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Favre nearly perfect in Vikings' 35-9 romp

Nov 22, 2009 - 10:51 PM By JON KRAWCZYNSKI AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) -- The doubters lined up to chastise Brett Favre for ending a second retirement to play for the Minnesota Vikings.

One by one, they have been silenced by the 40-year-old's incredible 10-game start in purple. The most efficient performance of his career may have removed the remaining doubt that he still had.

Favre completed a career-high 88 percent of his passes for 213 yards and four touchdown passes and the Vikings delivered their most complete performance of the season in a 35-9 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Favre completed 22 of his 25 throws for the Vikings (9-1). His previous career high was 85.2 percent against Detroit on Sept. 20. But he has only completed at least 80 percent two other times in his previous 18 seasons.

Through last season's struggles in New York, another offseason of contemplation and even early in his tenure with the Vikings, Favre admitted on Sunday that he's needed plenty of pep talks from Vikings offensive coordinator and close friend Darrell Bevell to help him with "doubt and maybe some insecurities" because his "confidence was not at a high level."

"I didn't really believe or buy into it," Favre said. "But as the season has progressed, Darrell is always saying, 'I told you so. You can do it. You can make those throws.'

"Getting back to that confidence that I had when I didn't know any better, that was pretty good. And I'm feeling more confident. I'm more of a realist at this age, but that doesn't mean you can't go out there and turn it loose."

That's exactly what he's been doing all season long.

Favre threw touchdown passes to Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe and Bernard Berrian in a 21-point second quarter that got the Vikings rolling, then finished yet another record-setting day with a 7-yard pass to Sidney Rice with 4 minutes to play in the third quarter.

"I saw Brett after the game and said, 'Would you retire, please,"' Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. "He said 'You've been saying that to me for about eight years,' and I said, 'I know, and I'm going to keep saying it to you.' The guy is remarkable, but we've still got to be better."

It was Favre's 22nd career game with at least four touchdown passes, surpassing Dan Marino.

When the record was announced to the sellout crowd in the fourth quarter, Favre received a standing ovation from the fans who used to boo him with every fiber of their being during his 16 years with the Green Bay Packers.

Favre tipped his cap as chants of "MVP! MVP!" started to fill the Metrodome.

"There's nothing he can do to surprise anybody anymore," center John Sullivan said. "He's a great player. We know that as long as we protect him, him and the receivers and Adrian, they're all going to make plays."

Nate Burleson had six catches for 100 yards for Seattle (3-7), which rushed for a franchise-low 4 yards on 13 carries. The injury-ravaged Seahawks have lost seven of their last nine to fade from contention in the NFC West.

Justin Forsett, who rushed for 123 yards on 17 carries last week against Arizona, managed just 9 yards and a TD on Sunday. He did have eight catches for 80 yards, but the Seahawks offense did not cross midfield until late in the third quarter when they trailed 28-0.

"We tried to stick with it, but there was a point where we were beating our head against a wall," Mora said.

Matt Hasselbeck was 19 of 26 for 231 yards and one interception.

After four consecutive division titles and a Super Bowl appearance after the 2005 season, the Seahawks are an afterthought in Mora's first season as head coach.

Thirteen Seattle starters have missed at least one game due to injury this season, with Pro Bowlers Walter Jones and Lofa Tatupu out for the season.

Rice had six catches for 89 yards and two scores and Tarvaris Jackson was 6 for 8 for 77 yards and a TD in the fourth quarter for the Vikings.

Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who turned down an offer to join the Vikings in March before Favre arrived, had four catches for 36 yards.

"It was a tough day," Hasselbeck said. "When they put Tarvaris Jackson in in the fourth quarter, it's almost embarrassing to be down by that much, when they're pulling their guys. It's just hard being in this situation right now. We're not used to it."

Notes: The Vikings were 8 of 13 on third downs. The Seahawks were just 1 of 10. ... Seahawks return man Ben Obomanu fumbled a kickoff in the second quarter that led to a Vikings touchdown. ... Shiancoe had eight catches for 78 yards and Harvin had 79 yards receiving.