The Pack is winning more games than I thought they would this year. I don't expect them to be in the playoffs, but hopefully they'll have a winning season.


Packers win 23-17

AP — November 12, 2006

Minneapolis — Brett Favre avoided those infamously big mistakes at the Metrodome, and — surprise, surprise — Green Bay emerged with a victory over struggling Minnesota.

Favre threw two touchdown passes without a turnover and Donald Driver had 191 yards receiving, leading the Packers past the Vikings 23-17 today.

Green Bay (4-5) was boosted by a strong pass rush, and Favre completed 24 of 42 passes for 347 yards and no interceptions.

Brad Johnson went 18-for-30 for 257 yards, one touchdown and two turnovers for Minnesota, which lost its third straight game.

Dave Rayner made three field goals, besting former Green Bay kicker Ryan Longwell, who only got a chance to kick one - a 34-yarder with 58 seconds left.

The Vikings (4-5) had three first downs on that desperation drive, the only time they were able to move the chains after halftime without the help of a penalty. They recovered the onside kick, but Artose Pinner was whistled for offsides.

Johnson, who was sacked four times, briefly sparked the offense with consecutive first-half drives that ended in touchdowns by Billy McMullen, but after the break it was more of the same. Bethel Johnson's kickoff return for a touchdown was called back by an illegal-block penalty on Pinner, an inauspicious start to the second half.

After one failed possession in the fourth quarter, coach Brad Childress screamed at guard Steve Hutchinson and tackle Bryant McKinnie, the prized, multimillion-dollar left side of the line. Johnson was better than he had been, but he lost a fumble on a blind-side sack and his overthrow on second-and-1 at his own 30 was intercepted by Patrick Dendy with less than eight minutes left.

Opening the second quarter, McMullen was as open as any Minnesota receiver has been all season. Johnson's throw barely arrived in time, but the little-used McMullen, who spent three years buried on Philadelphia's depth chart, caught it for his team's first offensive touchdown in 10 quarters.

That sparked the Vikings, who forced a three-and-out and surged right back by covering 82 yards on their next possession to take a 14-10 lead. They even scored in the red zone, where a 4-for-18 touchdown conversion rate, 22.2 percent, was the worst in the league coming into the league.

Johnson threw short on third-and-10 at the 16 to Taylor, who wiggled through the defense but lost the ball at the goal line on a jarring hit by rookie A.J. Hawk. McMullen was in perfect position, though, and pounced on it for just his third career score.

Though Minnesota's league-best rushing defense frequently stuffed Ahman Green and Herron at the line or in the backfield in key short-yardage situations, Green Bay mixed plays well and for the most part kept Favre away from the temptation of forcing passes into risky places - avoiding the costly interceptions that have often led to his losses throughout his career the Metrodome.

Favre was clearly having fun, as the television analysts remind viewers so many times. After his third-and-goal pass was turned into a 5-yard score for Herron, Favre leaped into his receiver's arms and patted him hard on the shoulder.

Driver has consistently hurt the Vikings over the years with his speed over the middle, especially on the artificial grass here. He burned Dontarrious Thomas on a crossing pattern right before halftime, racing 82 yards untouched for a huge score to give the Packers a 17-14 lead.

Favre ran as hard as he could to keep up, picking up his favorite receiver when he finally reached him and lifting him onto his shoulder.