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Favre expects to start against Raiders

Dec 9, 2007 - 12:36 PM Oakland (4-8) at Green Bay (10-2) 1:00 pm EST

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Apparently, it takes more than a mere shoulder separation to keep Brett Favre out of the lineup.

Favre fully expects to be under center Sunday when the Green Bay Packers look to clinch the NFC North Division title against the Oakland Raiders.

The 38-year-old quarterback was knocked out of the Packers' 37-27 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving with 10:11 remaining in the second quarter with a bruised muscle in his right elbow.

Favre said he also suffered a separated left shoulder, although Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy thought his veteran signal-caller aggravated a previous injury, which occured 15 years ago.

At the time, there was some concern that Favre's streak of 249 consecutive starts could be in jeopardy but he seemed to put those fears to rest.

"I'm not getting any younger - it takes a little longer to recover - but I think I'll be fine," Favre said.

Against the Cowboys, Aaron Rodgers replaced the future Hall of Famer, who was just 5-of-14 for 56 yards and two interceptions before the injury.

The loss to Dallas snapped Green Bay's six-game winning streak and likely ended the Packers' hopes of finishing with the NFC's best record.

Still, Green Bay is in prime position to earn a first-round bye for the first time since 1997. The Packers can accomplish that feature by winning three of their last four games against a very favorable schedule.

After this week, Green Bay finishes with road games at St. Louis and chicago and a home contest against Detroit.

A victory over the Raiders will give the Packers their first division crown since 2004. Green Bay slumped to a 4-12 record in 2005 before rebounding to finish .500 last season.

The Raiders are coming off a 34-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in a game that marked the long-anticipated debut of No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell.

The former Louisiana State star, who did not sign with the Raiders until after the season started, completed 4-of-7 passes for 56 yards on his two drives in the second quarter. He did not lead Oakland to any points.

Luke McCown tied a career high with three touchdown passes as the suddenly improved Raiders posted their second straight victory.

Oakland has not won three in a row since its Super Bowl season of 2002.