Favre-less Vikings fall to Lions 20-13 in finale

Brett Favre
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre runs off the field after the Vikings 20-13 loss to the Detroit Lions in an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. The game likely marked the end of Favre's pro career.
AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

Brett Favre stood in street clothes on the sideline in what likely was the final game of his 20-season career, watching the Detroit Lions beat his Minnesota Vikings 20-13 on Sunday.

The Vikings (6-10) closed out a lost season by putting the three-time MVP quarterback on the inactive because of a concussion, with rookie Joe Webb making his second start.

The Lions (6-10) tripled last season's win total by closing with four straight victories in their best finish since 1995.

Minnesota opened the season with Super Bowl hopes, but week after week of team turmoil took its toll, especially on the 41-year-old Favre. He sustained a series of injuries and wound up sitting out 2½ of the Vikings' final three games. Brad Childress also was fired during the season, with Leslie Frazier finishing out as interim coach.

Shaun Hill threw for 258 yards and a touchdown for the Lions, who took a 13-0 lead and sealed the win with Maurice Morris' 4-yard TD run with 9:29 left.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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