Favre Still Has 49ers’ Number

Brett Favre fought through the biting winds and whipping rain one last time to shake Steve Mariucci’s hand in the middle of Candlestick Park.

“That one could have gone either way,” Favre told his former quarterback coach in Green Bay.

Yet, after a rain-soaked 20-14 victory over San Francisco, the Packers are 9-1 against the 49ers when Favre is their quarterback.

Favre completed 25 of 33 passes for 201 yards in a steady downpour -- and with memories of Terrell Owens’ famed 1999 game-winning catch reverberating in the stadium, the Green Bay defense stopped the last 49er drive at the Packer 11-yard line with 22 seconds left.

“I had confidence in our defense, but man, I was also pretty confident they could score,” said Favre.

Ahman Green ran for 90 yards and a touchdown, and Donald Driver caught a touchdown pass as the Packers (11-3) scored 17 points in the second half while holding San Francisco (9-5) scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay earned the home-field advantage in any playoff meeting between the teams.

After Ryan Longwell’s 28-yard field goal made it 20-14 with 4:41 left, Garcia drove the 49ers from their 26 to the 11 before throwing three incompletions.

“We didn’t need to come out here and win this game to prove that we’re a playoff team,” Garcia said. “It’s not like we got blown out of the water or anything. It came down to a few plays.”

Owens caught eight passes for 75 yards and a touchdown -- which he punctuated with a pompom-waving celebration -- but the 49er offense struggled, getting 263 yards.

“I think in my next life, I’m going to be cheerleader,” Owens said. “After I cross the end zone, I’m in my own little zone, my own little world.”

Mariucci said of Owens’ celebration: “I love seeing Terrell celebrating in the end zone. Nobody does it better.”