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Favre may be playing for last time at Lambeau

Dec 21, 2006 - 1:40 PM Minnesota (6-8) at Green Bay (6-8) Thursday 8:00 pm EST

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Is this the final game at Lambeau Field for Brett Favre?

One would think that's not the case with the future Hall of Famer closing in on Dan Marino's all-time record for touchdown passes.

Favre and the Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night in a battle of NFC North rivals who are fighting to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

The NFL's only three-time MVP and an eight-time Pro Bowler, Favre contemplated retirement after last season and did not make his decision to return until late April.

"It very well could be, but I haven't made a decision yet," Favre said of Thursday possibly being his last game at Lambeau.

This season, the 37-year-old Favre surpassed Marino's all-time record for completions (4,967) and is seven touchdown passes shy of tying Marino's record of 420. Favre has 4,974 completions and a record 15 consecutive seasons with 3,000 yards passing.

Set to make his 256th consecutive start, including playoffs, Favre has passed for 56,930 yards. His 145 regular-season wins ranks third behind John Elway (148) and Marino (147).

In 15 years with the Packers, Favre has led the Packers to 10 postseason appearances, including six division titles, back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 1996 and 1997 and one championship.

You can be sure the fans at Lambeau will give Favre a thunderous ovation on Thursday and continue to hope that he will return in 2007.

Favre threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns, including an 82-yarder to Donald Driver, in the Packers' 23-17 win at Minnesota on November 12, evening his career record against the Vikings (14-14). Driver finished with six receptions for 191 yards.

Billy McMullen accounted for both of Minnesota's touchdowns, catching a 40-yard pass from Brad Johnson and recovering a fumble by Chester Taylor in the end zone.

The Vikings have lost six of their last eight games to fall into a tie with Green Bay. Both teams trail Philadelphia (8-6), the New York Giants (7-7) and Atlanta (7-7) for the last two NFC wild-card spots with two weeks left.

And Minnesota has problems at the quarterback position. Johnson was benched by coach Brad Childress after throwing for just 96 yards and getting sacked three times in last week's 26-13 loss to the New York Jets.

Rookie Tarvaris Jackson replaced Johnson and was 14-of-23 for 177 yards and a touchdown with an interception after replacing Johnson last week.

A second-round pick from Alabama State, Jackson will make his first start on Thursday.

The game should have extra significance for Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell, who spent his first nine years with Green Bay and is the franchise's all-time leader with 1,054 points.

Last March, Longwell left the Packers to sign with Minnesota and has made 21-of-25 field goals this season, including game-winning kicks against Washington and Carolina.

Longwell was especially clutch for the Packers, making 21-of-22 field goals in the fourth quarter and overtime from December 15, 2002 through the 2005 season.

But Green Bay is satisfied with its kicker Dave Rayner, a second-year player from Michigan State. Rayner has converted 21-of-27 field goals, including a long of 54 yards, this season.