Tulsa World: Around The NFL: Brett brilliant

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Around The NFL: Brett brilliant

Brett Favre (4) and Aaron Rodgers both played well Sunday, but Favre left a winner as Minnesota held off Green Bay. The quarterbacks combined for seven touchdown passes. MIKE ROEMER / Associated Press

By Associated Press
Published: 11/2/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 11/2/2009 7:12 AM

The scene was unthinkable for 16 years: Brett Favre wearing someone else's jersey at Lambeau Field, hearing boos and jeers.

As in any messy split, the deeper the love, the worse it hurts.

"I had mixed emotions coming in, because I know how special these fans are," Favre said Sunday night after beating the Packers 38-26 in his first game in Green Bay since signing with those hated Minnesota Vikings. "I want to lead this Vikings team to a Super Bowl, believe me, I do. And I will do everything in my power.

"But I also know the Packer fans are what makes this organization so special, unique, and that will never change. How could you not miss that?"

Favre was a rude guest in his return to Wisconsin, throwing for four touchdown passes as Minnesota improved to 7-1 with its second win over Green Bay this season.

If the fans miss Favre, they didn't show it.

"It's like going into church on Sunday and the priest says, 'Everybody go home, Jesus has now sided with the devil,'" said Tom Fields, whose Favre jersey now has "JUDAS" on the back and big red slashes through the 4s.

The Favre circus overshadowed an outstanding effort by his replacement in Green Bay.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hit more than a dozen times and sacked on six other occasions but still threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

He also rushed for 52 yards and rallied the Packers back from a 24-3 deficit.

"I'll be OK in a couple of days," Rodgers said of the beating he took. "This one will hurt for a couple of days, though, physically and mentally. I hate to losing to whoever's at quarterback for them. I hate losing to the Vikings."

A running exhibition

It's not every day a running back goes for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns, yet isn't the star of the game.

Maurice Jones-Drew had just eight carries but rushed for 177 yards, including touchdown runs of 80 and 79 yards, for Jacksonville.

But Tennessee's Chris Johnson was just a little better, racking up 228 yards and a pair of scores as the Titans snapped their six-game losing streak to start the season.

Johnson's touchdown runs covered 52 and 89 yards.

The game also marked Vince Young's first start of the season. The former Texas star was 15 of 18 for 125 yards and a touchdown, and added 30 yards rushing. He did not commit a turnover.

"I said all along he stayed focused," said Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher. "He's been preparing himself. This game, he had fun tonight, and it was good to see."

Quarterback stars

Peyton Manning, Colts: Was 31 of 48 for 347 yards in Indianapolis' 18-14 win over San Francisco.

Tony Romo, Cowboys: Finished 21 for 36 for 256 yards and three touchdowns in Dallas' 38-17 win over Seattle.

Donovan McNabb, Eagles: Finished 17 for 23 for 240 yards and three touchdowns in Philadelphia's 40-17 win over New York Giants.

Running back stars

DeAngelo Williams, Panthers: Finished with 23 carries and 158 yards in Carolina's 34-21 win over Arizona.

Steven Jackson, Rams: Had 22 carries for a season-high 149 yards and a touchdown, St. Louis' first rushing score of the season, in the Rams' 17-10 win over Detroit.

Ryan Moats, Texans: Had 23 carries for 126 yards and three touchdowns in Houston's 31-10 win over Buffalo.

Receiving stars

Reggie Wayne, Colts: Had 12 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown in Indianapolis' 18-14 win over San Francisco.

Vincent Jackson, Chargers: Finished with eight receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown in San Diego's 24-16 win over Oakland.

Dallas Clark, Colts: Had eight receptions for 99 yards in Indianapolis' 18-14 win over San Francisco.

Defense/Special teams stars

Ted Ginn Jr., Dolphins: Ran back kickoffs 100 and 101 yards for touchdowns in Miami's 30-25 win over the New York Jets.

Jairus Byrd, Bills: Had two interceptions in Buffalo's 31-10 loss to Houston. Byrd became the first player since San Francisco's Dave Baker in 1960 to have two or more interceptions in three straight games.

