Brett Favre may have saved Brad Childress' job for at least another week when he rallied the Minnesota Vikings for three consecutive scores and a 27-24 overtime victory against the visiting Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Favre, Childress and the Vikings were cascaded with boos throughout as the Cardinals took a 24-10 lead with 12:44 to play in the game. But Favre rallied Minnesota for two touchdown drives, one culminating on a 4-yard run by Adrian Peterson and the second on a 25-yard pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe with 34 second left to force overtime.
Minnesota (3-5) got the ball in overtime and Peterson's 30-yard run set up Ryan Longwell's 35-yard game-winner.
Fans and media have been calling for the dismissal of Childress, who has been under constant pressure due to his public harangue against Favre, his handling of the Randy Moss signing and sudden release and for a near-physical confrontation with receiver Percy Harvin on Friday.
Favre was picked off twice, once inside the Arizona 10-yard line in the third quarter and another in the first by Kerry Rhodes, who ran it back 69 yards but was stripped from behind at the goal line and the ball trickled through the end zone for a touchback.
Favre completed 36 of 47 passes for 446 yards and two touchdowns and turned the boos into a standing ovation when he left the field.
The Cardinals (3-5) got a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from LaRod Stephens-Howling in the second quarter and a 27-yard touchdown return after a fumbled kick to open the third quarter by Michael Adams that provided a 21-10 edge.
Arizona | Minnesota | |
Timothy Hightower | Player | Adrian Peterson |
13 | Attempts | 15 |
39 | Yards | 81 |
3.0 | Avg Yards | 5.4 |
0 | Touchdowns | 1 |
11 | Long | 30 |
Arizona | Minnesota | |
Larry Fitzgerald | Player | Percy Harvin |
7 | Receptions | 9 |
107 | Yards | 126 |
15.3 | Avg Yards | 14.0 |
0 | Touchdowns | 0 |
30 | Long | 28 |