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Four for No. at Lambeau

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Brett Favre jogged out of the tunnel in a purple helmet. He might as well have been wearing a black hat.

No, Favre didn't seem to relish playing the villain in his return to Lambeau Field. But it was going to take more than a chorus of boos to throw him off his game.

For the second time in less than a month, Favre sliced up his former team and stuck it to the franchise that cast him aside as the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 38-26 at Lambeau on Sunday. Despite being jeered repeatedly by Packers fans who once cheered his every move, Favre completed 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.

"Packer fans cheer for the Packers first," Favre said. "I know that. But I hope that everyone in the stadium watching tonight said, 'I sure hate those jokers on the other side, but he does play the way he's always played."'

High-stakes, emotional drama aside, this much is clear: The Vikings (7-1) took a firm hold on the NFC North standings.

But given the raw tension between Favre, the Packers' front office and the fans who felt betrayed when their favorite player came out of retirement -- again -- to join their biggest rival, cornerback Charles Woodson acknowledged the game was significant beyond the division standings.

"I think it was disappointing for a lot of people," Woodson said. "It's just a loss, but I think a lot of people really wanted this one bad. We let a lot of people down today."

Under less dramatic circumstances, rookie receiver Percy Harvin would have been Sunday's star after catching five passes for 84 yards and a touchdown and returning five kicks for 175 yards.

But Harvin didn't mind yielding the spotlight to Favre.

"He's played this game a long time, he sees a lot of stuff that a lot of quarterbacks can't see," Harvin said. "And he can make a lot of throws that a lot of quarterbacks can't make. With us being explosive, to add him was like a blessing in disguise."

The Vikings' defense roughed up Favre's successor, Aaron Rodgers, sacking him six times.

But with the Packers (4-3) on the verge of getting routed, Rodgers rebounded with three second-half touchdowns.

A few of those crunching hits left Rodgers limping at times, but he said he'd be fine.

"I'll be OK in a couple of days," Rodgers said. "This one will hurt for a couple of days, though, physically and mentally."

But Rodgers -- who threw for only 38 yards in the first half but finished with 287 and 3 TDs -- wasn't hung up on outdueling Favre.

"I hate to losing to whoever's at quarterback for them," Rodgers said. "I hate losing to the Vikings."

The Packers now recognize that their chances of winning the division are fading, but still can compete for the wild card. And hey, they might even see the Vikings again in the playoffs.

"Hopefully, we'll have another crack at these guys down the road," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Already leading 17-3 at halftime, Favre temporarily reverted from game manager to gunslinger on the Vikings' first possession of the second half -- and even that worked. Favre threw into triple coverage under pressure and Harvin came down with the ball while Woodson, Atari Bigby and Nick Collins tumbled to the ground like extras in a slapstick comedy as the Vikings took a 24-3 lead.

But Rodgers answered by driving the Packers to three straight scores in the third quarter -- a field goal and a pair of touchdown passes to tight end Spencer Havner, a linebacker who switched positions in training camp.

Harvin then returned a kickoff 48 yards. Facing third down at the 2, Favre rolled right and threw to wide open tight end Jeff Dugan to put the Vikings up 31-20 early in the fourth quarter.

Rodgers wasn't finished, scrambling for 35 yards to set up a 10-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings. After a failed 2-point conversion attempt, the Packers trailed 31-26 with 10:26 remaining.

Driving with a chance to take the lead, the Packers stalled out and Mason Crosby missed a 51-yard field goal attempt.

Peterson then took a screen pass 44 yards down the left sideline to the 15. With the Vikings facing third-and-11, Favre threaded a ball through the secondary for a touchdown to Bernard Berrian.

Favre left the field surrounded by cameras, pumping his fist to a mix of cheers and boos as he jogged down the tunnel. He hugged Harris and wide receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.

Despite the final score, it was an awkward homecoming for Favre, whose standoff with the front office split the loyalties of Packers fans last summer.

There weren't many signs of a split on Sunday.

