Favre looks healthy, taking hits and delivering one as Vikings beat Texans 17-10

Favre leads Vikings to 17-10 win over Texans

HOUSTON — Brett Favre’s ribs appear to be just fine.

He took plenty of hits and even delivered one.

Adrian Peterson scored on the game’s first play, Favre played three quarters despite saying he might have an injured rib, and the Minnesota Vikings beat the Houston Texans 17-10 in a preseason game Monday night.

In his second game since unretiring less than two weeks ago, Favre was 13 of 18 for 142 yards. He didn’t move the offense much following Peterson’s touchdown until a 28-yard catch and run by Chester Taylor just before halftime.

Favre told ESPN before the game that he thinks he has a cracked rib, but the 39-year-old didn’t look to be in pain while getting sacked twice and taking numerous hits.

He drew a penalty for an illegal crackback block to the knee of Houston’s Eugene Wilson when he lined up wide in the wildcat formation in the third quarter. Wilson was injured on the play.

Houston’s Matt Schaub also had a tough day. He was called for intentional grounding and threw an interception before spraining his ankle on a touchdown run by Steve Slaton in the second quarter. He returned after the injury, but was limping and was replaced by Dan Orlovsky to start the third quarter.

Schaub was 10 of 14 for 108 yards with one interception.

Peterson scored on a 75-yard run when he sliced through Houston’s defense virtually untouched. He finished with 117 yards rushing, the second straight game the Texans have allowed a 100-yard rusher. Mike Bell had 10 carries for 100 yards in a loss to New Orleans.

Minnesota’s three drives after Peterson’s touchdown ended with punts, one of them coming when Favre was sacked by Mario Williams.

The Vikings got the ball at the Houston 24 early in the second quarter after Schaub’s interception, but had to settle for a field goal after Favre’s pass was deflected on second down and then fell incomplete on third down.

Favre led a Vikings drive that took seven minutes in the third quarter, but that too ended with a punt after an incomplete pass and a false start penalty.

Houston’s first three drives ended with punts before Schaub’s interception early in the second quarter.

Orlovsky was intercepted in the third quarter, and finished 7 of 11 for 74 yards.

Tarvaris Jackson started the fourth quarter for Minnesota and Sage Rosenfels ended the game in his return to Houston after an offseason trade. Jackson completed both of his passes for 22 yards and Rosenfels was 2 of 3 for 26 yards.

NOTES: Houston’s Andre Johnson played into the fourth quarter and had three receptions for 61 yards. … Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin caught three passes for 31 yards. … Texans receiver Kevin Walter injured his right hamstring in the first half and did not return.