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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Metrodome roof collapse could boost Favre’s chances of playing

Snow collapsed the roof of the Metrodome on Sunday morning. (Associated Press)
Jon Krawczynski Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Brett Favre is getting help from the Minnesota Vikings medical staff, the athletic trainers and perhaps even the weather gods as he tries to keep his incredible consecutive starts record going.

The Vikings’ home game against the New York Giants was moved to tonight in Detroit after the Metrodome’s inflated roof collapsed in a snowstorm early Sunday morning. The delay has given Favre more time to heal his sprained right shoulder, with his NFL-record streak of 297 straight regular-season starts hanging in the balance.

“Joke goin round is Gods Tryin to preserve Bretts streak record,” Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian wrote on Twitter. “Lol!!”

Favre barely practiced all week. He’s listed as questionable.

Favre sent a text message to USA Today on Sunday saying he doubts he will be able to play “but it does buy a little time.”

Interim coach Leslie Frazier said the 41-year-old quarterback will still go through a pregame workout to determine if he’s able to play.

The game originally was scheduled for Sunday afternoon and already had been pushed back because of the storm that dumped 17 inches of snow on Minneapolis.

But Metrodome officials told the league the roof wouldn’t be ready in time to play today or Tuesday. The league also had discussions with New Orleans, St. Louis and Indianapolis and briefly considered the University of Minnesota’s outdoor stadium before deciding to hold the game at Ford Field at 4:20 p.m. Pacific time.

The NFL said Detroit was the best logistical fit given that Fox camera crews were already in town for the Lions’ game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

The Vikings are refunding the cost of the tickets for the game for any fans who can’t make it to Detroit. Those who do will be given priority seating along the 50-yard line and the Lions will distribute free general admission tickets this morning.

The game will only be broadcast in Minneapolis and New York markets on Fox affiliates and will also be available as part of DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket package.

The Vikings are scheduled to host the Chicago Bears for a Monday night game next week, and Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission chairman Roy Terwilliger said he’s optimistic the roof can be repaired in time.

It’s the fourth time in the building’s 29-year history that the roof has collapsed. The roof tore open, spilling tons of snow onto the field.