Pack Riddles Saints In 34-23 Win

The crowd from nearby Kiln, Miss., came to cheer Green Bay quarterback and hometown boy Brett Favre. They stayed to cheer for Reggie White.

The crowd appreciated the effort

of White, the Packers’ defensive end who shook off what appeared to be a season-ending injury to play, and Favre went on to guide the Packers to a 34-23 victory.

“Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!” the crowd chanted as White left the field.

As for Favre, at least 60 relatives and friends, plus about 3,000 members of his fan club from Southern Mississippi, where he played college ball, were on hand to watch Favre throw for 308 yards and four touchdowns as the Packers qualified for the NFL playoffs for a third straight year.

The victory also positioned the Packers (10-5) to clinch their first NFC Central championship since 1972.

White, the NFL’s career leader with 157 sacks, was expected to miss the rest of the year with an injured left hamstring. But he entered the game on the Packers’ third defensive play.

On Wednesday, the Packers said White would miss the final two games and the playoffs because of surgery scheduled for next week. But the following day, White returned to practice and showed he didn’t need the surgery after all.

Favre, who completed the first six passes he threw, advanced his claim for the NFL’s MVP award by completing 12 of 18 passes for 203 yards and four touchdowns in the first half.

It was the second time this season Favre, who grew up about 60 miles from New Orleans, passed for four touchdowns in a game. He completed 21 of 30 passes on the day.

“It was like playing at home,” Favre said.

Packers 34, Saints 23

Green Bay 14 14 6 0 - 34

New Orleans 7 7 0 9 - 23

First quarter

GB-Morgan 19 pass from Favre (Jacke kick), 4:02.

NO-Zellars 2 run (Brien kick), 7:43.

GB-R.Brooks 17 pass from Favre (Jacke kick), 8:46.

Second quarter

GB-R.Brooks 40 pass from Favre (Jacke kick), :06.

GB-Freeman 11 pass from Favre (Jacke kick), 10:46.

NO-Small 4 pass from Everett (Brien kick), 14:41.

Third quarter

GB-FG Jacke 47, 8:15.

GB-FG Jacke 20, 14:48.

Fourth quarter

NO-FG Brien 43, 4:56.

NO-Small 6 pass from Everett (pass failed), 15:00.

A-50,132.

GB NO First downs 22 26 Rushes-yards 30-103 19-55 Passing 294 349 Punt Returns 3-19 1-9 Kickoff Returns 4-82 7-194 Interceptions Ret. 1-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 21-30-0 29-45-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-14 2-15 Punts 2-45 4-44 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 7-59 8-85 Time of Possession 31:02 28:58

Individual statistics

RUSHINGGreen Bay, Bennett 26-80, Favre 1-15, Levens 2-5, Henderson 1-3. New Orleans, Bates 8-22, Zellars 6-15, Brown 3-10, Everett 1-7, Small 1-1.

PASSINGGreen Bay, Favre 21-30-0-308. New Orleans, Everett 29-45-1-364.

RECEIVINGGreen Bay, R.Brooks 5-118, Chmura 5-47, Bennett 3-70, Morgan 3-33, Freeman 3-24, Levens 1-9, Jackson 1-7. New Orleans, Early 8-117, Small 6-82, Walls 5-73, Deramus 4-56, Brown 4-20, Smith 1-11, Bates 1-5.

MISSED FIELD GOALSNew Orleans, Brien 44.