Percy Harvin, Vikings: Had 175 yards on five returns in Minnesota's 38-26 win over Green Bay.

What they're writing

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Randy Galloway on Miles Austin: "What's this, another Miles-stone in the suddenly booming career of Mr. Austin. On Sunday, it appeared Magical Miles had advanced to that next level, the one where all NFL receivers dream to reach.

"Star treatment? Yellow hankies hit green plastic on two separate possessions at the Big Yard in Arlington as defenders were whistled for committing pass interference on Miles. Both came on third downs. Both led to touchdowns. Add another touchdown for Austin and he was directly involved in three TDs as the Dallas Cowboys, on their seventh Sunday of the season, rested their case."

Newsday's Bob Glauber on the Giants blowout loss to Philadelphia: "Ticked off about this one, Giants fans? You should be. Go ahead. Let 'em have it. They stunk.

"Two more interceptions and a 55.7 rating for Eli Manning. Awful. Inept special teams all the way around. Inexcusable. But if you're going to save your venom for anything, save it for the defense. It was not just bad, it was abominable. It was as bad as it was against New Orleans two weeks ago."

Streaks

The Colts have won 16 straight regular-season games. Indy extended its franchise record and became the eighth team in league history with 16 straight wins. The Colts are now the last undefeated team in the AFC again, the fourth time in five years. ... The Chargers beat the Raiders for the 13th straight time. It's the longest active NFL winning streak by one team over another. ... The Ravens' Joe Flacco has thrown a TD pass in seven straight games.

Milestones

The Colts' Jim Caldwell became the first rookie coach since the 1970 merger to win his first seven NFL games. ... DeSean Jackson tied Timmy Brown (1962) for the team single-season record of most TDs of 50-plus yards with six. ... Sunday's crowd for the Vikings-Packers game was 71,213, the largest regular-season crowd in Lambeau Field history.

Stats and such

The Rams snapped their 17-game losing streak with a 17-10 win over the Lions. ... The Lions have won just two of their past 31 games since the midway point of 2007. ... The Colts' Peyton Manning failed to throw a TD pass for the first time since Nov. 30, 2008. ... The New York Giants (5-3) have lost three straight games after starting the season 5-0 for the first time since 1990.

Speaking

"When you have two teams that really hate each other, that's going to be your best football. I wish you could hate every team like you hate your rivals. They brought out our best football." — Miami linebacker Joey Porter on facing the Jets.The Patriots' 59-0 rout of Tennessee on Sunday ranked among the worst in league history. It was the largest margin of victory since Los Angeles crushed Atlanta by the same score during the 1976 season.

Somebody had to win

Tampa Bay is now the frontrunner for the No. 1 pick of the 2010 NFL draft, thanks to St. Louis’ showdown against the NFL’s poster child for ineptitude, the Detroit Lions. Oshiomogho Atowgwe (left) and the Rams entered Sunday’s game at Detroit with a 0-7 record and 17-game losing streak dating back to last year.

But with a little help from Josh Brown, who played at Foyil High, St. Louis edged Detroit 17-10.

Brown threw a 36-yard TD pass to Daniel Fells on a fake field goal late in the second quarter.

Another unbeaten falls

That’s rookie Knowshown Moreno at the right blowing a kiss to Baltimore fans after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, that was the only touchdown they scored during a 30-7 beatdown at the hands of the Ravens.

With the loss, Denver can kiss its undefeated start goodbye.

Only two teams — the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints — have yet to lose a game this season.

FANTASY STUD ...

Tennessee has been terrible, but Chris Johnson remains a force. He had 228 yards and two TDs.

HURT HIS OWNERS ...

The Texans finally had enough of Steve Slaton’s fumbleitis. He was benched after one carry.

OUT OF NOWHERE ...

Who benefitted the most from Slaton’s benching? Ryan Moats: 126 yards, three touchdowns. By Associated Press

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forkandknife, Tulsa (11/2/2009 3:31:43 PM)

Brett Favre. Legend. That is all I have to say. And great job to the Packers as well. They played their hearts out.

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