An MVP Showing by Favre : Interconference: Green Bay quarterback talks a good game, then plays one in 24-10 victory over Cincinnati.

Brett Favre isn’t bashful when it comes to discussing his importance to the Green Bay Packers.

“When I play bad, more than likely we’ll lose. It’s fact. When I play well, more than likely we’ll win or we have a chance to win,” Favre said after throwing three touchdown passes in the Packers’ 24-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Favre retreated a bit in his MVP declarations during the week, but his performance offered some arguments for it. Earlier in the week, Favre suggested he was more valuable to the Packers than Troy Aikman or Steve Young are to their teams.

“Sure, I’m a confident guy and I expect to win and play well,” said Favre, who completed 31 of 43 passes for 339 yards.

It was his fifth 300-yard game this year and the 10th of his career. He has thrown 14 touchdown passes and only one interception while winning four games since spraining his left ankle Nov. 5 at Minnesota.

Favre’s outing put the Packers (9-4) alone in first place in the NFC Central in December for the first time since 1972, the last time they won the division.

Even though Coach Mike Holmgren asked Favre to tone down his self-promotion, Favre’s play has the rest of the NFL abuzz.

“They have a lot of good players, but Brett makes a hell of a lot of plays for them,” Cincinnati’s Jeff Blake said. “He made plays, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Said Bengal Coach Dave Shula: “They showed what they had shown all year, that right now, Brett Favre is probably the hottest quarterback and they are one of the hottest offenses in the league.”

The only blemish for Green Bay was defensive end Reggie White’s left hamstring strain with 6:43 left. He was helped off the field.

But White, who sprained his left knee a month ago and didn’t sit out any games, was again the last to leave Lambeau Field, limping off while twirling his baseball cap in tribute to fans who shouted “Reg-gie! Reg-gie!” as teammates gathered around him while he was down.

“I think he’ll be OK,” said Holmgren, who has watched White quickly recover from serious elbow and knee injuries the last two seasons.

The NFL career sacks leader had 1 1/2 sacks, giving him 12 1/2 this year and 157 1/2 for his career. Blake became his 59th victim.

Favre drove Green Bay to touchdowns on three of four possessions after the Bengals went ahead, 10-3, with a minute left in the first half.

Favre threw to Mark Ingram between three defenders for the tying score six seconds before halftime. Then he became the third-fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 100 career touchdown passes, throwing to Edgar Bennett for a 14-yard score and a 17-10 lead with 5:48 left in the third quarter.

Favre reached the mark in his 62nd game. The record of 44 games was set by Dan Marino from 1983-86. Baltimore’s Johnny Unitas did it in 53 games from 1956-60. The touchdown also made Favre only the seventh quarterback ever to pass for 30 or more touchdowns in two seasons. He had 33 last year.

Favre added an eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Chmura for a 24-10 lead with 14:12 remaining. Chmura had career bests with seven catches for 109 yards.

Bennett ran 23 times for 80 yards and caught seven passes for 50 yards.

Blake completed 19 of 35 passes for 202 yards.