Favre puts his dome history to test today

ST. LOUIS -- On Sunday, the Rams will have Brett Favre right where they want him -- indoors.

For some reason, domes don't agree with the NFL's only three-time MVP. The Green Bay quarterback has a 12-20 record in a climate-controlled environment, with nine losses in the last 12 games and 42 interceptions overall. That list does not include his six-interception performance in a 2001 playoff loss at St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome.

Not that the Rams (3-2) are counting on this trend to continue today.

"I would have a hard time walking into this game and telling everybody, 'Well, he's had a hard time in domes, so don't worry about it,'" coach Mike Martz said. "That's probably not what we'll tell our guys."

What Martz will tell his players instead is to beware of a likely Hall of Famer.

"He's one of the all-time best gunslingers, and he's going to compete to the end," defensive lineman Tyoka Jackson said. "We don't expect him to come in and throw six picks again; we expect him to be vintage Brett Favre."

There's no figuring it out

Favre has no idea why he struggles in domes. He also points out that he won a Super Bowl in the Louisiana Superdome after the 1996 season with his best-ever road performance, a 142.8 passer rating.

"I won the biggest game there ever was to win in a dome," Favre said. "If you win that one, you can win any game."

Last week, Favre threw two touchdown passes and was 25-for-36 for 272 yards in a 40-34 overtime loss at home to the Chiefs. That game was played in a stiff wind.

"If you can do it there, you surely can do it when there's no wind," Favre said. "Are we not as quick, is there some apprehension? I don't know. I don't see any of that."

Besides the roof, also working against the Packers (3-3) today is the Rams' recent dominance at home. They're an NFL-best 32-7 since the start of the 1999 season and Monday night's 36-0 shutout of the Falcons was their ninth straight victory in the dome.

Bring on the noise

Noise is a big factor in the run.

"You can't overstate how important it is to our defense," Jackson said. "It really disrupts an offense and limits what they can do in terms of signal-calling, audibles, getting off the ball.

"Also, our team is kind of built with speed in mind."

Packers coach Mike Sherman isn't worried about any of it.

"It just so happens that usually pretty good teams play in those domes," Sherman said. "I think once the game starts, the game is played on the field."

The Packers should gain a slight advantage because the Rams played on Monday night, cramping their preparation. But since 1999, the Rams are 5-3 in that situation.

"It is what it is, you just deal with your schedule and adjust," Martz said. "Who cares? It's an excuse to not play well, I guess. You learn to work around these things."

The Packers have their own problems, trying to get over a devastating loss. They appeared to be closing in on an overtime victory over the Chiefs before Ahman Green fumbled, and on the next play Trent Green hit Eddie Kennison for a 51-yard touchdown pass.

That ended Green Bay's NFL-record 56-game winning streak at home after building a double-digit lead. They squandered two cushions against the Chiefs, 14-0 in the first quarter and 31-14 in the fourth.

"You never get used to it," Favre said. "Fortunately, I don't have too many of those to dwell on. Every loss is tough and that one seemed a little tougher."

Favre moves on

Favre has long gotten past his 2001 playoff debacle in St. Louis.

"I haven't thought much about the last time I was there," he said. "What can you do? You try to redeem yourself, you try to play your best football, that's what I try to do every week."

Favre has an admirer in his opposite number. Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, in a radio interview during the week, rated Favre best in arm strength and selected him as the player he'd pick to stage a fourth-quarter comeback.

"I'm not saying he's my idol or whatever, but it's just fun watching him play," Bulger said. "He takes it seriously, but not as seriously as some people. People make it too complicated sometimes."