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Green Bay 24, Minnesota 13
Posted: Monday December 31, 2001 12:53 AM
Minnesota Vikings
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Green Bay Packers
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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers were not about to be left out in the cold.

After Favre engineered a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, cornerback Mike McKenzie returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown as the Packers stayed alive in the race for the NFC Central title with a 24-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Sporting a 29-0 record at Lambeau Field when the temperature is under 34 degrees, Favre found himself at home in 17 degree conditions. But he struggled in the first half before finding his rhythm over the final 30 minutes.

Spergon Wynn, making his second career start, also struggled but threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to tight end Byron Chamberlain with 10:03 remaining in the fourth quarter to give Minnesota a 13-10 lead.

But Favre marched the Packers 77 yards in seven plays, going 5-for-5 for 51 yards on the drive. Ahman Green capped the march with a four-yard TD run with 6:28 left, giving the Packers a 17-13 lead.

Favre went 11-of-14 for 124 yards and a touchdown in the second half. The three-time Most Valuable Player was 7-of-15 for 45 yards and a score in the opening half.

"In a game like this it was windy, it was cold and I could not feel my toes but I get paid an awful lot to perform in any weather," Favre said.

On the Vikings' ensuing drive, McKenzie sealed the game for the Packers by stepping in front of Wynn's pass that was intended for Cris Carter and returned it down the left sideline for a touchdown.

Green Bay (11-4) won for the fifth time in its last six games and remained one game behind first-place Chicago (12-3) in the division. The Packers close their season next Sunday at the New York Giants.

"When the game was on the line and we had to respond to a touchdown that they just had, we did it," Packers coach Mike Sherman said. "I am proud of my guys for the character they have. A lot of teams couldn't respond the way our team responded on that seven-play, 79-yard drive that got us the touchdown."

Michael Bennett rushed for 104 yards for the Vikings (5-10), who fell to 0-7 on the road this season and have lost 10 straight on the road dating to last season.

"Brett (Favre) hurt us with good throws, especially in the fourth quarter," Minnesota coach Dennis Green said. "We were a little soft in coverage but Favre's throws were right on the money."

Starting in place of Todd Bouman, who was sidelined with a thumb injury, Wynn had a disastrous afternoon.

Wynn threw his second interception of the contest early in the fourth quarter when he was picked by linebacker Bernardo Harris at his own 26 early in the fourth quarter.

But the Packers were unable to move in for a touchdown and settled for Ryan Longwell's 24-yard field goal and 10-6 lead with 10:57 remaining.

Wynn, who went just 4-of-16 through the first three quarters, finally found some success on the Vikings' ensuing drive, including an 11-yard completion to Cris Carter to the Green Bay 47.

That was the only catch of the day for the 15-year veteran, who recently hinted that he would like to close his career playing for the Packers.

On 3rd-and-10, Wynn threaded pass down the middle to Chamberlain for a 47-yard touchdown, giving Minnesota a 13-10 lead with 11:57 to play. Wynn went just 11-of-30 for 114 yards with that TD and three interceptions.

Favre, however, answered that score, orchestrating a seven-play, 77-yard drive that gave Green Bay the lead for good.

Favre had completions of 12 and 14 yards to Bill Schroeder, moving the ball into Minnesota territorty. He also had a 20-yard connection with tight end Bubba Franks to the Green Bay 4.

Green went over the right side on the next play, giving the Packers the lead for good with 6:28 remaining.

The Packers' defense helped put the game away on Minnesota's ensuing drive, when Wynn was intercepted by McKenzie, who raced untouched down the left sideline to make it 24-13 with 5:25 left.

"We had a situation where we started out in man and they came out in a bunch so we quartered it up," McKenzie said. "I read the hook up, read the quarterback and made a play on the ball."

With the untested Wynn under center, the Vikings came out using their running game on the contest's intial drive, running the ball on their first 10 plays. Wynn threw incomplete on a 3rd-and-11 play from the Green Bay 21.

But the normally reliable Anderson missed a 39-yard field goal wide right.

Anderson did cap a five-play, 43-yard drive with a 44-yard field goal with 8:16 left in the second quarter to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead.

But the Packers took the lead late in the second quarter, moving 70 yards in seven plays. Favre kept the march alive with seven-yard pass to running back Dorsey Levens on a 3rd-and-4 play to the Minnesota 31.

On the next play, Favre contributed in another way. On a reverse around to Donald Driver, Favre leveled safety Orlando Thomas with a block, springing the wide receiver for a touchdown run and a 7-3 lead.

"That was great," said Driver of Favre's blocking. "I was so close behind him I knew he was going to make a great block. I cut back inside and was gone after that.

"Brett made a nice block on that play," Thomas said. "He is one of three quarterbacks in the league that is good."

Anderson connected on a 42-yard field goal with 5:07 left in the third quarter, pulling Minnesota within 7-6.

 


 
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