Ravens swarm Favre, Packers 48-3

By Chuck Johnson, USA TODAY

Related item: Game report) BALTIMORE  The Baltimore Ravens haven't decided whether Kyle Boller will be back next year as the starting quarterback, and the Green Bay Packers aren't sure how much longer Brett Favre will play after one of the most disappointing seasons in his 15-year NFL career. In a battle of teams going nowhere, the only thing clear Monday night was that Boller did plenty to earn a closer look while Favre's frustrations continued as the Ravens routed the Packers 48-3 before a crowd of 70,604, the largest in the brief history of M&T Bank Stadium. (

Brett Favre's Monday magic disappeared against the Ravens as he threw two interceptoins. By Evan Siegle, Press-Gazette

The 48 points were a club record for the Ravens.

It was the lowest in a season of lows for the Packers (3-11), who suffered their most lopsided loss since a 61-7 loss against the rival Chicago Bears in 1980.

Boller, who missed seven games after hyperextending his right big toe in Baltimore's 24-7 season-opening loss to the Indianapolis Colts, threw for three touchdown passes, including strikes of 2 and 27 yards to tight end Todd Heap, who had a career-best nine catches for 110 yards, and a 13-yarder to Randy Hymes.

The third-year quarterback completed 19 of 27 passes for 253 yards and a career-high 136 passer rating in his best performance since the Ravens gave up a No. 1 draft pick to select him 19th overall in 2003.

"The offensive line blocked for me," Boller said. "I give myself a B. We have to do this all the time. ... It's a good challenge. They're the No. 1 pass defense in the league.

"He's (Favre) one of the greatest. It was an honor to play against him tonight."

Cornerback Deion Sanders praised his beleaguered quarterback. "I'm so proud of (Boller)," he said. "People talking junk about him, being down on him. ... These are the kind of things he can accomplish."

Baltimore (5-9) also scored TDs on Mark Clayton's 11-yard run and a 3-yarder by Jamal Lewis, who led all rushers with 22 carries for 105 yards, while Matt Stover had field goals of 24 and 40 yards. Defensively, the Ravens limited the Packers to a 27-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell, and Samari Rolle and Sanders each picked off long, desperation passes by Favre.

The Packers entered Monday night ranked 30th in the league in rushing and Favre, working behind an offensive line that's been depleted by free agent defections, has been an adventure through the air. His 24 interceptions this season are a league-high and ties his career high.

Rookie Aaron Rodgers took over for Favre, who was 14 of 29 for 144 yards when he left the game early in the third quarter. The Ravens led 24-3 at halftime and held firm after Rodgers drove the Packers deep inside Baltimore territory midway through the fourth quarter. That threat ended when Rodgers' pass was picked off in the end zone by safety Chad Williams.

Years from now, Boller won't care that the game meant nothing. He will remember that he outplayed Favre.

"It was a really good win," Boller told The Associated Press. "My teammates, my guys, they allowed me to do that."

The Packers absorbed their most lopsided loss since a 61-7 defeat at Chicago in 1980.

"It was tough to watch any part of that game," Green Bay coach Mike Sherman said. "We didn't execute in any phase."

Certainly not on defense. The Ravens, who topped the 20-point mark only once earlier this season, had 24 by halftime.

Boller showed poise in the pocket, was accurate with his throws and didn't commit a turnover. Unfortunately for the Ravens, his solid performance, which produced a franchise record for points, came far too late to salvage a season that long ago turned sour.

"I'm going to keep working. I'm going to keep trying to get better," Boller said. "My teammates have been behind me through everything. That's what really has kept me going."

Favre, meanwhile, struggled from the outset in his final appearance on ABC's "Monday Night Football." The 15-year veteran has enjoyed many memorable moments on Monday night, but this was one he would prefer to forget.

"I thought it was time to take him out of the game," Sherman said. "It was getting out of hand."

Favre's two interceptions gave him a career-high 24 for the season, and it marked the first time in his illustrious career that he has gone three straight starts without a touchdown pass. Sanders' interceptions was the 53rd of his career.

Favre refused to talk to the media after the game.

Green Bay played the final three quarters without running back Samkon Gado, who left with a knee injury after gaining 45 yards on six carries.

Todd Heap caught nine passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. The fifth-year tight end has 2,841 career yards receiving, breaking the team mark held by Qadry Ismail.

"That was the most fun I've had this season," Heap said. "Kyle and I said before the game, 'Let's just go out and have fun tonight.' And we did. It shows what we're capable of doing."

The Ravens are 5-2 at home but winless on the road.

Boller was 14-of-18 in the first half to stake Baltimore to a 24-3 lead. He added a 27-yard touchdown pass to Heap on the Ravens' first possession of the third quarter, leaving Favre with no chance of pulling off one of his patented comebacks.

Instead, Favre lasted only two more series before calling it a night.

Not long after that, many in the crowd of 70,604 — the largest to watch an NFL game in Baltimore — began filing out.

After the Packers went three-and-out on the game's opening series, B.J. Sams returned a punt 49 yards to the Green Bay 18. That set up a 2-yard scoring pass from Boller to Heap, the first time this season Baltimore scored a touchdown on its first drive.

The Ravens made it 14-0 on their next possession. A 17-yard run by Lewis and a 22-yard pass to Derrick Mason set up the 11-yard scamper by Clayton, who took the snap in shotgun formation and sprinted around right end.

It was the most points the Ravens scored in the opening quarter this season, and more points than they scored in seven of their previous 13 games.

Ahmad Carroll took the ensuring kickoff 57 yards, setting up a 27-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell.

Baltimore made it 21-3 with the kind of drive that has eluded the offensively challenged team for much of the season. The 16-play, 96-yard march followed Rolle's interception and was extended by a third-down holding call against Green Bay safety Mark Roman.

On the fifth third-down play of the possession, Boller threw the 13-yard touchdown score to Hymes, who made a leaping one-handed grab in the end zone in front of Carroll.

Notes: Green Bay hasn't been 3-11 since 1991. ... It was Rolle's first INT with the Ravens.

Contributing: The Associated Press