Streaks alive: Favre and Vikings beat Lions 27-13

By LARRY LAGE

The Associated Press

DETROIT — Brett Favre set an NFL record with his 271st straight start in the regular season, then threw two touchdown passes to help the Minnesota Vikings beat the Detroit Lions 27-13 on Sunday.

Adrian Peterson's 27-yard TD run midway through the third quarter gave Minnesota (2-0) its first lead and he finished with 92 yards rushing.

The Lions (0-2) looked like they might win for the first time since 2007 when they had a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter, but lost their 19th straight game to tie the second-longest skid in NFL history. The Chicago Cardinals, in the 1940s, and the Oakland Raiders, in the 1960s, also lost 19 straight.

Detroit, which became the NFL's first 0-16 team last season, will desperately hope it doesn't approach Tampa Bay's record of 26 losses in a row set during the 1976-77 seasons. It hosts the Washington Redskins next week.

Minnesota shut down rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford after he and the Lions had some success early, taking control in the second half on Peterson's TD, Favre's second pass for a score and Ryan Longwell's field goals.

Chad Greenway had two interceptions and recovered a fumble for the Vikings, who held Detroit scoreless from the 5:40 mark of the second quarter — when Stafford connected with Calvin Johnson — until Jason Hanson kicked a meaningless field goal with 3:21 left in the game.

Favre was 23 of 27 for 155 yards with TD passes to rookie Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe. He appeared to hurt his right hand when he got hit just before connecting with Harvin midway through the fourth quarter. Harvin caught five passes for 41 yards and a score.

On his first snap, the three-time MVP and multiple-record holder set another NFL record. Defensive end Jim Marshall had the previous mark for consecutive starts, 270 games in a row for Minnesota from 1961-1979.

Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the draft, started for the second straight week and seems like he's going to learn the hard way on the field with the lowly Lions. He was 18 of 30 for 152 yards with a TD and two interceptions.

Johnson had fivereceptions for 51 yards and Kevin Smith ran for 83 yards.

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September 20, 2009 04:21 PM EDT

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