Brett Favre, Vikings Lose to NY Jets 29-20
Brett Favre brushed off a miserable start with a milestone night that almost led Minnesota back, but Dwight Lowery returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown with 1:30 left as the New York Jets (4-1) beat the Vikings 29-20 on Monday night.
Favre became the first NFL player to throw 500 touchdown passes and for 70,000 yards, but two early fumbles against his former team led to two field goals that helped put the Vikings (1-3) in a 12-0 hole.
Favre's big night came hours after he apologized to teammates for the distraction caused by an NFL investigation into allegations that he sent racy messages and lewd photos to a Jets game hostess in 2008.
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He connected with Randy Moss from 37 yards out late in the third to cut the Jets' lead to 12-7. Less than 5 minutes later, Favre hit Percy Harvin for a 34-yard touchdown. Favre's 2-point conversion try was intercepted.
Kickoff was delayed twice due to heavy rain and lightning in the area.
Favre became the first player in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes, connecting with new teammate Randy Moss from 37 yards out late in the third quarter. On third-and-17 from the Jets 37, Favre reared back and lofted the ball perfectly into Moss' hands in the back right corner of the end zone with 2:10 left. Moss was acquired from New England last Wednesday. Favre also became the first to reach 70,000 yards passing on the drive that cut the Jets lead to 12-7.
The Jets came right back with Folk's fifth field goal. He booted it from 31 yards away with 49 seconds left, a score set up by Brad Smith's 86-yard kickoff return.
The mostly frustrating night for Favre continued early in the third as he fumbled a wet ball on a handoff on the Vikings first offensive play of the second half, and the Jets recovered. They drove down the field to set up Folk for his fourth field goal with 8:49 remaining in the third.
Favre was unable to move the Vikings in the first half, while Folk kicked three field goals.
Favre shook hands with Sanchez, his replacement as Jets quarterback, when the teams came out for warmups.
The start of the game was twice delayed by heavy rain and lightning. The original 8:30 p.m. start was initially pushed back to 8:50 before being rescheduled for 9:15. Fans in exposed seats were urged to take cover. They were allowed back at 8:55. Heavy rain returned late in the second quarter.