AP News, January 1st, 2007
Nick Collins and Patrick Dendy returned interceptions for touchdowns and Brett Favre passed for 209 yards and a score in the first half Sunday night to help the Green Bay Packers take a 23-0 lead over the Chicago Bears.
Favre looked as if he could play forever, completing 13 of 26 passes and hitting Donald Driver with a 9-yard touchdown pass to cap a 75-yard drive on the opening series.
Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman played as poor a half as imaginable, throwing three interceptions and fumbling a snap as the boos poured down at Soldier Field.
The Bears didn't look like a team that had already clinched the NFC North and wrapped up home field advantage. Grossman completed just two of 12 passes for 33 yards.
Collins took an interception 55 yards to make it 13-0 in the first quarter, but Dendy's 30-yard return of a tipped pass with 34 seconds left in the half really put the Bears' chances of going unbeaten in the NFC in deep jeopardy.
Favre looked like the three-time MVP he is on the opening drive of the game. Green Bay converted three straight third downs and Favre whipped passes of 35 and 13 yards to Carlyle Holiday before drilling the scoring to Driver to complete the 11-play march.
During the drive, Ahman Green got the 12 yards he needed to reach 1,000 yards for a sixth time, the first Packers back to do so.
Green Bay was driving again late in the quarter but Favre's pass was intercepted by Nathan Vasher, who returned it to the Bears 35. Five plays later, Collins picked off Grossman's pass intended for Desmond Clark and ran in easily. After Dave Rayner missed the extra point, the Packers led 13-0.
Grossman's woes continued early in the second quarter when he killed a Chicago drive by fumbling the snap, with the Packers' Ryan Pickett recovering.
Favre then hit a 34-yard pass to Ruvell Martin to the Chicago 19. When the Packers' drive stalled, Rayner came on and this time missed a 32-yard field goal attempt.
Grossman then threw his second interception when Charles Woodson took the ball out of Rashied Davis' hands on another sideline pattern.
The Packers faint playoff hopes had ended by the time they took the field Sunday night. And since the Bears had already wrapped up home field advantage, the most significant aspect of the game was whether it would be the final one of Favre's stellar career.
It would be a fitting locale for a Favre farewell _ if that is what he chooses.
Favre was 21-8 against the Bears entering the game, his most wins against any opponent, and had an 11-2 record at Soldier Field. The TD pass Sunday night was his 52nd against the Bears, his most against any team.
He's not even sure what the future holds, telling reporters last week he'd make his decision after he'd had some time away from the game in the offseason.
