Brett Favre threw an 82-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings on the first play from scrimmage in overtime on Monday to give the Green Bay Packers a 19-13 victory over Denver.
The 38-year-old quarterback, whose arm strength had been questioned, hurled a perfect pass down the left sideline to Jennings, who caught the ball past Broncos cornerback Dre Bly and raced the last 35 yards into the end zone.
"I saw he had a step on him when I threw the ball," Favre said. "When I saw he was open I really didn't want to miss. You don't get that opportunity very often. When I let the ball go I thought it was underthrown. I thought I was overly cautious with the throw, but it worked out."
PHOTO: AFP
The second-longest game-ending over-time throw was also the second-longest NFL completion of the season.
Together with a 79-yard touchdown pass to James Jones in the first quarter, Favre called them the best throws of his career.
"Right now it's top two," Favre said.
"Right now they were the two best throws I ever made in my life. That one [to Jennings] ranks right near the top," he said.
Favre, who made his 36th career victory rally in the fourth quarter or overtime, completed 21-of-27 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns in lifting the Packers to 6-1 and a game atop Detroit in the NFC North division.
"I feel like I was on some better teams, but I can't wait to see what this team does next," Favre said. "It's a lot of fun. Somehow this team continues to win. It sure has been a hell of a ride."
Favre has thrown 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions in seven games, but his game-winner was something special.
"We had run it in practice but it's the first time we used it in a game," Favre said. "It was just play action, roll and give a guy a chance. It looked like it was 80 yards in the air. Fortunately it fell in the right place."
Denver trailed 13-10 in the final seconds of regulation but drove down the field and had a chance at a winning touchdown before settling for Jason Elam's equalizing 21-yard field goal as time expired.
The Broncos fell to 3-4, one game behind AFC West co-leaders San Diego and Kansas City.
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