Matt Hasselbeck
© AFP/Getty Images Jonathan Ferrey

SEATTLE, United States (AFP) - A record crowd of 68,256 endured tough conditions to watch the Seahawks improve to 7-4, stretching their NFC West division lead to two games, while the Packers slid to 4-7.

Brett Favre, who suffered a right elbow injury last week but made his 252nd consecutive start, connected with Donald Driver on a 48-yard touchdown pass just 2:21 into the third quarter to give Green Bay a 21-12 lead.

But Hasselbeck threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Hackett just 6:20 later and put the Seahawks ahead just 49 seconds into the fourth quarter with a four-yard touchdown toss to Darrell Jackson.

Hasselbeck, back after missing the past four weeks with a sprained knee ligament, flipped a two-point conversion pass to Jerramy Stevens and Seattle stretched the margin to 27-21.

Green Bay kicker Dave Rayner booted a 34-yard field goal with 10:50 remaining to pull the Packers within three.

But Hasselbeck answered once more, connecting on a three-yard touchdown pass to Stevens over the middle for a touchdown that gave Seattle a 34-24 lead with 6:13 remaining.

Brett Favre(L) tries to get off a pass
© AFP/Getty Images Jonathan Ferrey

Favre, the NFL's number two all-time passer, threw two of his three interceptions in the final minutes in failed bids to rally the Packers.

Favre won his record three NFL Most Valuable Player awards and a Super Bowl title when Seattle coach Mike Holmgren guided Green Bay before departing after the 1998 season for an eight-year, 32 million-dollar deal with the Seahawks.

Holmgren took the Seahawks to the Super Bowl last season, Seattle losing to Pittsburgh last February with Hasselbeck, a former backup to Favre, leading the team. Favre fell to 3-2 in games against his former coach.

Seattle's Shaun Alexander, last season's NFL rushing champion, carried 40 times, a club record and the most by any NFL rusher this year, for 201 yards. Alexander returned last week after missing six games with a broken foot bone.

Ahman Green scored on a five-yard run to give the Packers a 7-0 lead just 2:18 into the game after Hasselbeck threw an interception.

The Seahawks answered with Josh Brown field goals of 45, 41 and 37 yards to give the hosts a 9-7 lead just 3:34 before half-time.

But the Packers jumped back ahead on Addul Hodge's 29-yard interception return touchdown of a Hasselbeck pass, giving the Packers a 14-9 lead with 1:51 remaining in the second quarter.

Brown's fourth field goal of the first half, a 28-yarder with 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter, pulled the Seahawks within 14-12 at the break.

©AFP