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Green Bay stays in race

Associated Press
Published November 3, 2003

MINNEAPOLIS - The Metrodome always has brought trouble for Brett Favre. Maybe he just needed to play hurt.

Ignoring the broken thumb on his throwing hand, Favre passed for 194 yards and three touchdowns Sunday night as the Packers defeated the Vikings 30-27.

After consecutive home losses, Minnesota saw its NFC North lead over Green Bay shrink to two games.

Two of Javon Walker's three receptions went for Green Bay touchdowns. Ahman Green rushed 21 times for 137 yards and had five catches for 52 yards and a score.

Favre, who improved to 3-9 in his career in the Vikings' noisy, climate-controlled home, completed 18-of-28 with one interception. He extended his consecutive starts streak to 198, a league record by a quarterback.

Daunte Culpepper threw two touchdowns without an interception for Minnesota and plunged in from the 1-yard line with 33 seconds left to cut Green Bay's lead to three. The onside kick was recovered by Green Bay's Darren Sharper.

Two Aaron Elling field goals in the third quarter brought the Vikings into a tie at 20 but the Packers moved the ball at will the rest of the game. Green Bay took a 27-20 lead on a 12-yard touchdown from Favre to Walker on third and 11.

After a touchback on a Minnesota punt, the Packers put the game away with a 12-play, 71-yard drive that took 6:40 off the clock. Ryan Longwell's third field goal, a 27-yarder, gave Green Bay a 30-20 lead with 3:27 left.

Culpepper completed 21-of-34 for 202 yards and Randy Moss had six catches for 87 yards.

Minnesota running back Michael Bennett completed his comeback from two operations to fix the bone in his left foot he broke while running on a treadmill in March. He rushed eight times for 43 yards.

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