Green Bay, Wis. ? Most playoff teams would expect to get more than 166 yards passing from their starting quarterback.

For the Chicago Bears, however, it represents a giant leap forward.

Rex Grossman didn’t pile up gaudy statistics in his first regular-season start in nearly 15 months. But his ability to throw accurate deep passes gave the Bears a new dimension, helping them clinch the NFC North and a first-round bye with a 24-17 victory Sunday over the Green Bay Packers.

“We mixed it up a little bit,” Grossman said. “We saw a lot of tape where we could do some things down the field, and we made a few plays there. We got a lead and came back to our running game and great defense.”

The Bears (11-4) also swept the Packers for the first time since 1991.

Chicago's Tank Johnson (99) sacks Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre during the fourth quarter. The Bears beat the Packers, 24-17, Sunday in Green Bay, Wis., wrapping up the NFC North title.

“I don’t think you can change the magnitude of winning in Green Bay or clinching the division in Green Bay,” said linebacker Lance Briggs, who returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter. “It’s the Packers. They’re our biggest rival.”

The Packers (3-12) are well on their way toward their first losing season in the Brett Favre era. With one game remaining, the futures of Favre and coach Mike Sherman remain in doubt.

“This one really hurts, because we didn’t want them to win the division on our field,” Packers defensive tackle Grady Jackson said. “This season feels like a bad dream.”

The season has been a nightmare for Favre, who tried to rally the Packers in the final minute but came up short. A potential game-tying drive ended with yet another Favre interception.

Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman celebrates as he walks off the field after the Bears beat Green Bay to clinch the NFC North division title.

Favre had four more passes picked off Sunday, bringing his total to 28 for the season and surpassing his previous career high of 24 in 1993.

“Anytime a quarterback gets four interceptions, you have to look at that,” Sherman said. “I do know this: He gave us a chance to win there at the end.”

Favre has gone four straight games without a touchdown pass, the first time in his career he has gone more than two games without throwing for a score.

Favre, who has yet to decide if he will return to play next season, didn’t speak to reporters after the game.

Favre outdueled Grossman with 317 yards on 30-of-51 passing, including six passes to Donald Driver for 106 yards. But Grossman threw more effective deep passes, opening up space for running back Thomas Jones. Jones had 25 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown.

“It was great to see the offense do that,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “It was good to see the defense finish the job at the end. It was a great team effort, a great team win.”

Grossman missed most of last season because of a knee injury, then broke his ankle in a preseason game in August. He was replaced by rookie Kyle Orton, who played mostly mistake-free football but didn’t make spectacular plays.

Minnesota wide receiver Travis Taylor, right, celebrates his touchdown against Baltimore with teammate Jermaine Wiggins. The Vikings couldn't prevail, falling, 30-23, Sunday in Baltimore.

Ravens 30, Vikings 23

Baltimore – Minnesota’s flickering playoff hopes were snuffed out by a barrage of precision passes from a suddenly effective Kyle Boller.

Boller went 24-for-34 for 289 yards and three touchdowns, and Baltimore eliminated the Vikings from the postseason hunt.

Needing a victory to stay alive, the Vikings (8-7) came up with their worst defensive performance in two months. Minnesota, which hadn’t given up more than 23 points since Oct. 30, allowed the Ravens to go 10-for-15 on third down. The Vikings’ loss gave the New York Giants (10-5) a playoff berth.

Baltimore (6-9) trailed, 20-17, before Boller threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Mason with 14:47 left. Then, after Minnesota punted from the Ravens 38, Boller directed a 68-yard drive that produced a 38-yard field goal by Matt Stover with 1:55 to go.