Green Bay 34; Chicago 21

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Brett Favre passed for three first-half touchdowns Monday night, continuing his career mastery of the Chicago Bears as the Green Bay Packers won easily, 34-21.

Favre, playing his first game at Memorial Stadium in Campaign, Ill., shredded a defense that was missing two starters and improved to 17-4 lifetime against Chicago. He completed 17-of-25 passes for 287 yards in the first half as Green Bay (4-1) built a 24-14 lead.

"He was excited on the sidelines and animated," said Coach Mike Sherman. "He was into this game, and his leadership and his performance was a big part of our victory. He was pretty close to playing about as good a game as you can play at one point there. He did play an extraordinary football game."

Just 22 seconds before halftime, Favre became the eighth player in NFL history to pass for 40,000 yards when he hit Terry Glenn for a 10-yard gain.

"From day one, all of the success I've had, I never imagined any of it," Favre said. "I always wanted an opportunity to play; I got that. And to be as successful as I've been and to have accomplished what I have takes a lot of luck and determination and competitiveness."

The Packers turned things over to their defense and running back Ahman Green in the second half, getting a 72-yard interception return from defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in the third quarter.

Green finished with 107 yards on 27 carries as Green Bay took control of the NFC North, moving two games ahead of the Bears (2-3).

"We had 300 yards at halftime and two TDs in the first quarter, so something's working," Favre said. "We're 4-1, so it isn't like we haven't been doing something right week in and week out."

Jim Miller was 27-for-49 for 353 yards with three TDs and three interceptions, but much of that yardage came after the game had been decided.

"We're making too many mistakes to overcome," Miller said. "Good football teams can overcome mistakes but not as many as we are making. There's plenty of blame to go around, it's not repeatedly the same guys. That includes me, that includes everyone."

"It's a really disappointing Monday night loss," said Bears Coach Dick Jauron. "We let too many plays get away from us. You just can't do that against a team as good as the Packers and expect to win."

On Green Bay's first possession, Favre, on a rollout, threw an 85-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Donald Driver to get the ball rolling.

"We weren't really looking for the post on that. We normally look for the tight end," said Driver. "On the post, you've got to stay alive. I stayed alive and Brett made a great throw and I made a great catch. That's the thing about Brett -- you keep running and get open, and he'll find you."

The Packers got a scare late in the second quarter when Favre injured his right elbow.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to be capable of coming back, but I did," he said. "My right side went numb for a few moments on the sidelines."

Green Bay next plays at New England on Oct. 13. The Bears have an open date before traveling to Detroit on Oct. 20.