Favre Rolls Out a 13-10 Victory for the Packers : NFC: His touchdown pass to Sharpe with 1:16 remaining leads Green Bay past Tampa Bay and into a tie for first in the Central.
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GREEN BAY, Wis. — Limping in pain through a cold wind with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers threatening to spoil his season, Brett Favre turned off the boos and brought the Green Bay Packers back Sunday.
One play after a hard tackle from the Buccaneers’ Barney Bussey nearly drove him from the game, Favre returned after a timeout and--as on the previous play--rolled out again.
This time, instead of keeping, he completed a two-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Sharpe with 1:16 remaining as the Packers drove 75 yards for a 13-10 victory and a share of the NFC Central lead with Detroit.
“I thought I could run it in, but I never saw the guy who hit me. Next thing I knew I was doing a 360 in midair,” said Favre, who sustained a thigh bruise as he was knocked out of bounds.
“We had to call a timeout after that play so I could bend over and get back in. I knew they would come after me because of the injury so the rollout was a good call.”
After the touchdown, Favre pumped his arms in triumph to the crowd, which had been booing the Packers’ struggling offense.
Green Bay (7-4) managed only two field goals by Chris Jacke in the first 3 1/2 quarters of a game that began at 29 degrees and featured 19 punts.
Tampa Bay (3-8) took a 10-6 lead with 7:33 remaining when Craig Erickson hit Courtney Hawkins with a nine-yard touchdown pass, ending a 63-yard drive.
But Green Bay then moved on a 15-play drive as Favre and Sharpe, who had three receptions to that point, warmed up during the Packers’ only sustained drive.
“It was a great drive. We did it when we had to after not moving the ball all day,” said Favre.
Favre connected with Ed West on an 11-yard pass play on third down and a 28-yarder to Mark Clayton. Sharpe, who had 10 catches and four touchdowns against Tampa Bay a month ago in a Green Bay rout, also had receptions of 15 and seven yards before his touchdown.
Green Bay got a first down at the seven after a nine-yard pass to West and two-yard run by Edgar Bennett. Favre rolled out on second down with 1:21 remaining and was hit by Bussey. Favre limped to the huddle but couldn’t continue and a timeout was taken.
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