Brett Favre started his 164th straight game for the Packers Sunday, but for only the fourth time in his career he didn't finish it.

Favre left with a knee injury, but Doug Pederson and the Pack still pulled out a 30-9 win over the Redskins at Lambeau Field. The Packers' win gives them a 6-1 record with a bye coming up next weekend.

They have won five straight for the first time under coach Mike Sherman and are 6-1 for the first time since the 1996 Super Bowl season.

But, the main concern was over Favre's injury. Sherman said it was diagnosed as a sprained left knee. Favre, who was scheduled for a MRI today, mentioned the word tear a couple times after the game, but also said he expected to be ready for the Packers' next game, a Monday Night Football contest on Nov. 4 against the Miami Dolphins.

"This is an injury, from what I understand, it is possible to play with, especially since we have two weeks with the bye week," Favre said. "I expect to be able to play in two weeks."

Pederson has seen Favre get up after being hit down after down, but when the 3-time MVP got sacked by the Redskins' LaVar Arrington in the third quarter Pederson knew he was going into the game.

"As soon as he got hit, I fully expected he was coming out of the game," Pederson said. "It looked pretty bad from the sidelines. After the first series, Brett wanted to go back in there. He's a real competitor. I just prepared like I had to go back out there. When they determined Brett had to remain out, I knew I was in for the rest of the game."

Pederson, who went into the game with the Packers' leading 17-6, completed 9 of 15 passes for 78 yards. "That's what this team expects of Doug," Favre said after the game. "I know that's what he expects of himself. I was never really concerned that Doug couldn't do the job. He came into the game when it was still a question mark and played very well."

Sherman also had praise for Pederson. "It was a tribute to all the guys how they stepped up and a real tribute to our backup quarterback. He made a couple big third down completions."

Pederson said his main task was to keep up the team's confidence. "I just had to reassure the guys that everything would be fine," he said. "We couldn't let Brett not being in the game set us back. The guys really responded well. Hat's off to our defense. They got us the ball inside their 50-yard line a couple times. Our offensive line really blocked well, and our receivers made some good catches."

The Packers' defensive unit, once again playing without five starters, forced the Redskins into six fumbles, including five by rookie quarterback Patrick Ramsey, and recovered four of them. Two of them, by Todd Franz and Rod Walker, helped the Packers pull away in the fourth quarter.

I can't say enough about the coaches and players in that locker room," Sherman said. "We have faced adversity all season, and then today we lose our quarterback. That probably was the biggest challenge yet, but all the guys stepped up."

Green sets marks

Ahman Green posted his first three touchdown rushing game of his career and gained 88 yards on 24 carries to move into ninth place on the Packers' all-time rushing list. He primarily wanted to talk about the win on Sunday.

"It was what I call a hard work game," Green said. "I just put on my hard hat and went to work. The guys in the line put on their hard hats and went to work too.

"When Brett went out, it really didn't change my role. My job is to run the football, no matter who is at quarterback."

On scoring the three touchdowns, Green said, "It was good primarily because it helped us win. We have to run and pass the football to keep winning."

World Series deal?

Wide receiver Javon Walker had a big 20-yard third down reception Sunday, but before concentrating on football played in the Florida Marlins farm system for a couple seasons. The Marlins retained his baseball contract until very recently.

"I got a letter from the Marlins saying I'd been traded to the Angels," Walker told the Associated Bank Quarterback Club last week. Maybe Javon can get a share of the World Series payoff if the Angels come back to beat the Giants.

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Players of the Game

Doug Pederson and Ahman Green deserve the offensive honors for keeping the Packers moving after Favre went down. On defense, linebacker Nate Wayne was in on 16 tackles, forced a fumble and recovered one to get the honor.

Plays of the Game

Depending on Favre's condition, the biggest play could be Arrington's sack of the star quarterback. If Favre misses more games, it could turn out to be the key play of the season. But, it wasn't really the key to the game Sunday.

The two forced fumbles in the fourth quarter, recovered by Franz and Walker, stand out as huge. The Redskins challenged the fumble that Walker recovered, claiming Ramsey was into his passing motion and maintaining the play should have been called an incomplete pass. But, the review went in the Packers' favor.

That fumble recovery set up Green's third touchdown, which put the Pack ahead 27-9.

Goats of the Game

Ramsey struggled to complete 10 of 24 passes and had those five fumbles. You might also give a set of horns to his coach, Steve Spurrier, for letting a rookie hang out to dry behind a very porous offensive line.

Arrington might be considered a goat by Packers' fans for his hit on Favre, but it was a clean play. In fact, Arrington would likely be the Redskins player of the game after making nine tackles.

Bye Week

On the Pack will take a bye along with the Packers next week. The column will return Nov. 5, after the Packers play the Miami Dolphins in a Monday Night Football game at Lambeau on Nov. 4.

Gregg Hoffmann writes On The Pack on days after Packers' games and Milwaukee Sports Buzz on Fridays for OMC.