Published: November 01, 2009 11:28 pm      

Favre hears boos, quiets them with 4 TDs

GREEN BAY, Wis. — 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 on Sunday.

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.

Receiver Percy Harvin caught five passes for 84 yards and a touchdown and had five returns for 175 yards.

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.

Fans booed Favre loudly — first when he walked out of the tunnel for pregame warmups, then again when he ran out of the tunnel for the game, and on every snap during the Vikings’ first few offensive possessions.



Rams 17, Lions 10

DETROIT (AP) — As expected of two teams that combined for one win entering the day, the Rams and Lions played an awful football game. St. Louis, though, loved the outcome — for the first time all season.

Steven Jackson’s 25-yard touchdown run with 1:38 left snapped the Rams’17-game losing streak.

The Rams (1-7) avoided matching their worst start in franchise history. They also ended talk about joining Detroit (1-6) as the only teams in NFL history to have an 0-16 season.

St. Louis’ key score came on a trick play. It lined up to kick a field goal and had kicker Josh Brown throw a short pass to a wide-open Daniel Fells, whose 36-yard reception gave the Rams a 10-2 lead in the final minute of the first half.

St. Louis hadn’t won since beating Dallas on Oct. 19, 2008.



Titans 30, Jaguars 13

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans are no longer winless after a switch to Vince Young at quarterback.

He 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 Titans (1-6) won their first game of the season. Tampa Bay, which had a bye this week, remains the only winless team. Tennessee’s skid of eight straight went back to the end of last season.

Johnson helped Young by scoring on 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 10 times for 32 yards, not counting two final kneeldowns.

Jacksonville (3-4) has lost two of three. Maurice Jones-Drew provided the lone highlights, running for 177 yards and taking the NFL lead in touchdowns rushing with runs of 80 and 79 yards. But the Jaguars gave him only eight carries.



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.

His absence caused coach Andy Reid to add a new wrinkle to the offense: a fullback. Rarely asked to carry the ball under Reid, Leonard Weaver was an integral part early and helped catch the scuffling Giants by surprise when he ran 41 yards up the middle for a touchdown.

LeSean McCoy, Westbrook’s backup, joined in the fun on a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that made it 40-17.