Opportunistic Packers Find Jets Missing a Lott : Interconference: Green Bay picks on backup safety Terrell in 17-10 victory.

The New York Jets finally hurt themselves with their bruising defense as the Green Bay Packers exploited the absence of injured safety Ronnie Lott.

Quarterback Brett Favre picked on Lott’s backup, Pat Terrell, for two touchdowns as the Packers defeated the Jets, 17-10, on a rainy Sunday, extending Green Bay’s winning streak at Lambeau Field to eight games.

Lott, who leads the Jets (5-5) with 79 tackles, didn’t play because of a pinched nerve in his shoulder suffered while making a tackle in last week’s 22-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills. That ended his string of 57 consecutive starts dating to Dec. 3, 1990.

“They weren’t picking on me,” Terrell insisted. “I thought I played well. I thought we played well.”

The Jets drove to the Green Bay nine with 1:04 to play, and on fourth and three, Rob Moore beat cornerback Doug Evans before slipping and watching Boomer Esiason’s pass skip off his outstretched left hand.

“We tried to pick on Evans at times,” Jet Coach Pete Carroll said. “But on that final play we didn’t get it done.”

Earlier in the fourth quarter, a 42-yard pass to Moore over Evans initially was signaled a touchdown before a second official overruled, saying he never had possession.

“It seemed to be more of an adventure than we’d like to have,” Packer Coach Mike Holmgren said.

The critical call helped the Packers (6-4) to their third consecutive victory.

Favre completed 20 of 28 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions, and led the Packers to victory despite the loss of fullback Edgar Bennett, their top rusher, and wideout Sterling Sharpe, their best receiver, both of whom left the game after suffering injuries.