Favre’s big play lifts Packers in OT

Green Bay receiver Greg Jennings (85) celebrates his game-winning, 82-yard touchdown catch against Denver. The Packers defeated the Broncos, 19-13 in overtime, Monday night in Denver.

? Graybeard Brett Favre certainly isn’t running low on arm strength or signature moments.

On the first play following the kickoff in overtime, Favre connected on an 82-yard touchdown pass with Greg Jennings, and the Green Bay Packers defeated the Denver Broncos, 19-13, on Monday night.

“I feel like I’ve been on some better teams, but it’s hard to doubt this team,” Favre said. “That was fun. I can’t wait to watch the tape.”

Denver had tied the score at 13 on Jason Elam’s 21-yard field goal as time ran out in regulation, setting the stage for yet another Favre comeback.

Green Bay won the coin toss and on the first play, Jennings was matched up in man-to-man coverage on the left side. Favre, who threw a 79-yard touchdown pass to James Jones in the first half, hit Jennings in stride at the Denver 40. Cornerback Dre’ Bly had no shot at catching the speedy wide receiver who trotted into the end zone as Favre rushed to celebrate Green Bay’s first 6-1 start in five years.

It was the second-longest TD pass in NFL overtime history. On Nov. 10, 1985, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski and wide receiver Mike Quick combined on a 99-yard play.

“We knew if we could get by them we’d have a chance to score,” Jennings said. “That’s what happened with James… Some people say we don’t have speed but today we made it happen.”

Some people were also saying Favre didn’t have any more of those kinds of passes left in his arm.

Even Favre has suggested he’s losing some zip.

“Brett will say, ‘I don’t know if I have anything left in the tank,’ and we’re thinking, ‘What is this guy talking about?’ He’s 70 years old and overthrowing us in practice – a lot,” Jennings said.

The Monday night stage has provided some of the best moments in Favre’s career, from the incredible game in Oakland following the death of his father, to his game-winner to Antonio Freeman in overtime against Minnesota.

Add this to the list. Maybe it belongs at the top.

It was the Packers’ first win in six trips to Denver and their first overtime win on the road since Dec. 12, 1983, at Tampa Bay, in Howard Cosell’s last television broadcast.

The Broncos (3-4) sent it into overtime with a drive that began at their own seven with 2:27 left.

Out of timeouts, the field-goal unit scrambled onto the field and Elam calmly nailed the kick, just as he did two months ago when the Broncos ran the same fire drill to beat Buffalo as time expired in the opener.