Favre passes Marino; Packers down Rams to clinch bye

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Favre passes Marino; Packers down Rams to clinch bye

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Brett Favre threw for 227 yards with two touchdowns and set another record, as the Green Bay Packers downed the St. Louis Rams, 33-14, at the Edward Jones Dome.

With the victory and Seattle's loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, the Packers clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs for the first time since 1997. Green Bay also moved into a tie for the top spot in the NFC as Dallas lost to Philadelphia later on Sunday.

Favre, who completed 19-of-30 passes with two interceptions, surpassed Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the NFL's all-time record for most career passing yards. He came into the contest needing 184 yards to break Marino's mark of 61,361. Needing just one more yard, the veteran set the new record early in the fourth quarter after completing a seven-yard pass to Donald Driver.

"I say it every time this happens: I'm honored, but I would much rather win," said Favre. "The fact that I've played in every game (since my first start) to me is probably my biggest feat. None of these individual records would have happened if it wasn't for the fact that I'd played in every game.

"To pass a guy like Dan Marino, regardless of what record it is... I've said this all along and I will continue to say this: I've never considered myself in the same league as Dan Marino, maybe the greatest passer ever. The way he did it is probably the way you would coach another guy to do it. The way I've done it, I don't know if you would coach guys to do it that way. To be mentioned in the same breath as him is quite an honor."

Driver ended with five catches for 80 yards while Greg Jennings caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown for the Packers (12-2), who have won 16 of their past 18 games dating back to last season.

Ryan Grant led Green Bay's ground game with 55 yards and a score.

Steven Jackson carried the ball 24 times for 143 yards with a touchdown and Torry Holt had a touchdown grab for the Rams (3-11), who have lost two straight.

"The game was a real close game for the first three quarters," said St. Louis head coach Scott Linehan. "We spent a good deal of our time defensively on the wrong side of the field and offensively on the wrong side of the field. It is tough to overcome the field position battle. You spend the whole time playing on the long field or the short field."

St. Louis signal-caller Marc Bulger returned to action after missing the last two weeks with a concussion and completed 20-of-39 passes for 219 yards with a touchdown and two picks.

Leading by six points in the third quarter, the Packers extended their lead to 27-14 with just under six minutes remaining after Favre launched a 44-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Jennings.

Early in the fourth quarter, Jeff Wilkins had a chance to put points on the board for St. Louis but was short on a 48-yard field goal attempt.

Mason Crosby's 25-yard chip shot field goal with 11:22 to play in the contest extended Green Bay's lead to 30-14. Crosby's three points ended a short seven- play, 55-yard drive.

Crosby tacked on three more points with a 46-yarder with 3:43 left to end the scoring.

The Packers got the ball to start the game and marched 52-yards on nine plays and took the early lead after Grant barreled his way over the goal line from one-yard out. Grant carried the ball six times for 17 yards on the scoring drive.

With 1:11 remaining in the opening quarter, the Rams tied the game after Bulger found Holt wide open near the left side of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown reception. Jackson racked up 39 yards rushing on the drive.

Green Bay regained its lead just 45 seconds into the second quarter after Favre threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Donald Lee. The score was set up by a 37-yard catch-and-run play by Driver down the left sideline that put the Packers on the St. Louis four-yard line.

The Rams responded after Lee's touchdown and tied the contest at 14-14 after a 46-yard run up the middle by Jackson with 10:09 left in the second.

The Packers made it 17-14 after Crosby booted a 44-yarder just inside the right upright with 3:54 remaining in the first half.

Atari Bigby's second interception of the game set up a field goal by Crosby, who split the uprights with a 50-yarder with 10:21 to play in the third quarter to make it 20-14.

Game Notes

Jennings has caught at least one touchdown in 10 of the last 12 games for the Packers...Favre improved to 7-3 over the Rams in his career...Driver has had a reception in 94 consecutive games...Jackson recorded his second 100-yard rushing game this season...Holt has five career touchdowns in five games against Green Bay.

12/16 19:51:43 ET