NFL Rewind

STORY OF THE WEEK

Brett Favre’s final game with the Green Bay Packers ended with an ugly throw. The pass was intercepted by Corey Webster, setting up the field goal that gave the New York Giants the 2007 NFC championship.

Still, Favre continued to be popular in the city after he retired in April 2008. His steakhouse not far from Lambeau Field remained prosperous, and fans were somewhat understanding of his decision to come out of retirement and play for the New York Jets last fall, blaming it in part on Packers general manager Ted Thompson.

But this — Favre playing quarterback for archrival Minnesota — was too much to bear for Packers fans, who felt even worse after Sunday. In his first return to Lambeau more than 21 months after his exit, Favre was booed. And booed some more. Then, of course, he was brilliant, completing 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions to lead the Vikings to a 38-26 victory. The win gave Minnesota a 7-1 record, a sweep of the Packers and a three-game lead over Green Bay and Chicago in the NFC North.

In his two games against Green Bay, Favre passed for 515 yards and seven touchdowns without being intercepted or sacked. Successor Aaron Rodgers, meanwhile, was sacked six times Sunday.

Minnesota rebounded smartly from last week’s loss in Pittsburgh and headed into its bye thankful for the 40-year-old Favre’s still-golden presence.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Playing without injured running back Brian Westbrook, the Philadelphia Eagles certainly showed they still have plenty of weapons as they crushed the Giants 40-17 to improve to 5-2.

Philadelphia led 17-0 just nine seconds into the second quarter and 30-7 at halftime. Five Eagles scored on plays of 17 yards or more. With a 54-yard catch for a score, DeSean Jackson equaled Hall of Famer Crazylegs Hirsch’s record of six touchdowns of at least 50 yards in the first seven games of a season.

FIVE TRENDS FROM WEEK 8

UP: Tennessee and St. Louis both got off the schneid but in different ways. The Rams held the Lions to 289 yards in a 17-10 road triumph, and Chris Johnson ripped off touchdown runs of 52 and 89 yards in Vince Young’s return to the starting quarterback job as the host Titans won 30-13 against Jacksonville.

DOWN: Arizona has never traveled well, but the Cardinals are 3-0 on the road this year. However, Arizona is 1-3 at home after losing to Carolina 34-21 on Sunday as Kurt Warner threw five interceptions. Good thing the Cardinals play at Chicago this week.

UP: While New York and Philadelphia have captured most of the attention in the NFC East, Dallas quietly has won four of five to tie the Eagles for the division lead heading into Sunday’s showdown in Philadelphia. Sunday’s 38-17 rout of Seattle was another big day for Tony Romo, who threw three more touchdown passes.

DOWN: Buffalo’s winning streak lasted all of two games before visiting Houston spoiled the era of good feelings with a 31-10 smack to the chops Sunday. With Ryan Fitzpatrick continuing to fill in for injured quarterback Trent Edwards, the Bills managed just 204 yards and fell to 3-5.

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