Favre strong-arms critics again, sets record

By Jonathan Abrams

Oct. 1, 2007 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

Doubters insisted he ought to retire. Maybe to a golf course somewhere, rehabbing a body that has toiled through 17 NFL seasons.

On Sunday, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre answered the critics as he has throughout his career. He came out firing.

He eclipsed Dan Marino’s NFL record for touchdown passes in a career, zipping No. 421 to Greg Jennings in the first quarter of a 23-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

“It feels great, but I’ve never considered myself as good a quarterback as Dan Marino,” said Favre, 37, whose rejuvenated Packers are 4-0. “Dan was a hero of mine. To be mentioned in the same breath as Dan and other guys really makes it special.”

If ever a play deserved a Lambeau Leap, this was it. Instead, the Vikings served as hosts and Favre sprinted to the end zone to hoist Jennings on his shoulder.

He hugged his teammates, and Packers fans and Vikings fans finally had something to cheer for simultaneously.

For good measure, Favre threw another touchdown pass, to James Jones, in the fourth quarter. He completed 32 of 45 passes for 344 yards, the 50th time he has topped 300 yards in his career.

“I loved holding the touchdown record for the past 13 years,” Marino said. “But if someone was going to break it, I’m glad it was someone like [Favre], who has always competed at the highest level and always played to win.”

So is Bill Cowher half smiling today, or half scowling?

When the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach retired after last season, assistants Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm applied for the vacancy.

Instead it went to outsider Mike Tomlin.

So Whisenhunt became the Arizona Cardinals’ coach, taking Grimm with him as an assistant.

After the teams met Sunday and the Cardinals had won a 21-14 stunner, Whisenhunt acknowledged the game meant a little more than usual.

“It’s obviously a special win for me to beat the Steelers,” he said, “but I don’t have any animosity toward that football team. . . . The thing that I’m the proudest about is that our football team beat a good football team that nobody gave us a chance to do.”

The Cardinals are 2-2 with all four games having been decided by seven points or fewer. Rookie Steve Breaston returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Arizona’s defense shut down Pittsburgh’s high-scoring offense much of the day.

The Steelers (3-1) had scored 97 points in their first three games.

Revenge-seeking Daunte Culpepper guided the Oakland Raiders to their first road victory in two seasons, a 35-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Culpepper’s slow recovery from major knee surgery limited him to four games last season, his only one with the Dolphins, and afterward new Coach Cam Cameron quickly and publicly severed ties with him.

“The only thing I felt bad about is I didn’t have a chance to show the fans here me healthy as a Dolphin,” said Culpepper, who rushed for three touchdowns and threw for two more Sunday. “But now I had a chance to show them today, and I’m glad I was able to do that.”

The Raiders’ last road win was on Nov. 20, 2005, a 16-13 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Tom Brady versus Carson Palmer. Randy Moss versus Chad Johnson. The offensive stars will play under the lights in the Monday night matchup when the New England Patriots visit the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Patriots (3-0) look to continue their track-meet style offense. New England scored 38 points in each of its first three games. The Bengals (1-2) are scoring 31 points per game themselves. The problem? Their defense is coughing up 31.7 points per game.

All-Pro receiver Marvin Harrison left in the second quarter of Indianapolis’ victory over Denver because of a bruised left knee. Colts running back Joseph Abdai injured his shoulder, outside linebacker Rob Morris was carted off the field because of a sprained left knee late in the first half and safety Bob Sanders left in the second half with a wrist injury. . . . Broncos running back Travis Henry sprained an ankle and left the game midway through the third quarter and defensive tackle Marcus Thomas bruised his right knee. . . . Chicago Bears safety Kevin Payne (arm) and offensive tackle John Tait (ankle) were injured. . . . The Steelers lost safety Troy Polamalu (abdomen) and defensive Casey Hampton (hamstring) early in the third quarter. . . . Seattle Seahawks running back Alvin Pearman suffered a serious knee injury. The team will find out the extent of his injury today. . . . Carolina Panthers kick returner Nick Goings suffered a concussion in the second half and did not return. . . . Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Carnell Williams’ leg was bent awkwardly and he was carted off. He and left tackle Luke Petitgout (knee) will undergo tests today. . . . The Miami Dolphins lost linebacker Channing Crowder and defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday to ankle injuries in the first half. . . . Raiders running back LaMont Jordan hurt his back in the first half and didn’t return.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

In the zone

Brett Favre broke Dan Marino’s NFL career record for touchdown passes Sunday (x-active):

1. x-Brett Favre...422

2. Dan Marino...420

3. Fran Tarkenton...342

4. John Elway...300

5. Warren Moon...291

6. Johnny Unitas...290

7. x-Peyton Manning...283