Late FG lifts Pack
GREEN BAY, Wis. – It might have been Brett Favre’s final fling at Lambeau Field, and it wasn’t pretty.
But after nearly throwing the game away, Favre helped the Green Bay Packers pull out yet another come-from-behind victory.
Favre threw an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter, then rallied the Packers for a late field goal and a 9-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
Packers kicker Dave Rayner, who had missed two field goals earlier in the game, hit a 44-yarder with 1:34 remaining. “It was probably the most nervous I had ever been in my entire life, but it worked out,” Rayner said.
It was the 36th game-winning comeback for Favre, who has not yet announced whether he will play next season and did not speak with reporters following the game.
He held the ball aloft after the final gun, and hugged a couple of former teammates now with the Vikings, safety Darren Sharper and kicker Ryan Longwell. He also saluted his family in a Lambeau skybox, along with the fans surrounding the tunnel to the locker room.
Favre helped the Packers (7-8) keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
The Vikings (6-9) managed only three first downs all game, the lowest total in a game in team history.
But it didn’t seem to matter after cornerback Fred Smoot returned Favre’s pass 47 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter, giving Minnesota a 7-6 lead.
Favre looked down the left sideline for rookie receiver Greg Jennings, but threw the ball directly into Smoot’s hands as Jennings continued running down the field.
After throwing the interception to Smoot, Favre threw the interception to Sharper on the Packers’ next offensive play.
Favre drove the Packers right back into Vikings territory in the final three minutes with a 36-yard pass to wide receiver Ruvell Martin. The drive stalled on Packers penalties on back-to-back plays before Rayner delivered the winning kick.
Favre finished the game 26 for 50 for 285 yards with the two interceptions. He didn’t throw a touchdown for the second straight game, meaning he still needs eight more TD passes to break Dan Marino’s career record of 420.
Saban denies rumors
Nick Saban says he doesn’t browse the Internet, never sends e-mails or surfs from site to site.
He may have to start soon, if only to follow the persistent rumors about him and his future.
A story posted on NFL.com earlier this week said Alabama “keeps on making runs at Saban” in an effort to convince the Miami Dolphins coach to return to college and take over in Tuscaloosa for the fired Mike Shula. The same story even said an unnamed NFL head coach said Saban is getting closer to joining the Crimson Tide.
So on Thursday, Saban – who has tried to denounce the story about him potentially going to Alabama numerous times in recent weeks – again, and adamantly, denied that he’s headed back to the college ranks.
“I guess I have to say it,” Saban said. “I’m not going to be the Alabama coach.”
Palmer practices
Carson Palmer fully participated in the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice Thursday, saying his passing shoulder was fine. Palmer was listed as probable for the game Sunday in Denver.
Palmer was listed on the team’s injury report this week for the first time all season. He didn’t fully participate in practice Wednesday, resting a stiff right shoulder.