Favre Turns 40, Hammers Rams

NFL News - October 11th, 2009 - Written by John

Brett Favre threw for 232 yards and a score a day after his 40th birthday to give the Minnesota Vikings a monumental 38-10 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. It was the 400th win in franchise history for a team that seems the only legitimate contender for NFC supremacy against the Giants.

After a sensational win over the Green Bay Packers, in which the Monday Night Football game shattered cable television ratings records, Favre did everything his team needed him to do. He didn't put up gaudy numbers, but converted on seven of 11 third down attempts and had 10 yards per pass. He was able to turn around and hand it to his All-Pro back, Adrian Peterson, and simply hit cruise control. Peterson had two touchdowns on and 69 yards rushing to lead the way. It was a welcome respite from his action-packed past two weeks, in which he threw his first game-winning touchdown inside of 10 seconds, then delivered three touchdowns to edge out the Packers.

"I hope there's many more to come," Favre said on ESPN. "I'd be lying if I said I thought I'd still be playing at 40 and not miss a game at this point. I just hope I can lead this team to bigger and better things."

He is 5-0 for the first time ever and his NFL-record 274 straight games started continues to grow.

Peterson gave the Vikings the lead early on when he capped their first drive with a 5-yard scamper. Jared Allen then came up with what was the eventual game-winner, scooping up a fumble and taking it all the way back for a 52-yard touchdown. Allen has been playing out of his mind lately, sacking Aaron Rodgers 4.5 times last week, and had two fumble recoveries and a pass deflection.

"We think we're a good football team," Allen said on ESPN. "The worst we can finish now is 5-11."

For the St. Louis Rams, that would seem like a dream by now. They are in the conversation for meekest team in the league, scoring only four offensive touchdowns in five games and have allowed 35 points in three straight games. They have been outscored 73-10 in their last two games, currently riding the NFL's longest losing streak of 16 games.

"This is extremely tough," Rams guard Richie Incognito said. "It wears on you, but to be a professional, you don't let it show. You just keep preparing hard to go out and get a win."

They had several opportunities to decrease the deficit but couldn't take advantage. In the second quarter, quarterback Kyle Boller and running back Stephen Jackson couldn't complete a hand off inside Minnesota's five-yard line, spilling the ball on the ground. Allen was there for his second recovery. The Rams again got deep into Viking territory after an interception by James Laurinaitis, but could only manage a field goal with a miserable three plays that netted zero yards.

Again, the Rams turned it over in the first half, this time at the two, when Chad Greenway blasted Daniel Fells from behind to force a fumble.

And to cap off the night, Boller was picked off inside the Vikings' end zone in the fourth quarter by Tyrell Johnson on a play that started at the Minnesota nine.

The blowout even allowed back-up Tarvaris Jackson to get some reps, three to be exact, and completed them all for 68 yards.

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