Cumberland Times-News

Football

November 1, 2009

Favre hears boos, quiets them with 4 TDs

GREEN BAY, Wis. — For the second time in less than a month, Brett Favre sliced up his former team and stuck it to the franchise that cast him aside as the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 38-26 at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

If walking out to waves of loud jeers from his former fans threw Favre off his game, it didn’t last long. Despite being jeered repeatedly by Packers fans who once cheered his every move, Favre completed 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns. The Vikings (7-1) took a firm hold on the NFC North standings.

Receiver Percy Harvin caught five passes for 84 yards and a touchdown and had five returns for 175 yards.

The Vikings’ defense roughed up Favre’s successor, Aaron Rodgers, sacking him six times. But with the Packers (4-3) on the verge of getting routed, Rodgers rebounded with three second-half touchdowns.

Fans booed Favre loudly — first when he walked out of the tunnel for pregame warmups, then again when he ran out of the tunnel for the game, and on every snap during the Vikings’ first few offensive possessions.

Rams 17, Lions 10

DETROIT (AP) — As expected of two teams that combined for one win entering the day, the Rams and Lions played an awful football game. St. Louis, though, loved the outcome — for the first time all season.

Steven Jackson’s 25-yard touchdown run with 1:38 left snapped the Rams’17-game losing streak.

The Rams (1-7) avoided matching their worst start in franchise history. They also ended talk about joining Detroit (1-6) as the only teams in NFL history to have an 0-16 season.

St. Louis’ key score came on a trick play. It lined up to kick a field goal and had kicker Josh Brown throw a short pass to a wide-open Daniel Fells, whose 36-yard reception gave the Rams a 10-2 lead in the final minute of the first half.

St. Louis hadn’t won since beating Dallas on Oct. 19, 2008.

Titans 30, Jaguars 13

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans are no longer winless after a switch to Vince Young at quarterback.

He threw for a touchdown in his first start since the 2008 season opener, Chris Johnson set a franchise record by rushing for 228 yards, and the Titans (1-6) won their first game of the season. Tampa Bay, which had a bye this week, remains the only winless team. Tennessee’s skid of eight straight went back to the end of last season.

Johnson helped Young by scoring on runs of 52 and 89 yards, and the Titans eased Young in with lots of short throws and runs to work off any rust. It worked as Young was 15 of 18 for 125 yards, and ran 10 times for 32 yards, not counting two final kneeldowns.

Jacksonville (3-4) has lost two of three. Maurice Jones-Drew provided the lone highlights, running for 177 yards and taking the NFL lead in touchdowns rushing with runs of 80 and 79 yards. But the Jaguars gave him only eight carries.

Eagles 40, Giants 17

PHILADELPHIA — Donovan McNabb threw three touchdown passes and DeSean Jackson had another big TD catch for the Eagles. The game was just the appetizer in a marathon day in the NY-Philadelphia rivalry. The Yankees and Phillies were set for the first pitch of Game 4 of the World Series across the street only hours after the Eagles’ rout ended.

The Eagles (5-2) remained undefeated in the division and host Dallas next week. Philly dominated without running back Brian Westbrook (concussion).

New York (5-3) has lost three straight games. Eli Manning continuously threw high over his receivers or was the victim of bad route running and threw two interceptions.

His absence caused coach Andy Reid to add a new wrinkle to the offense: a fullback. Rarely asked to carry the ball under Reid, Leonard Weaver was an integral part early and helped catch the scuffling Giants by surprise when he ran 41 yards up the middle for a touchdown.

LeSean McCoy, Westbrook’s backup, joined in the fun on a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that made it 40-17.

Football
  • SPTS-Redskins-Grossman.jpg Redskins sign QB Rex Grossman to 1-year deal

    Free-agent quarterback Rex Grossman signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins on Wednesday.

    March 18, 2010 1 Photo

  • Gibbs is a Shanahan fan

    Joe Gibbs approves of the Washington Redskins’ choice of Mike Shanahan as coach.
    Gibbs and Shanahan, the two living coaches who have won Super Bowls and worked for the Redskins, stood together Wednesday at Redskins Park for the first time.

    March 18, 2010

  • SPTS-2COL-Florida-Meyer.jpg Meyer returns to Florida practice

    With a whistle around his neck and a smile on his face, Florida coach Urban Meyer returned to practice Wednesday following a leave of absence that turned out to be shorter than everyone expected.
    His stay could be longer than anticipated, too.

    March 18, 2010 1 Photo

  • Johnson signs with Redskins

    Running back Larry Johnson has signed a three-year deal with the Washington Redskins.

    March 13, 2010

  • SPTS-FBH-FemaleCoach.jpg D.C. high school football team gets female coach

    The football players at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School, Mayor Adrian Fenty and a room full of cheering staff needed only one word to describe her: coach.

    March 12, 2010 1 Photo

  • SPTS-2COL-OLSEN-OBIT.jpg Merlin Olsen dies at 69

    Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL’s greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer.

    March 11, 2010 1 Photo

  • Derrick Mason returning

    Wide receiver Derrick Mason has agreed to re-sign with the Baltimore Ravens after accepting terms on a two-year deal.

    March 10, 2010

  • Willie Colon not a witness to alleged assault

    Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Willie Colon was with teammate Ben Roethlisberger on the night the quarterback was accused of sexual assault in a Georgia club, but did not witness anything, Colon’s agent said Wednesday.

    March 10, 2010

  • SPTS-fbn-Steelers-Rendle.jpg Steelers reach deals with S Clark, WR Randle El

    The Pittsburgh Steelers, normally one of the quietest teams in NFL free agency, suddenly are one of the busiest.

    March 9, 2010 1 Photo

  • Trial opens in Vikes’ challenge of NFL drug policy

    The attorney for two Minnesota Vikings challenging the NFL’s anti-doping policy opened their closely watched trial Monday by accusing the league of failing to follow state law when it tested them for drugs two years ago and then decided to suspend them.

    March 8, 2010