NEW YORK, 1 December 2004 — Brett Favre celebrated his 200th consecutive start by throwing three touchdown passes as the Green Bay Packers destroyed the St. Louis Rams 45-17 at Lambeau Field Monday.
Najeh Davenport rushed for 178 yards on 19 carries, including a 40-yard touchdown run for the host Packers, who picked up 231 yards on the ground against 47 for the Rams.
Favre, 35, helped the Packers (7-4) to their sixth straight victory and a share of the NFC North Division lead with the Minnesota Vikings. No other NFL quarterback has ever started more than 116 successive games.
Favre, the only triple winner of the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award, has now thrown TD passes in 36 consecutive games.
The Green Bay quarterback wound up 18-for-27 for 215 yards, tossing TD passes to Bubba Franks, Javon Walker and Donald Driver to put his team ahead 28-10 after three quarters.
Ahmad Carroll returned a first-quarter fumble 40 yards for the opening score of the game and Ryan Longwell later added a 27-yard field goal for the Packers.
Green Bay’s final TD came on a 33-yard fumble recovery by Michael Hawthorne in the last minute. Driver caught six passes for 85 yards for the Packers, as Favre hit seven different receivers. Marc Bulger threw touchdown passes to Isaac Bruce and Marshall Faulk for St Louis (5-6) while Jeff Wilkins kicked a 34-yard field goal.
Ellis, Jets Agree on Contract Extension
In Hempstead, N.Y., the New York Jets and defensive end Shaun Ellis have agreed to a long-term contract extension. Terms were not disclosed, but Sunday’s Newark Star-Ledger reported the deal to be worth more than $15 million. Ellis, in his fifth NFL season, has spent his entire career with the Jets since the club made him the 12th overall pick of the 2000 draft. He could have become a free agent at the end of the season.
“I could have tested free agency, but I didn’t,” said Ellis. “I felt like my home was here. I went to war with these guys, and I feel comfortable with this coaching staff. I just felt like this is where I belong, and I wanted to be here.
