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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHICAGO (AP) -- Another milestone for Brett Favre helped produce
yet another victory for the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.
|  | | Bubba Franks' 20-yard reception set up the Packers' first drive -- a 2-yard run by Ahman Green. |
Favre reached 3,000 yards passing for a ninth straight season to
tie Dan Marino's NFL mark set from 1984-92 while leading the
Packers past the Bears 28-6 Sunday night.
"I wasn't really aware of it until Joe Theismann brought it up.
I think the most important thing is that I've been able to play,"
said Favre, who started his 138th straight game. "By playing every
week and being in the lineup, those individual records will come."
Green Bay (6-7) kept its slim playoff hopes alive by winning its
seventh straight game at Soldier Field. The Packers haven't lost in
Chicago since 1993.
As Green Bay's defense throttled Chicago's anemic offense that
has mustered one touchdown in the last 18 quarters, Favre carved up
the Bears' secondary, completing 19 of 31 passes for 225 yards.
"The one constant we have to have is No. 4," Favre said,
referring to his own number. "We're not good enough right now to
overcome early turnovers or deficits like we did at Carolina last
week or like we did against Chicago earlier.
"I can't dig a hole for this team."
The Bears, who won 27-24 at Lambeau Field in October, fell to
3-10 -- Chicago's fourth straight season of double-digit losses.
Favre threw a 5-yard TD pass to Antonio Freeman and set up two
other scores. It was his 50th career touchdown toss to Freeman.
"It's amazing to have a combination like that. It's hard to
do," Favre said. "It's hard enough to throw one touchdown, let
alone 50, to one guy."
Green Bay, bouncing back from a five-turnover performance last
Monday night at Charlotte, clinched the victory on a cold night --
33 degrees at kickoff with a 21-degree wind chill -- when Tyrone
Williams intercepted a pass from Shane Matthews and returned it 38
yards for a touchdown early in the final quarter. That made it
28-3.
"Brett just throws the balls where he finds the open guys. He
got hot and made the plays and we've all seen him do that before,"
Bears coach Dick Jauron said.
Favre drove the Packers 80 yards for their first touchdown,
hitting passes of 19 yards to Freeman, 21 to Bill Schroeder and 20
to Bubba Franks on a drive capped by Ahman Green's 2-yard run.
Favre, bothered by injuries the last two seasons, hit Schroeder
with a 33-yarder in the second quarter to reach the 3,000-yard
plateau.
"It's an honor to play with him," Schroeder said.
That play started another scoring drive as Favre rolled out and
gunned a 5-yard scoring pass to Freeman, who was able to keep the
backs of his heels in bounds as he was falling backward in the end
zone. The Bears challenged the call but it was upheld by video
review and Green Bay had a 14-3 lead with 4:23 left in the half.
Green broke off an 8-yard scoring run in the third quarter, four
plays after Favre lofted a 38-yard pass to a wide-open Schroeder,
and the Packers were sailing 21-3 in the 160th regular-season
meeting between the two NFL pioneers.
The Bears, with leading receiver Marcus Robinson out with back
spasms, struggled all night after coming up empty early. They
reached the Green Bay 23 on their initial possession, but were
knocked back by an offensive pass interference call. Marty Booker's
juggling 41-yard reception helped the Bears reach the Packers 8 in
the second quarter, but an illegal receiver downfield doused the
drive, and Paul Edinger kicked a 32-yard field goal.
Matthews, who was knocked out for a play in the second quarter
after a hard hit from Nate Wayne, completed 22 of 43 passes for 233
yards with two interceptions.
"As a the quarterback I'll take the blame. I didn't play
well," Matthews said. "Things haven't gone well the last couple
of weeks and I'll be glad to get the year 2000 over with."
Game notes
Schroeder caught six passes for 119 yards, his third
100-yard game this season and fifth of his career. ... Packers DT
Steve Warren left the game in the third quarter with a quadriceps
injury. ... James Allen gained 80 yards on 17 carries for the Bears
and is now 80 yards shy of 1,000 for the season. ... Attendance was
56,146, meaning there were 10,798 no-shows.
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ALSO SEE
Green Bay Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
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