GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -Dave Rayner kicked two field goals, but missed one off the upright and had another blocked as the Green Bay Packers held a 6-0 halftime lead over the Minnesota Vikings with the two rivals trying to keep their faint playoff hopes alive Thursday night.

Rayner converted his first field goal attempt from 38 yards and another to end the half from 44 yards. But he slipped on his second try, also from 38, and his third attempt from 34 yards bounced off the left upright.

Brett Favre went 18-of-33 - a career-high for pass attempts in the first half - for 175 yards. He kept moving the Packers deep into Vikings' territory, but they couldn't score touchdowns the three times they reached the red zone - a common problem this season.

The Packers' first drive gained 44 yards, but Green Bay's offense stalled after Ahman Green's 13-yard run set up first-and-goal on the 8. Linebacker Ben Leber sacked Favre for a loss of 12, and Favre threw a pair of incomplete passes trying to set up screens, leaving Rayner to convert his kick against a slight wind.

The Packers drove 51 yards on their second possession, but Rayner's second attempt was blocked by Ray Edwards after he slipped and fell.

In the second quarter, Favre again had the Packers moving, this time to the Vikings 16 after a 22-yard catch by Donald Driver, who had six receptions for 78 yards at the half.

But three straight incomplete passes again brought Rayner on the field, and his kick hit midway up the left upright.

On the Packers' final drive of the half, Favre went 3-for-4 for 19 yards, setting up Rayner, who hit his final kick of the half straight through the uprights as time expired.

Minnesota started rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson replaced 38-year-old Brad Johnson on Sunday, but was limited in his first start. The second-round pick out of Alabama State completed his first two passes, but neither gained more than four yards.

While he had a chance to showcase his arm - a 50-yard toss to Troy Williamson bounced off of Williamson's shoulder incomplete - he still wasn't consistent, finishing the half 6-of-11 for 34 yards.

Jackson, who became the 201st quarterback in the league to start since Favre began his streak of 256 consecutive starts, was sacked twice on third down in the first half by Aaron Kampman, giving the Pro Bowler 14 1/2 this season.

He also threw a pass deep in Vikings' territory late in the first half that linebacker A.J. Hawk read perfectly, but couldn't catch for an interception.

Because of Jackson's struggles, Minnesota didn't have a first down for nearly 12 minutes, and the Vikings had gained a total of 38 yards by halftime, getting 20 yards on six carries by Chester Taylor, who also had a 9-yard catch.

Minnesota had been sloppy, too, committing seven penalties for 40 yards.

Favre, in what could be his final game at Lambeau Field, seemed to enjoy a festive atmosphere despite the rainy, cold conditions. He interrupted the NFL Network's live pre-game coverage to say hello to Steve Mariucci, who was the Packers quarterbacks coach from 1992-95. Favre also hugged outgoing Packers president Bob Harlan after a tribute honoring him followed Green Bay's first offensive possession.

Both teams came into the game 6-8, needing a win and help to stay alive in the muddled NFC.

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