Dec 16, 2007 - 6:53 PM
0 shoutsST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Brett Favre authored another chapter to his record-setting season while the Green Bay Packers secured a week of rest in the playoffs.
Favre became the NFL's all-time leader for career passing yards Sunday as the Packers rolled to a 33-14 triumph over the St. Louis Rams.
It was the eighth victory in the last nine games for Green Bay (12-2), which clinched a first-round postseason bye courtesy of their win and the Carolina Panthers' 13-10 triumph over the Seattle Seahawks (9-5).
"We will be smart as we move forward with the help of our football team," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "We have been smart all along. ... Chicago is still an important game, but it definitely gives us a chance to get some people back."
Already the NFC North Division champions, the Packers secured a first-round bye for the first time since 1997 and are 12-2 for the first time since 1966, when they won the Super Bowl under Vince Lombardi.
Green Bay has benefited throughout the season from the spirited play of Favre, who has claimed the all-time record in four different categories this year.
"(Favre) has been a tremendous player for us this year," McCarthy said. "I just can't say enough about him, and you like to see good things - like records - happen to good people."
Favre re-wrote the record book again with 14:26 remaining in the fourth quarter Sunday when he completed a seven-yard pass to Donald Driver, bringing his career total to 61,367 and eclipsing Dan Marino's previous record of 61,361.
"I've said this all along and I will continue to say this, I've never considered myself in the same league as Dan Marino - maybe the greatest passer ever," Favre said. "The way he did is probably the way you would coach someone to do it."
A three-time MVP, Favre set the all-time record for career wins in Week Two, collecting his 149th victory to pass John Elway.
Favre tossed his 421st career touchdown two weeks later to pass Marino for the NFL's all-time lead in that category. Two weeks later, Favre threw his 248th career interception, breaking George Blanda's career mark.
"I say it every time this happens - I'm honored, but I would much rather win," he said. "The fact that I've played in every game (since my first start) to me is probably my biggest feat. None of these individual records would have happened if it wasn't for the fact that I've played in every game."
The 38-year-old Favre completed 19-of-30 passes for 227 yards and two TDs on Sunday as the Packers avenged a last-minute home loss to the Rams last season.
"It goes without saying how, at least today, things fell into place," Favre said. "Most importantly is the fact that we won here today."
Ryan Grant rushed for 55 yards and a TD on 18 carries while rookie kicker Mason Crosby converted four field goals for the Packers, who scored 19 unanswered points to close out the contest.
Rams star running back Steven Jackson rumbled for a 46-yard TD run early in the second quarter to forge a 14-14 tie.
But Crosby's first field goal of the game, a 44-yarder, gave Green Bay the lead for good at 17-14 with 3:54 left in the first half.
Crosby drilled a 50-yarder to make it 20-14 five minutes into the second half, and Favre gave Green Bay some breathing room four minutes later when he found a wide-open Greg Jennings for a 44-yard TD.
"They were in empty coverage, and the guy who was supposed to be guarding me jumped the underneath route for whatever reason," Jennings said. "It was one of those situations where Brett just threw it up and I caught it."
Jackson rushed for a season-high 143 yards, but Rams quarterback Marc Bulger struggled throughout the contest.
Returning from a two-game injury absence, Bulger finished 20-for-39 for 219 yards and one TD for the Rams (3-11), who outgained the Packers by a margin of 364-279.
"The game was a real close game for the first three quarters," Rams coach Scott Linehan said. "We spent a good deal of our time defensively on the wrong side of the field and offensively on the wrong side of the field. It is tough to overcome the field position battle."
From the Bleachers
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GREEN BAY: 33
ST. LOUIS: 14
Final
Dec 16 4:10 PM -
NFL
FG GNB
MASON CROSBY 46 YD
GREEN BAY 33
ST LOUIS 14 3:43 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Dec 16 3:59 PM -
NFL
FG GNB
MASON CROSBY 25 YD
GREEN BAY 30
ST LOUIS 14 11:22 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Dec 16 3:35 PM -
GREEN BAY: 27
ST. LOUIS: 14
End of 3rd
Dec 16 3:17 PM -
NFL
TD GNB
GREG JENNINGS 44 YD PASS FROM BRETT FAVRE
(MASON CROSBY KICK)
GREEN BAY 27
ST LOUIS 14 5:58 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Dec 16 3:06 PM -
NFL
FG GNB
MASON CROSBY 50 YD
GREEN BAY 20
ST LOUIS 14 10:21 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Dec 16 2:52 PM -
GREEN BAY: 17
ST. LOUIS: 14
Halftime
Dec 16 2:29 PM -
NFL
FG GNB
MASON CROSBY 44 YD
GREEN BAY 17
ST LOUIS 14 3:54 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dec 16 2:16 PM -
NFL
TD STL
STEVEN JACKSON 46 YD RUN
(JEFF WILKINS KICK)
GREEN BAY 14
ST LOUIS 14 10:09 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dec 16 1:55 PM -
NFL
TD GNB
DONALD LEE 4 YD PASS FROM BRETT FAVRE
(MASON CROSBY KICK)
GREEN BAY 14
ST LOUIS 7 14:15 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dec 16 1:46 PM -
GREEN BAY: 7
ST. LOUIS: 7
End of 1st
Dec 16 1:44 PM -
NFL
TD STL
TORRY HOLT 4 YD PASS FROM MARC BULGER
(JEFF WILKINS KICK)
GREEN BAY 7
ST LOUIS 7 1:11 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Dec 16 1:36 PM -
NFL
TD GNB
RYAN GRANT 1 YD RUN
(MASON CROSBY KICK)
GREEN BAY 7
ST LOUIS 0 9:39 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Dec 16 1:12 PM
