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Favre guides Packers past 49ers

Dec 11, 2006 - 12:45 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Mike McCarthy made a triumphant return to the Bay Area. Having Brett Favre on his side didn't hurt.

Favre threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers posted a 30-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Favre improved to 7-0 all-time against the 49ers with 1,808 yards passing and 12 TDs. He helped deliver a win to McCarthy, who was the offensive coordinator with San Francisco last season.

"It was gratifying to get a win here," McCarthy said. "I have a lot of respect for their coaches and the personnel in that locker room. It's always special to get a win against the team you used to coach."

Now in his 16th year, the 37-year-old Favre has throw 413 career touchdown passes, moving him within seven of tying Dan Marino's career record.

At the other other of the spectrum, 49ers second-year quarterback Alex Smith had a rough afternoon, completing just 12-of-29 passes for 201 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

His first pick - in the third quarter - swung the momentum of the game.

With the 49ers (5-8) driving and trailing, 17-13, Smith badly underthrew rookie tight end Vernon Davis and was picked off by safety Nick Collins at the Packers 32.

"I was just trying to make something happen," Smith said. "I thought I was on the same page as Vernon as far as him coming back towards the sideline. I should have just thrown the ball away and play another down."

Favre needed two plays and 17 seconds to cash in, hitting Donald Driver with a 68-yard scoring pass to make it 24-13 with 3:37 left in the third. Driver had nine catches for 160 yards.

"It was huge. It can be argued that they had the momentum at that point," McCarthy said. "Our defense stepped up and changed the game. It was a big turning point for us."

Green Bay (5-8) scored on its next two possessions, with Dave Rayner booting field goals of 44 and 21 yards to extend the lead to 30-13 with 8:50 to play.

Rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk intercepted Smith in the end zone to snuff out the subsequent drive by the 49ers before Smith and Davis hooked up on a 52-yard pass play to account for the final tally.

"It's evident to me that we play really well in spurts defensively and then we give up an explosive play," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "That's exactly how today's game was. I thought we played really well in spurts. It was feast or famine."

Green Bay took a 17-6 lead at halftime. Favre connected with Ruvell Martin on a 36-yard scoring pass in the first quarter and Ahman Green scored on a one-yard plunge for a 17-3 advantage with 6:48 left in the second. Green rushed for 77 yards on 21 carries.

"It's one game, but it's encouraging," Favre said. "It shows us what we can do. Our problem this year has been inconsistency. Not just one thing, but many. Today was an example of what we haven't been able to do, making plays. Today we made the plays, and when you do that it gets contagious."

Frank Gore rushed for 130 yards on 19 carries, including a one-yard scoring run in the third quarter.