardage list, overtaking Warren Moon. Favre finished the game with 49,538 yards.
Driver caught 11 passes for 162 yards. None was bigger than the fourth-down reception, when he ran a shallow slant. Walker finished with five catches for 90 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown reception.
"If you look at the throws I made, from my standpoint, it was more our receivers making plays," Favre said. "Javon, at the end of the game, made a tremendous play against the blitz."
The Packers were without wide receiver Robert Ferguson, who was unable to move his legs after being hit last Sunday against Jacksonville. Ferguson's uniform hung in the Packers' locker room for inspiration.
Favre is now 4-9 at the Metrodome, and during a wild second quarter the Packers played catch-up while trading scores with the Vikings.
Randy Moss put the Vikings ahead 7-0 with a 12-yard reception from Daunte Culpepper, who was 16 of 23 for 285 yards with three touchdown passes, all in the second quarter. Culpepper also hooked up with Burleson for a 68-yard touchdown, allowing him to surpass Moon's 10-year-old record for passing yards in a season; he has 4,418. Culpepper also broke Randall Cunningham's team record of 34 touchdown passes, set in 1998, with 37.
Moss was covered well by Al Harris much of the game and finished with two catches for 30 yards.
The Packers missed many tackles in the second quarter, but they firmed up their defense in second half. The Vikings' defense did not look much better in the second quarter. Green Bay's Bubba Franks caught a 22-yard touchdown pass, and Ahman Green scored on a 1-yard run on fourth down.
Green led the Packers with 64 yards rushing on 19 carries. Michael Bennett of the Vikings had his best game of the season, rushing 17 times for 92 yards and scoring on a 38-yard pass play.
The Vikings lost seven of their final 10 games last season. If they lose again next week, they will once again have closed out their season by going 3-7.
"We got a good enough team to win the whole thing," Culpepper said. "When everybody believes that on this team, that's when we're going to do it."
Over their last three games, the Kansas City (6-8) have scored 128 points and put together a season-high three-game winning streak while the Raiders have not won consecutive games since September.
Kansas City blew out the Broncos last week with running back Larry Johnson and quarterback Trent Green both playing strong games. The Raiders held on for a victory in a shootout with the Titans, thanks to the play of quarterback Kerry Collins, who tied a career high with five touchdown passes.
Today the Oakland Raiders (5-9) will have to give Collins time in the pocket against a Chiefs defense that sacked Jake Plummer six times last week. The Chiefs have looked strong on offense and ought to exploit a weak Oakland defense.
Denver (8-6) at Tennessee (4-10)
The Broncos have lost three of their last four and will try to get back on track against a Tennessee team that has been struggling with injuries all season.
The Broncos looked terrible against the Chiefs last week. The offensive line failed to protect quarterback Jake Plummer, and the defense allowed two touchdowns on the ground and three in the air. Over his last three games, Plummer has thrown eight interceptions and only one touchdown.
Tennessee's offense has put up some points over its last two games, but its defense remains its weakness. Last week quarterback Billy Volek completed 40 passes for 492 yards and four touchdowns, but the Titans' defense allowed 40 points to Oakland in the loss. It was the third consecutive game that Tennessee allowed 40 or more points.
This game means a lot more to Denver, who is tied for the last wild-card spot in the AFC, but the Broncos offense -- and Plummer in particular -- will have to play better.
San Diego (11-3) at
Indianapolis (11-3)
This game tomorrow features two of the league's highest-scoring offenses and will be for at least the third seeding in the AFC playoffs.
The Colts' Peyton Manning is one touchdown pass away from tying Dan Marino's record of 48 in a season. Manning will line up against a young secondary that may have problems with the Colts' numerous weapons at receiver.
The Chargers, who clinched the American Football Conference West title last week, have won eight games in a row and are enjoying a remarkable turnaround after going 4-12 last season. Drew Brees has thrown 24 touchdown passes with only six interceptions, and running back LaDanian Tomlinson leads the league with 16 rushing touchdowns.
The second-year tight end Antonio Gates, a basketball star at Kent State who did not play college football, is one touchdown catch away from owning the single-season record for touchdowns by a tight end. Brees will have to keep an eye on Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, who leads the NFL with 15 sacks.
The Colts, who have an outside shot at the conference's top seeding, are 6-1 at home, while two of the three Chargers losses have come on the road. The Patriots' loss on Monday night added some energy to this matchup; a first round bye could be up for grabs.
Baltimore (8-6) at
Pittsburgh (13-1)
With a victory against Baltimore, the Steelers can avenge their only loss of the season and clinch home-field advantage for the playoffs.
It was during that loss to the Ravens on Sept. 19 that Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox sustained an elbow injury that put the rookie Ben Roethlisberger into the starting lineup.
Roethlisberger and the Steelers have reeled off 12 straight victories since and are at the top of the AFC. Should they lose to the Ravens, the Steelers could still secure home-field advantage with a victory over Buffalo the following week.
The Steelers defense remains banged up as last week it allowed a sputtering Giants offense 30 points, but strong games from Roethlisberger and running back Jerome Bettis helped the Steelers get a victory.
The Steelers will find running on the Baltimore front seven to be a bigger challenge and the matchup between Roethlisberger and the Ravens' secondary could be pivotal. Last week the Ravens held the high-scoring Colts to 20 points -- their lowest total of the season -- in a 20-10 loss.
Baltimore badly needs a victory to keep its playoff hopes alive and if the Ravens offense can muster up enough points, they may be able to get it done.
Atlanta (11-3) at
New Orleans (6-8)
The Falcons have clinched their division and secured the second seeding in the NFC playoffs, while the Saints are still fighting for a playoff berth.
After losing three in a row, the Saints have won their last two, both on the road, and are tied with Carolina and St. Louis for the final wild-card spot.
New England (12-2)
at new york Jets (10-4)
The Jets can clinch a playoff berth if they can figure out a way to change their fortunes against New England. The Jets were swept by the Patriots last year and this season New England held on for a 13-7 victory over the Jets in Foxboro.
Although much of the attention this week has been on Jets quarterback Chad Pennington's squabbles with the news media, the Jets boast one of the league's top defenses and have allowed the fewest points in the AFC. Running back Curtis Martin leads the NFL with 1,511 yards.
Philadelphia (13-1) at
St. Louis (6-8)
Despite its record St. Louis is very much in the hunt for a playoff spot, while suddenly Philadelphia is without its most valuable offensive weapon through at least January.
Terrell Owens has already undergone surgery on his ankle and his absence leaves Philadelphia without a legitimate big-play threat at receiver. The Eagles have already locked up home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Giants (5-9) at Cincinnati (6-8)
This game features two quarterbacks who were selected first in the NFL draft -- the Bengals' Carson Palmer and the Giants' Eli Manning.
Palmer is expected to return from a knee injury that kept him out last week, while Manning is still looking for his first victory as a professional.
Houston (6-8) at Jacksonville (8-6)
Jacksonville is tied with for the final playoff spot with Buffalo, Denver and Baltimore and, with victories over Buffalo and Denver, the Jaguars seem to have their playoff destiny in their own hands.
Chicago (5-9) at Detroit (5-9)
The Lions lost last week after missing an extra point against the Vikings that would have sent the game into overtime, and the Bears were blown out by Houston.
Both of these teams are going nowhere.
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