Favre sets completions record in victory over Lions

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Brett Favre became the NFL's all-time completions leader Sunday and the Green Bay Packers beat the Detroit Lions.

Listening to a dour Favre speak after the game, you wouldn't have known it.

Complete Satisfaction
Favre Brett Favre completed 20 of 37 for 174 yards in Sunday's victory over the Lions to become the NFL's all-time leader in completions.
Player	Completions
Brett Favre	4,974
Dan Marino	4,967
John Elway	4,123
Warren Moon	3,988
Drew Bledsoe	3,822

"I have to remind myself that this is a win," Favre said.

Favre broke Dan Marino's career completions record, but the Packers had to overcome three interceptions by the three-time MVP for a 17-9 victory over the Lions.

It was only the second home victory all season for the Packers (6-8), who have won two in a row. Given the sorry state of the NFC, some Packers players were talking playoffs after the game.

Favre scoffed.

"We were lucky to win the game," Favre said. "We'll take it. But for us to be talking playoffs -- and I heard that there has been playoff talk -- I mean, we've got a long ways to go."

Detroit (2-12) remains winless in seven games on the road.

"It's very frustrating, but you can't let it become a downward spiral you can't recover from," Lions quarterback Jon Kitna said.

Favre connected on a 21-yard pass to receiver Carlyle Holiday just before halftime for his league-record 4,968th completion. Referee Ed Hochuli delivered the news.

"I [said], 'I have no idea what you're congratulating me for, but thank you,'" Favre said. "So I did know because of him. But I'm more concerned about the three I completed to their team."

Favre threw his first two interceptions in the red zone, and the third pick nearly proved even more costly.

Kitna seemed to throw the game away by floating an interception to Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, then committing a face-mask penalty on Woodson to give the Packers a first down on the Detroit 12-yard line with a 10-6 lead in the third quarter. It was Woodson's career-best sixth interception of the season.

Scouts Inc.'s take ...

Jon Kitna (right) continues to lack the charismatic leadership and playmaking abilities to lead Detroit to the end zone, much less to a victory. Playing behind a terrible offensive line that has been riddled by injuries all season, Kitna was sacked six times, lost a fumble and threw two interceptions that gave Green Bay advantageous field position and led directly to Packers points. Detroit's defense gave a better effort than its offensive counterparts, creating problems for Brett Favre and forcing three interceptions. Favre had little help as his receivers dropped many balls and contributed to the Lions' picks as well.

But Favre squandered the scoring chance by throwing an interception to former Packers linebacker Paris Lenon in the end zone.

The Lions couldn't drive for a score, and punter Nick Harris downed the ball deep in Packers territory. Favre then threw a pass that bounced off the hands of Ahman Green and was intercepted by Dre' Bly.

The Lions took over at the Packers 12, but were forced to kick a field goal that cut Green Bay's lead to 10-9 with 9:33 remaining. The Packers came back with an extended drive ending with a 21-yard touchdown run by Vernand Morency, his second TD of the afternoon.

"We're working to get better in a lot of areas," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "We've just got to get the consistency we're looking for."

Favre was 20-of-37 for 174 yards, but failed to throw a touchdown pass. With two games remaining in the season, Favre needs eight more touchdown passes to pass Marino's career mark of 420.

Favre now has 4,974 career completions, seven ahead of Marino. Last week, Favre extended his record of most consecutive and overall seasons with 3,000 yards passing to 15.

Elias Says

Favre One day after Morten Andersen became the NFL's all-time leading scorer, Brett Favre passed Dan Marino as the league's all-time leader in pass completions. Favre completed 20 of 37 passes in the Packers' 17-9 win over the Lions, raising his career total to 4,974 completions -- or 43 more than the combined career totals of Roger Staubach, Sammy Baugh, and Norm Van Brocklin. Baugh held the record for career completions longer than anyone else -- for 20 years, from 1941 to 1961. Other holders of the record since then were Bobby Layne (1961-1963), Y.A. Tittle (1963-1967), Johnny Unitas (1967-1975), Fran Tarkenton (1975-1995) and Marino. • For more Elias Says, Click here.

Kitna was 16-for-26 for 135 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The Lions had only 142 net yards and couldn't make the most of their scoring chances.

"The effort and the energy was there, the execution was not," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said. "It was not good enough."

Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz used frequent presnap motion, something that confused the Packers in a blowout loss to the New York Jets at Lambeau Field two weeks ago. But it didn't work on Sunday.

Packers defensive end Cullen Jenkins, starting in place of veteran Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, had a career-high three of the Packers' six sacks. Green Bay had only four sacks in its previous four games.

Game notes
Marinelli said the Lions had two potentially serious injuries that will be re-evaluated: Linebacker Ernie Sims (shoulder) and wide receiver Corey Bradford (elbow). ... Packers left tackle Chad Clifton sustained a stinger in the first half, but returned. Right tackle Mark Tauscher was inactive with a groin injury. ... The Lions were without starting nose tackle Marcus Bell (hand) and cornerback Fernando Bryant (concussion). Tight end Marcus Pollard (hamstring) also was inactive.