Gimpy Favre Good Enough

GREEN BAY, Wis. —  About the only one who wasn’t moved by Brett Favre’s gutsy performance Sunday was the Green Bay Packer ironman quarterback himself.

“We all make a big deal sometimes about something that’s expected of us . . . because a lot of guys don’t do it,” said Favre, who guided Green Bay past Indianapolis, 26-24, despite a sprained left foot that had him in a cast and on crutches last week.

“I could have sat out and no one would have thought twice about it. But that’s not in my nature. If I can play, I’m going to play,” Favre said.

Favre sustained two impressive streaks Sunday, extending his NFL record with his 136th consecutive start and improving to 25-0 at home in temperatures 34 degrees or lower.

“Yeah, it hurt,” Favre said. “But guys were counting on me.”

Even Favre’s backup, Matt Hasselbeck, didn’t figure Favre would finish.

“I pretty much counted on playing today. I thought it was really great what he was trying to do, get out there and be with his teammates,” Hasselbeck said. “He’s tough and we need to be tougher as a team. But really, I can honestly say I didn’t think he’d make it through the whole game. He surprised everybody and then he goes out and plays great. He’s incredible.”

The Packers (5-6) built a stunning 19-0 first-half lead that was trimmed to 19-17 before Allen Rossum’s career-long 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 4:16 left.

But the Colts (7-4) still weren’t done.

Peyton Manning quickly drove them downfield for an 11-yard touchdown toss to Jerome Pathon with 2:39 left that made it 26-24.

Ahman Green, who gained a career-best 153 yards on 24 carries, picked up two key first downs that allowed the Packers to run out the clock.

Favre finished with 23 completions in 36 attempts for 301 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

“He goes out and puts 100 percent on the field even when his health’s 50 percent,” said Bill Schroeder, who tied a career high with eight catches for 155 yards.

“It’s amazing,” Packer Coach Mike Sherman said. “[Farve] wasn’t very effective in practice Friday. What he did out there today is a great lesson to our younger players.”

Manning was 25 of 44 for 294 yards, three touchdowns and one interception after completing just four passes for 35 yards in a miserable first half.

The Packers dominated the first three quarters in a game that began with swirling snow that left the field very slippery, especially for the Colt receivers.

The Colts, who didn’t get closer than the Green Bay 44 in the first half, got going on Mike Vanderjagt’s 38-yard field goal. Manning, who owns the second-longest starting streak at 43 games, then added a 34-yard touchdown pass to E.G. Green with 10:35 left, making it 19-10.