Vikings win in Favre's return to Lambeau Field

11/2/2009
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quarterback Brett Favre raises his arms triumphantly after a touchdown in his first trip back to Lambeau Field as a Viking.
Quarterback Brett Favre raises his arms triumphantly after a touchdown in his first trip back to Lambeau Field as a Viking.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Brett Favre still knows how to win big games at Lambeau Field, even if this one came for the enemy and to a chorus of boos.

For the second time in less than a month, Brett Favre sliced up his former team and stuck it to the franchise that cast him aside as the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 38-26 at Lambeau Field yesterday.

If walking out to waves of loud jeers from his former fans threw Favre off his game, it didn't last long. Despite being jeered repeatedly by Packers fans who once cheered his every move, Favre completed 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns. The Vikings (7-1) took a firm hold on the NFC North standings.

The Vikings' defense roughed up Favre's successor, Aaron Rodgers, sacking him six times. But with the Packers (4-3) on the verge of getting routed, Rodgers rebounded with three second-half touchdowns.

Colts 18, 49ers 14

INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts won their 16th straight regular-season game, the equivalent of an undefeated season, and Jim Caldwell became the first rookie coach since the NFL merger to open his career with seven consecutive wins.

Peyton Manning topped 300 yards and got credit for another Colts rally, but it was Joseph Addai who won it. The fourth-year running back threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne early in the final quarter to give the Colts their only lead.

The Colts (7-0) are the last unbeaten team in the AFC for the fourth time in five years.

Ravens 30, Broncos 7

BALTIMORE - The Baltimore Ravens handed Denver its first loss by using the same blueprint the Broncos employed to win their first six games.

Rookie Lardarius Webb returned the second-half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, and the Ravens ended a three-game losing streak with a surprisingly easy victory.

It was Denver's first loss under rookie head coach Josh McDaniels. The Broncos (6-1) came in with the NFL's top-ranked defense, a plus-7 turnover differential and one of the league's best kick returners in Eddie Royal. Denver also had outscored the opposition 76-10 after halftime.

Eagles 40, Giants 17

PHILADELPHIA - Donovan McNabb threw three touchdown passes and DeSean Jackson had another big TD catch for the Eagles. The game was just the appetizer in a marathon day in the NY-Philadelphia rivalry. The Yankees and Phillies were set for the first pitch of Game 4 of the World Series across the street only hours after the Eagles' rout ended.

The Eagles (5-2) remained undefeated in the division and host Dallas next week. Philly dominated without running back Brian Westbrook (concussion).

New York (5-3) has lost three straight games. Eli Manning continuously threw high over his receivers or was the victim of bad route running and threw two interceptions.

Cowboys 38, Seahawks 17

ARLINGTON, Texas - Miles Austin caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game and Patrick Crayton returned a punt for a score for the second consecutive week, sending Dallas into a share of first place in the NFC East.

Tony Romo went a third game in a row without an interception. Since a herky-jerky first month, the Cowboys (5-2) have found quite a groove, winning three straight.

Romo threw for 256 yards, with touchdowns to Austin, Sam Hurd and Roy Williams. Marion Barber added a TD run and Crayton broke open the game with an 82-yard punt return, one week after a game-breaking 73-yarder. DeMarcus Ware had a sack for the third straight game, this one coming a few days after cashing a $20 million signing bonus as part of a $78 million, six-year contract extension.

chargers 24, raiders 16

SAN DIEGO - Some things never change in San Diego, such as the great weather and LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers beating the hapless Oakland Raiders.

Tomlinson scored twice, the first in the wildcat, and the Chargers won their 13th straight victory against the Raiders. It's the longest active NFL winning streak by one team over another.

The Chargers (4-3) have swept the series for the sixth straight season. Many Chargers, including quarterback Philip Rivers, have never lost to the Raiders (2-6).

Texans 31, Bills 10

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Ryan Moats, taking over after starter Steve Slaton lost yet another fumble, scored three touchdowns on consecutive fourth-quarter drives to help the Texans (5-3) win their third straight game for their best start in franchise history. Matt Schaub bounced back from two first-half interceptions to lead six scoring drives on seven possessions.

Moats finished with a career-high 23 carries for 126 yards in place of Slaton, who lost a fumble on the Texans' third possession when Paul Posluszny punched the ball out of his hand following a seven-yard reception. Slaton has fumbled seven times this season and lost five.

The Bills (3-5) were undone by an offense that managed 204 yards and nine first downs, with only three coming in the second half.

Titans 30, jaguars 13

NASHVILLE - Vince Young threw for a touchdown in his first start since the 2008 season opener, Chris Johnson set a franchise record by rushing for 228 yards, and the Tennessee Titans won their first game of the season by routing the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Titans (1-6) had been the only winless team left in the NFL along with Tampa Bay at kickoff, and their skid of eight straight went back to the end of last season.

Johnson helped Young as he scored on TD runs of 52 and 89 yards, and the Titans eased Young in with lots of short throws and runs to work off any rust. It worked as Young was 15 of 18 for 125 yards, and ran 12 times for 30 yards.

panthers 34, cardinals 21

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Carolina earned a measure of revenge in Arizona, even if the stakes weren't quite as high.

Jake Delhomme, whose downward spiral began with a playoff loss at home against Arizona last season, threw a 50-yard touchdown pass before leaving with a chest injury and Jonathan Stewart ran for two scores in Carolina's victory that dropped the Cardinals to 1-3 at home this season.

The Panthers, in a turnover-free performance, rolled up 270 yards on the ground against what had been the No. 1 rushing defense in the NFL.