Packers 45, Rams 17
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Another game, another milestone, another record for Brett Favre.
Green Bay's indomitable quarterback celebrated his 200th straight regular-season start by throwing three touchdown passes and leading the Packers to their sixth straight win Monday night, 45-17 over St. Louis.
Favre topped 20 touchdown passes for the 11th straight season, breaking a tie with Dan Marino on a 7-yard toss to tight end Bubba Franks in the second quarter. He also found Javon Walker and Donald Driver in the end zone on a highly efficient night in which he never came close to getting sacked or intercepted.
”After the introduction — I was not aware of all the hoopla leading up to it — there was a lot of pressure to perform,” Favre said. ”I really looked at this game as just another game, an important game, obviously, one we needed to win. I didn't need all the added attention and pressure. It was hard enough.”
His teammates made it seem easy for him.
Najeh Davenport filled in for running back Ahman Green, and ran for 178 yards and a score in his first NFL start as the Packers (7-4) won their sixth straight to keep pace with Minnesota atop the NFC North.
Rookie cornerback Ahmad Carroll recorded his first fumble recovery, touchdown and interception of his career as the defense pitched in by scoring two touchdowns, snuffing out a fake field goal and recording four sacks and three takeaways.
Fellow rookie Joey Thomas blasted Isaac Bruce (nine catches, 170 yards) on the Rams' first possession, and Carroll picked up the loose ball and ran 40 yards for his first career touchdown to give Green Bay a 7-0 lead it would never relinquish.
It was the Packers' first recovery of an opponent's fumble since Sept. 19 against Chicago.
”We go three-and-out and then those two rookies make a great play and get seven points,” Favre said. ”We never looked back after that.”
The Packers capped the rout when Darren Sharper forced Bruce to cough up the ball in the final minute, and Michael Hawthorne returned it 34 yards for the score.
”It's something special to be a part of the tradition here and get myself a Lambeau Leap,” Hawthorne said.
Carroll was thrilled to get more than a bit part in Favre's memorable milestone.
”When you get drafted by Green Bay, the first thing you think of is playing with Brett Favre,” Carroll said. ”When I go home, the first question people ask me is, 'How does it feel playing with Brett Favre? What did he say in practice? How is he?'
”He is not like other people in the NFL.”
That's for sure.
Favre's record streak of starts moved to 219, counting playoffs, and is almost 100 more than Ron Jaworski's previous NFL quarterback mark of 123.
Favre took over for an injured Don Majkowski on Sept. 27, 1992. Since then, 11 of his backups have gone on to start for another team. Last week, Eli Manning became the 178th quarterback to have started a game in the NFL since Favre last came off the bench.
The Rams have had 13 quarterbacks in that span.
The latest, Marc Bulger, threw for more yards — 448 — against Green Bay than any quarterback ever had, completing 35 of 53 passes, but he was overshadowed by Favre, who was an efficient 18-of-27 for 215 yards.
”Any time you play against Brett Favre, you're not going to get the spotlight,” Bulger said. ”It was his night.”
St. Louis (5-6) missed a chance to tie Seattle atop the NFC's woeful West with its fourth loss in five games.
”We're getting soundly beaten, especially defensively,” Rams safety Aeneas Williams said. ”We have to correct that. If we don't, everything else is wishful thinking. We have to find a way at least to provide some resistance.”
Notes: Favre (6,839) surpassed Warren Moon (6,823) for third place on the career pass attempts list. … Packers coach Mike Sherman said he expects Green to play next week at Philadelphia. … Packers K Ryan Longwell has converted 140 consecutive extra points, surpassing Chris Jacke's team record of 134.
AP-DS-11-30-04 0326EST