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

Published 3:23 pm Sunday, January 2, 2011

DETROIT (AP) — 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.

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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.