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Favre may play final NFL game Sunday night

Dec 31, 2006 - 5:35 PM Green Bay (7-8) at Chicago (13-2) Sunday 8:15 pm EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Is this the final game 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.

All Favre can hope for on Sunday night is for the Green Bay Packers to still have a shot at getting the second NFC wild-card spot when they visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.

But the Packers are a longshot to win a strength-of-victory tiebreaker over the New York Giants, who won at Washington on Saturday night.

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.

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 5,000 completions and a record 15 consecutive seasons with 3,000 yards passing.

Set to make his 257th consecutive start, including playoffs, Favre has passed for 57,215 yards. His 146 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.

Favre endured the first shutout of his career in a 26-0 season-opening loss to the Bears. He completed 15-of-29 passes for 170 yards with two interceptions.

The Bears have homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Last year, they lost a home playoff contest to Carolina. This season, they are 6-1 at Soldier Field.

Robbie Gould kicked four field goals, including three in the fourth quarter, in the Bears' 26-21 win at Detroit last week. Brian Griese replaced starting quarterback Rex Grossman in the fourth quarter and directed the go-ahead scoring drive.

But there is no quarterback controversy in Chicago. Bears coach Lovie Smith said he would use backups extensively after the team clinched homefield advantage throughout the postseason.

Seven Bears were named to the Pro Bowl, including linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs and returner Devin Hester.

Rookie defensive end Mark Anderson does not get much publicity, but the fifth-round pick from Alabama leads the Bears with 12 sacks.