Groin injury latest of Favre’s maladies

To watch Brett Favre perform in Lambeau Field, you never would have known he had a groin injury, but he suffered one Wednesday and tweaked it before the game.

Turns out Brett Favre didn’t only have to overcome emotions to guide the Vikings to a 38-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Favre also played against his former franchise despite a painful groin injury he suffered Wednesday in practice and aggravated in pregame warm-ups.

Favre was limited all week because of what was listed as a hip injury, but he told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King the real issue was his groin. Favre never doubted he could play against the Packers until he tweaked it shortly before kickoff.

But that didn’t stop him from completing 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. That gave Favre and the Vikings a series sweep of the Packer and put Minnesota in control of the NFC North race with a 7-1 record entering the bye.

The week off will come at a good time for the Vikings, as several players will get a much-needed rest.

Vikings coach Brad Childress expressed little concern about Favre’s latest injury. The team actually has done a pretty good job of keeping Favre healthy — he was not sacked against the Packers — and his right arm continues to be extremely strong after he had surgery to repair a torn biceps tendon last spring.

NOTES

Quarterback Brett Favre on his emotions heading into Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field as a visitor after being the Packers quarterback for 16 seasons: “It was worse than I thought it was going to be based on how the week went, but it was better than the last game (against Green Bay on Oct. 5). We played about as good as we could have played. They are a good team. We played for the most part like we are capable of playing and that is the satisfying thing about the win.”

Favre on where the Vikings are headed: “We will find out how good we are. We have had some tough tests, and we have responded very well. We are 7-1, and granted that is very good, but we haven’t done anything yet. We have put ourselves in a good position at this point.”

Vikings coach Brad Childress on what it means to have Favre on his team: “He is a good player. There is no such thing as too many good players or too many tools in the tool box. He is an equal-opportunity thrower, he is going to find them if they are open. It doesn’t make any difference who it is. He knows the system and he knows how to play the game. He also gives us a little bit of personality in the locker room.”

WR Bernard Berrian was able to play Sunday despite a left hamstring strain that sidelined him for the second half of the previous week’s game in Pittsburgh. Berrian played after testing the injury before the game.

LB Ben Leber continues to have his snaps limited because he is the linebacker who usually comes out in passing situations when an extra defensive back is inserted. In those instances, LBs Chad Greenway and E.J. Henderson remain on the field.

RT Phil Loadholt held his own Sunday on the occasions when Packers LB Aaron Kampman did put his hand on the ground and rush. Kampman, who was converted to linebacker from defensive end, did not have a sack this season in two games against the Vikings. In fact, Brett Favre was never sacked by his former teammates.

CB Antoine Winfield has missed the past two games because of an injury to his right foot, but it’s expected he will return shortly after the Vikings’ bye week. Minnesota will play three in a row at home, beginning with Detroit. It’s possible Winfield could miss that game and then play the following week against Seattle.

CB Karl Paymah opened in Antoine Winfield’s left corner spot for a second consecutive game because the Vikings were in their nickel package and Benny Sapp was playing the inside. Sapp also saw some time at the left corner again Sunday.