By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — Brett Favre's penchant for throwing late-game interceptions worked out in Gang Green's favor this time around.
Dwight Lowery intercepted Favre and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown with 1:30 left in the game to give the New York Jets a 29-22 win over the Minnesota Vikings during a rain-soaked night of football at the New Meadowlands.
The Jets defense put heavy pressure on Favre and held the Vikings scoreless in the first half as New York jumped out to a 9-0 lead. However, the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback threw three touchdown passes in the second half, including a 37-yarder to new teammate Randy Moss in the third quarter, to keep Minnesota close.
"We were brilliant in the first half and we knew you have to play four quarters," head coach Rex Ryan told reporters after the game. "This guy is as good as it gets."
Favre threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Percy Harvin to pull the Vikings within 15-13 with 12:47 left in the fourth quarter. The Jets countered with their only touchdown of the night when running back Shonn Greene rumbled into the end zone on a 23-yard run with 4:30 to go.
But Favre wasn't done. The 41-year-old quarterback drove the Vikings back down the field and found Harvin again in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown to cut the Jets lead to 22-20 with 3:09 to go in the game.
The Jets defense wouldn't close the door on the Vikings afterward when Lowery came up with the game-winning interception on the next Minnesota possession.
New York's offense moved the ball well most of the game, but struggled to score touchdowns in the red zone. The Jets were forced to settle for five Nick Folk field goals before Greene's fourth quarter touchdown.
Monday marked the return of Darrelle Revis to the Jets line up and the season debut for linebacker Calvin Pace and wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Revis had missed two games with a hamstring injury and Pace missed the first four with a broken foot.
Holmes, acquired from Pittsburgh during the off season, was suspended for the first four games for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. The speedy wide receiver was targeted on several deep balls by quarterback Mark Sanchez and finished the night with three catches for 41 yards.
Favre completed 14-of-34 passes for 264 yards for Minnesota, but he had two fumbles and an interception that led to three scores by the Jets.
Favre, who was the quarterback for the Jets in 2008, played amid an NFL investigation into inappropriate text messages he allegedly sent to a Jets sideline reporter two years ago. Favre addressed his teammates about the investigation before the game, but he declined to talk about it afterward, according to the AP.
