Favre Is a Real Cool Customer

Brett Favre warmed up just in time.

Trailing late in the fourth quarter, Favre completed five passes on a 79-yard touchdown drive to help the Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings, 24-13, Sunday and stay alive in the race for the NFC Central championship.

Favre completed 18 of 29 passes for 169 yards, struggling to throw for much of a game that started in 19-degree cold, with a wind chill of 5. He improved to 30-0 at home in temperatures of 34 or below.

“I knew the conditions would be tough,” Favre said. “It was difficult to throw, but they pay me a lot of money to handle these conditions.”

Favre also threw a devastating block to clear the way for Donald Driver on a 31-yard touchdown run that gave the Packers a 7-3 lead in the second quarter.

Driver’s 31 yards equaled the game total of running back Ahman Green, who averaged only 1.9 yards in 16 carries.

The Packers’ victory prevented the Chicago Bears from wrapping up the NFC Central title. The Packers (11-4) can still win the division if they beat the New York Giants next Sunday and the Bears lose to Jacksonville.

Spergon Wynn, who had only one completion in the first half, gave Minnesota (5-10) a 13-10 lead in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard scoring pass to tight end Byron Chamberlain on third and 10.

“It kind of energized our team,” Chamberlain said. “But unfortunately they came back down and put it in the end zone. That’s what championship-caliber teams do. They answer a score with a score.”

Before that play, Wynn had only 16 yards passing. He finished 11 for 30 for 114 yards, with three interceptions. Randy Moss and Cris Carter combined for only three catches for 21 yards.

Favre threw for 72 yards on the 79-yard drive, which was capped by Green’s four-yard touchdown run that gave Green Bay a 17-13 lead with 6:28 remaining.

“That was probably our worst defensive series of the day,” Viking Coach Dennis Green said. “The guys played a little too soft, weren’t aggressive. But every pass Favre threw was on the money.”

Bill Schroeder had receptions of 12 and 14 yards and Antonio Freeman caught passes of seven and 19 yards. After a three-yard run by Green, tight end Bubba Franks pulled down a 20-yard pass inside the five-yard line, setting up the touchdown.

Favre said the only thing he changed on the drive was his luck.

“The one to Free, I thought I was throwing the ball out of bounds. It must have been a wonderful catch,” Favre said. “The one I threw to Bubba, they had a great pass rush. I was on my back and didn’t know he caught the ball.”

Mike McKenzie sealed the victory when he stepped in front of Carter and returned an interception 38 yards for his first career touchdown with 5:25 left.