Fans booed Favre loudly -- first when he walked out of the tunnel for pregame warmups, then again when he ran out of the tunnel for the game, and on every snap during the Vikings' first few offensive possessions.

"Welcome back to Lambeau Field, Brent," one fan's sign read.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said Favre did a great job of staying "in body," not letting the charged atmosphere get the best of him.

"We talked a little bit about not doing too much," Childress said.

If Favre didn't realize the extent to which Packers fans have turned on him, he does now. But Favre says that doesn't diminish his accomplishments as a Packer -- in his mind, anyway.

"What I've done here speaks for itself," Favre said. "What I was part of was awesome. That will never change."

Colts 18, 49ers 14

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts won their 16th straight regular-season game, the equivalent of an undefeated season, and Jim Caldwell became the first rookie coach since the NFL merger to open his career with seven consecutive wins.

Peyton Manning topped 300 yards and got credit for another Colts rally, but it was Joseph Addai who won it. The fourth-year running back threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne early in the final quarter to give the Colts their only lead.

The Colts (7-0) are the last unbeaten team in the AFC for the fourth time in five years.

San Francisco (3-4) has lost three straight despite a solid performance from Alex Smith, who made his first NFL start at quarterback in nearly two years. Smith was 19 of 32 for 198 yards with one TD and one interception.

Ravens 30, Broncos 7

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens handed Denver its first loss by using the same blueprint the Broncos employed to win their first six games.

Rookie Lardarius Webb returned the second-half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, and the Ravens ended a three-game losing streak with a surprisingly easy victory.

It was Denver's first loss under rookie head coach Josh McDaniels. The Broncos (6-1) came in with the NFL's top-ranked defense, a plus-7 turnover differential and one of the league's best kick returners in Eddie Royal. Denver had also outscored the opposition 76-10 after halftime.

The Ravens, however, dominated all those facets. Baltimore (4-3) limited Denver to 200 yards, scored off the game's lone turnover, won the special teams fight and pulled away after leading by only 6-0 at halftime.

Titans 30, Jaguars 13

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans are no longer winless after a switch to Vince Young at quarterback.

He threw for a touchdown in his first start since the 2008 season opener, Chris Johnson set a franchise record by rushing for 228 yards, and the Titans (1-6) won their first game of the season. Tampa Bay, which had a bye this week, remains the only winless team. Tennessee's skid of eight straight went back to the end of last season.

Johnson helped Young by scoring on runs of 52 and 89 yards, and the Titans eased Young in with lots of short throws and runs to work off any rust. It worked as Young was 15 of 18 for 125 yards, and ran 10 times for 32 yards, not counting two final kneeldowns.

Jacksonville (3-4) has lost two of three. Maurice Jones-Drew provided the lone highlights, running for 177 yards and taking the NFL lead in touchdowns rushing with runs of 80 and 79 yards. But the Jaguars gave him only eight carries.

Chargers 24, Raiders 16

SAN DIEGO -- LaDainian Tomlinson scored twice, the first in the wildcat, and the Chargers took their 13th straight victory against the Raiders. It's the longest active NFL winning streak by one team over another.

The Chargers (4-3) have swept the series for the sixth straight season. Many Chargers, including quarterback Philip Rivers, have never lost to the Raiders (2-6). It was San Diego's seventh straight home win against the Raiders.

San Diego sacked JaMarcus Russell five times, two each for outsides linebacker Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman.

Tomlinson has accounted for 28 touchdowns against Oakland in his nine-year career: 22 rushing, three receiving and three passing.

Panthers 34, Cardinals 21

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Carolina earned a measure of revenge in Arizona, even if the stakes weren't quite as high.

Jake Delhomme, whose downward spiral began with a playoff loss at home against Arizona last season, threw a 50-yard touchdown pass before leaving with a chest injury and Jonathan Stewart ran for two scores.

The Panthers (3-4), in a turnover-free performance, rolled up 270 yards on the ground against what had been the No. 1 rushing defense in the NFL.

