Favre's INT, other turnovers cost Vikings in NFC title game

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NEW ORLEANS - Brett Favre threw two interceptions and lost a fumble last night, as his Minnesota Vikings lost the NFC Championship Game at New Orleans, 31-28 in overtime.

Garrett Hartley kicked a 40-yard field goal after the Saints won the coin flip and marched 39 yards in 10 plays in the OT’s only possession.

Favre completed 28-of-46 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings racked up 475 yards to just 257 for New Orleans. But Minnesota was plagued by six turnovers in losing its fifth straight NFC title game, missing a chance for its first Super Bowl since 1977.

The 40-year-old Favre, the oldest quarterback ever in a conference championship game, was hit about 15 times but was not sacked. He hurt an ankle in the fourth quarter, but did not miss a play. For Favre, it was his second NFC title defeat in three years. He was an interception away from the Super Bowl for the Green Bay Packers in January of 2008.

The Vikings could have also become the just second NFC North team to make the Super Bowl since the Packers lost to Denver in the ’97 championship. Safety Darren Sharper played for the Pack as a rookie in that game, and he’s returning to the Super Bowl with the Saints. Sharper had seven tackles last night.

Former Wisconsin Badgers’ corner Jonathan Casillas will also play for the Saints. He did not have any tackles against the Vikings, but he almost sacked Favre when he was called for roughing.

After the game, Favre said he’d go home to Mississippi to decide if he’ll return for the final year of his contract in 2010. He vowed not to keep the Vikings waiting – like he did with the Packers several times near the end of his 16 seasons in Green Bay. Favre still one Super Bowl win to his credit – that being with Green Bay at the end of the 1996 season.

Tags: mn sports, vikings, proam