Favre Keeps Streak, Pack Alive

About the only one who wasn't moved by Brett Favre's gutsy performance Sunday was the Green Bay Packers' ironman quarterback himself.

"We all make a big deal sometimes about something that's expected of us ... because a lot of guys don't do it," said Favre, who guided Green Bay past Indianapolis 26-24 despite a sprained left foot that had him in a cast and on crutches last week.

"I'm just doing what they pay me to do. It's really nothing more than that," Favre said. "I could have sat out and no one would have thought twice about it. But that's not in my nature. If I can play, I'm going to play."

And, as usual, play well.

Favre sustained two impressive streaks Sunday, extending his NFL record with his 136th straight start and improving to 25-0 at home in temperatures 34 or lower.

"Yeah, it hurt," Favre said. "But guys were counting on me."

"I pretty much counted on playing today. I thought it was really great what he was trying to do, get out there and be with his teammates," Hasselbeck said. "He's tough and we need to be tougher as a team. But really, I can honestly say I didn't think he'd make it through the whole game. He surprised everybody and then he goes out and plays great. He's incredible."

The Packers (5-6) built a stunning 19-0 first-half lead that was trimmed to 19-17 before Allen Rossum's career-long 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 4:16 left.

But the Colts (7-4) still weren't done.

Peyton Manning quickly drove them downfield for an 11-yard touchdown toss to Jerome Pathon with 239 left that made it 26-24.

Ahman Green, who gained a career-best 153 yards on 24 carries, picked up two key first downs that allowed the Packers to run out the clock.

Favre finished with 23 completions in 36 attempts for 301 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

"He goes out and puts 100 percent on the field even when his health's 50 percent," said Bill Schroeder, who tied a career high with eight catches for 155 yards.

Manning was 25-of-44 for 294 yards, three TDs and one interception after completing just four passes for 35 yards in a miserable first half.

The Packers dominated the first three quarters in a game that began with swirling snow that left the field very slippery, especially for the Colts' receivers.

The Colts, who didn't get closer than the Green Bay 44 in the first half, got going on Mike Vanderjagt's 38-yard field goal. Manning, who owns the second-longest starting streak at 43 games, then added a 34-yard TD pass to E.G. Green with 10:35 left, making it 19-10.

Defensive tackle Ellis Johnson, who returned from arthroscopic knee surgery that sidelined him for three games, intercepted Favre's pass at the Indianapolis 17 midway though the fourth quarter. Manning drove the Colts 83 yards in 12 plays, hitting fullback Jim Finn with a 5-yard score.

Finn's first career touchdown pulled Indianapolis to 19-17 before Rossum took the kickoff down the right sideline for his second career TD return.

The Packers' halftime lead could have been even bigger had Green not been stopped inches shy of the end zone after a 10-yard reception on the last play of the half. The officials were too busy seeing if Green scored to notice the Packers screaming for a timeout, and time expired.

Green Bay outgained the Colts 303 yards to 77 in the first half.

"They tore us apart throwing the football in the first half," Colts coach Jim Mora said. "We couldn't stop them."

Favre drove the Packers on successive 87-yard touchdown drives in the second quarter, capping them with scoring throws of 1 yard to Tyrone Davis and 17 yards to Antonio Freeman.

"It's amazing," Packers coach Mike Sherman said. "He wasn't very effective in practice Friday. What he did out there today is a great lesson to our younger players."

The first measurable snowfall for a regular-season game at Lambeau Field since Dec. 1, 985, was costly on the Colts' first play from scrimmage. Manning lost his grip on the wet ball as he was throwing out of his end zone and fell on it for a safety.

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