Favre defiant in return to scene of playoff debacle

<br> <br>GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) _ Brett Favre isn't haunted by the worst game of his career as he prepares to return to St. Louis 21 months after tying an NFL playoff record by throwing six interceptions.

Thursday, October 16th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) _ Brett Favre isn't haunted by the worst game of his career as he prepares to return to St. Louis 21 months after tying an NFL playoff record by throwing six interceptions.

Three of them were returned for touchdowns in Green Bay's 45-17 loss to the Rams, a debacle for which Favre makes no apologies.

``I don't base a lot of statistics, really,'' Favre said. ``I wanted to win that game. I could have sat there and completed little 5-yarders, but we needed to score points.

``If you play long enough, and I remember saying it after the game, things like that will happen.''

Favre said he feels no worse about that performance than he does about Green Bay's 40-34 overtime loss to Kansas City last week in which the Packers blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead.

``I was as disappointed the other day and my performance was statistically a lot better,'' said Favre, who was 25-of-36 for 272 yards with two TDs and an interception on a tipped pass against the Chiefs.

``That loss hurt the other day as much as any.''

Favre's fiasco in St. Louis began when Bill Schroeder, now with the Lions, ran the wrong route and cornerback Aeneas Williams picked off the pass and trotted 29 yards for a 7-0 Rams lead.

Four of his next five pickoffs came off tipped balls.

``Everybody wants to talk about the six interceptions,'' center Mike Flanagan said. ``I know Schroeder ran a wrong route and some balls were tipped. It wasn't all Brett's fault, that's for (darn) sure.''

Coach Mike Sherman said he wasn't worried about Favre faltering Sunday: ``Am I afraid that that's going to happen again? It hasn't even crossed my mind.''

Part of that confidence stems from Favre's rebound from a poor start this season, which began with four interceptions against Minnesota. Since then, he's thrown 10 touchdown passes with four interceptions and his passer rating has jumped from 15th to third in the NFC.

Favre, who turned 34 last week, has been spectacular over his last three games, completing 72 percent of his passes and throwing for seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

Just last month, critics were suggesting retirement was near and that playing in every game for more than a decade had taken its toll on Favre, who narrowly missed out on a fourth MVP award last season.

``I don't feel like I need to answer anyone,'' Favre said. ``After the Minnesota game, I'm sure a lot of people were questioning where I was as a player, this team. But I never questioned it.

``I still feel like I can play with anyone in this league.''