Arizona's Kurt Warner was intercepted five times and fumbled the ball away once. Julius Peppers returned one of the picks 13 yards for a touchdown.

The Cardinals (4-3) are 1-3 at home.

Eagles 40, Giants 17

PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb threw three touchdown passes and DeSean Jackson had another big TD catch for the Eagles. The game was just the appetizer in a marathon day in the NY-Philadelphia rivalry. The Yankees and Phillies were set for the first pitch of Game 4 of the World Series across the street only hours after the Eagles' rout ended.

The Eagles (5-2) remained undefeated in the division and host Dallas next week. Philly dominated without running back Brian Westbrook (concussion).

New York (5-3) has lost three straight games. Eli Manning continuously threw high over his receivers or was the victim of bad route running and threw two interceptions.

His absence caused coach Andy Reid to add a new wrinkle to the offense: a fullback. Rarely asked to carry the ball under Reid, Leonard Weaver was an integral part early and helped catch the scuffling Giants by surprise when he ran 41 yards up the middle for a touchdown.

LeSean McCoy, Westbrook's backup, joined in the fun on a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that made it 40-17.

Cowboys 38, Seahawks 17

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Miles Austin caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game and Patrick Crayton returned a punt for a score for the second consecutive week, sending Dallas into a share of first place in the NFC East.

Tony Romo went a third game in a row without an interception. Since a herky-jerky first month, the Cowboys (5-2) have found quite a groove, winning three straight.

Romo threw for 256 yards, with touchdowns to Austin, Sam Hurd and Roy Williams. Marion Barber added a TD run and Crayton broke open the game with an 82-yard punt return, one week after a game-breaking 73-yarder. DeMarcus Ware had a sack for the third straight game, this one coming a few days after cashing a $20 million signing bonus as part of a $78 million, six-year contract extension.

Seattle (2-5) was coming off its bye and had cornerback Marcus Trufant for the first time all year. The Seahawks led 3-0 and were within 14-10 late in the second quarter, but did little right after that. Trufant was flagged three times for pass interference and the injury-riddled offensive line allowed three more sacks of Matt Hasselbeck.

Dolphins 30, Jets 25

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ted Ginn Jr. had two long kickoff returns for touchdowns in the third quarter. Miami (3-4) swept the two regular-season games after the teams met for the second time in 20 days, capping a week filled with trash talk from both sides in a reignited AFC East rivalry. The bad feelings were evident even before the game, when the Jets' Kerry Rhodes and a few Dolphins players got into a shoving match during warmups.

And, just like the last time these teams met, the game came down to the wire.

Facing a fourth-and-13 following a sack by Randy Starks with just over a minute remaining, Mark Sanchez scrambled before firing an incomplete pass over an outstretched Dustin Keller in the end zone to seal the loss for the Jets (4-4).

Ginn became the first player to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same quarter since Green Bay's Travis Williams in 1967. Ginn had returns of 100 and 101 yards. Ginn had been replaced by wide receiver Brian Hartline in the starting lineup.

Texans 31, Bills 10

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Ryan Moats, taking over after starter Steve Slaton lost yet another fumble, scored three touchdowns on consecutive fourth-quarter drives to help the Texans (5-3) win their third straight game for their best start in franchise history. Matt Schaub bounced back from two first-half interceptions to lead six scoring drives on seven possessions.

Moats finished with a career-high 23 carries for 126 yards in place of Slaton, who lost a fumble on the Texans' third possession when Paul Posluszny punched the ball out of his hand following a 7-yard reception. Slaton has fumbled seven times this season and lost five.

The Bills (3-5) were undone by an offense that managed 204 yards and nine first downs, with only three coming in the second half.

Buffalo squandered another opportunistic performance by its defense, which forced three turnovers, including two interceptions by rookie safety Jairus Byrd. The second-round pick out of Oregon became the first player since San Francisco's Dave Baker in 1960 to have two or more interceptions in three straight games.