Defense Paves Way for Packers’ 20-13 Victory : Interconference: Green Bay stops San Diego’s final two drives with interceptions to preserve the win.

Lost in the glare of the Brett Favre-to-Sterling Sharpe combination is the fact the Green Bay Packers have a pretty good defense.

Tony Bennett and Johnny Holland stopped fourth-down attempts by San Diego and Terrell Buckley and Mike Prior intercepted passes by Stan Humphries in the closing minutes to preserve a 20-13 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night.

With 4:42 remaining, Bryce Paup slowed Natrone Means and Holland held the back for no gain on fourth-and-one at the Green Bay 37.

Then the Chargers, who have scored only six touchdowns in seven home games, had the ball at the Green Bay 43 approaching the two-minute warning. Buckley intercepted a pass intended for Nate Lewis and returned it 31 yards to the Chargers’ 48.

San Diego got the ball back in the closing seconds, but Prior got Green Bay’s third interception of the night.

Humphries bruised his left knee in the second quarter and said the injury affected his performance.

“I didn’t throw the football like I’m capable. I didn’t have as much velocity or accuracy as I usually do,” he said.

Edgar Bennett and Darrell Thompson scored on short runs and Chris Jacke kicked two field goals as the Packers (8-5) remained in a tie with Detroit for the NFC Central lead. San Diego, the defending AFC West champion, fell to 6-7.

“We’re probably out of the playoffs,” Coach Bobby Ross said. “We’ve got to look to our true character just as we have all season. It’s been a struggle in a lot of different ways.”

The Chargers had to settle for field goals of 47 and 43 yards by John Carney in the first half.

Trailing 13-6, the Chargers went for it on fourth and four from the Green Bay 34 on the first drive of the second half. Bennett sacked Humphries for an 11-yard loss, giving the Packers the ball.

Green Bay converted three consecutive third-down situations, including a 14-yard pass from Favre to Sharpe on third and nine from the San Diego 19 that gave Sharpe his fourth 1,000-yard season in his six-year career. Thompson then scored on a five-yard run to make it 20-6.

Lewis returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the San Diego 49. A holding call and a sack wound up giving San Diego a third-and-32, but it got a huge break when Paup was whistled for roughing Humphries following a 15-yard pass to Shawn Jefferson. That gave the Chargers a first down at the Packers’ 25.

Four plays later, Humphries connected with Lewis on a fade pattern for a 10-yard touchdown that pulled the Chargers to 20-13.

Favre completed 13 of 23 passes for 146 yards. Sharpe caught seven passes for 65 yards, giving him 1,016 for the season.

Humphries completed 27 of a career-high 51 passes for 257 yards.