Green Bay, Wis. ? It’ll take more than age to slow Brett Favre, who shakes off injuries as if they were colds and hasn’t missed a day of work in more than a decade.

The three-time MVP who battled an addiction to painkillers in the mid-1990s and a bum elbow and thumb in 1999 and 2000, celebrated his 33rd birthday Thursday with cake and ice packs.

The Green Bay Packers’ star quarterback had a sore left elbow after being sandwiched on a play Monday night against Chicago. He’s listed on the injury report this week, but don’t expect his ironman streak to end.

“It’s not too bad,” Favre said. “It was really the only play I got hit on. Thank goodness that was the only hit because it was a good one.”

Favre’s uncanny ability to slip the initial pass rusher has played a big role in his record-setting streak of 177 consecutive starts.

He knows one good hit could end his streak and perhaps his career. As with anybody who has spent a dozen years in the NFL, Favre finds himself thinking about life after football.

“I am to a point where I do think about retirement,” Favre said.

Favre wants to “go out on top,” but said that doesn’t necessarily mean winning another Super Bowl.

“I have already won one,” Favre said. “I know what it feels like. I would love to win another one, but if that doesn’t happen, I still would love to go out playing, at least in my mind, the best football that I could play.

“Twelve years is a long time, and I am happy I have played well, making good decisions, helping our team win. But at some point, either injury or lack of performance will step in and I just hope that I will leave the game before that happens.”

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre turned 33 this week and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Right now, Favre is as good as ever.

He is coming off one of the best performances of his career, a 359-yard quarterback clinic he put on the Bears on Monday night.

“I don’t want people to expect that every week,” Favre said.

But that’s exactly what fans of the Packers look for every time Favre steps on the field and he routinely delivers.

Favre was particularly impressive Monday, when he had 287 yards, three touchdowns and an off-the-charts pass rating of 146.2 at halftime.

“I’d hate to say that was his best ever, because he’s had some pretty darn good performances,” coach Mike Sherman said.

Green Bay's Brett favre laughs with receiver Donald Driver during Monday's game against Chicago in Champaign, Ill.

Favre began his night with an 85-yard scoring pass to Donald Driver the longest play from scrimmage in the NFL this season and second-longest TD toss of his career and ended it as the eighth quarterback in history to throw for 40,000 yards.

Favre said he didn’t feel he was doing anything different, however.

“Even my wife, when I got home, said, ‘Man, you were on fire.’ I said, ‘Well, I wouldn’t say that.’ I mean, I was doing what I’d like to think I always do,” Favre said.

After five games, Favre is the NFC’s leading passer with a 100.8 quarterback rating, his best mark ever for a season was 99.5 in 1995.

He also leads the conference with 1,470 yards passing and 11 touchdown throws to go with just three interceptions.

“I don’t know if there’s any good time to catch Brett,” said New England coach Bill Belichick, whose 3-2 team faces Favre and the Packers (4-1) on Sunday.

“He’s got probably what every player and every coach is looking for at that position in terms of his ability to throw, his athleticism, his leadership, his toughness.”

Patriots cornerback Ty Law said he couldn’t imagine sub-par performance from the Packers’ quarterback.

“Man,” he said, “Brett Favre is always at his best.”