Favre Runs for Winning Touchdown : NFC: Quarterback’s nine-yard scramble with 14 seconds left provides Packers with a 21-17 victory over Falcons.

Brett Favre scrambled for a nine-yard touchdown with 14 seconds and no timeouts left Sunday, giving the Green Bay Packers a 21-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

“I never thought I’d run it in,” said Favre, who got only his second rushing touchdown this season. “The end zone looked farther and farther away as I got closer to it.”

The Packers (8-7) can get into the playoffs with a victory next week at Tampa Bay and some help from other teams.

Atlanta (6-9), which was eliminated from playoff contention, took its first lead on backup quarterback Bobby Hebert’s five-yard touchdown toss to Terance Mathis with 5:33 left. His two-point conversion to Andre Rison made it 17-14.

Green Bay got the ball at its 33 with 1:58 remaining and Favre, who completed 29 of 44 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns, drove the Packers to the Atlanta nine with 21 seconds and no timeouts left.

With all his receivers covered on third and two, Favre scrambled right and appeared to be heading for the sideline so Chris Jacke, who had missed two field goals, a 51-yarder and a 37-yarder, would get a shot at a game-tying field goal.

But Favre turned upfield a couple of feet from the sideline and then dived in for the winning score. His teammates piled on top of him in the end zone.

“It was either get in or we may lose because I don’t know if we would’ve been able to get back to the line of scrimmage” to stop the clock and try for a field goal, Favre said.

Atlanta safety Kevin Ross said he couldn’t believe Favre went for the end zone and not the sideline.

“I thought they were going to try to tie the game,” he said. “We gave our playoff game away. We were in man-to-man defense and he broke our containment.”

With Atlanta trailing, 14-9, Hebert drove the Falcons 76 yards in 11 plays for the lead. All-Pro defensive end Reggie White sat out much of the series while taking a breather.

Hebert entered the game on the Falcons’ second series after linebacker Bryce Paup blindsided quarterback Jeff George, breaking the little finger on his left hand.

George, who was one for three for 15 yards, said he doubted he would play the season finale against Arizona.

Hebert completed 20 of 41 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

“Bobby came in and did a lot of good things,” Atlanta Coach June Jones said.

Packer fullback Edgar Bennett caught eight passes for 101 yards and rushed 13 times for 46 more.