Favre Leads Packers Past Lions

DETROIT (AP) Brett Favre was asked to throw 17 straight passes at one point. The way he was completing them, the Green Bay Packers didn't need to hand the ball off. Favre set a franchise record with

Friday, November 23rd 2007, 11:16 am

By: News On 6

DETROIT (AP) Brett Favre was asked to throw 17 straight passes at one point. The way he was completing them, the Green Bay Packers didn't need to hand the ball off. Favre set a franchise record with 20 consecutive completions and finished with a season-high 381 yards and three touchdowns in the Packers' 37-26 Thanksgiving Day victory over the slumping Detroit Lions.

``You never think he is going to miss one,'' Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said.

The three-time MVP put together another sensational performance that made the 38-year-old Favre look as if he's back in his prime. His seventh 300-yard game of the season matched a team mark he set 12 years ago.

``I've played against him since 1996, and he's playing as well as I've ever seen him,'' Lions coach Rod Marinelli said.

Green Bay (10-1) matched its best 11-game record since 1929 and the NFC North leaders took a four-game lead with five games left in the regular season. The Packers can improve their chances of earning home-field advantage if they win next week at Dallas, also 10-1 after manhandling the New York Jets 34-3 later on Thursday.

``It will be a big showdown indeed,'' said Aaron Kampman, who had two sacks. ``We'll enjoy this one for a little bit. In 24 or 48 hours we'll be focused pretty squarely on Dallas.''

The Lions (6-5) will have a few extra days to rest and prepare for their next game at Minnesota.

Detroit has lost three straight, making its playoff picture bleak because it would lose wild-card tiebreakers against the New York Giants, Washington, Philadelphia and Arizona.

``You just need to grit your teeth, look at your teammates and say `Hey, let's not give up. Let's not pack in the tents, and just call it a season and quit,''' defensive tackle Cory Redding said.

Before the season, Jon Kitna said he would be disappointed if Detroit didn't win at least 10 games. Now, the Lions might struggle to finish .500 with tough games left with Dallas at home and on the road against Green Bay and San Diego.

``There's no panic in my life,'' Marinelli insisted. ``This is a tough challenge, but I believe in these players.''

Green Bay overcame a six-point deficit in the first quarter and Favre's pinpoint passes helped it go up 34-12 early in the fourth.

``This is on me,'' Marinelli said. ``I have to teach them better. When you are a teacher, you don't put it on the students.''

Favre took Detroit to school, completing 31 of 41 passes. His streak of 20 straight spanned the first and second halves to surpass the team mark of 18 set by Lynn Dickey in 1983 and matched by Don Majkowski in 1989.

``It seems like he breaks a record every time we play,'' McCarthy said.

Lions safety Kenoy Kennedy, though, was not impressed.

``In some of the defenses we play, we allow the receiver to catch it in front of us and drive up and tackle, so it can be a little misleading,'' he said.

Greg Jennings caught two touchdown passes and Donald Driver had 10 receptions for 147 yards.

``When Brett is on like he was today, who wouldn't want to be one of his receivers?'' Jennings asked.

Green Bay's Ryan Grant had 101 yards rushing and a score.

Kitna was 19-40 for 224 yards with a TD and an interception. Rookie Calvin Johnson scored and had season highs with seven catches for 83 yards. Kevin Jones ran for 93 yards and a TD.