GREEN BAY, Wis. — Brett Favre jogged out of the tunnel in a purple helmet. He might as well have been wearing a black hat.

No, Favre didn't seem to relish playing the villain in his return to Lambeau Field. But it was going to take more than a chorus of boos to throw him off his game.

For the second time in less than a month, Favre sliced up his former team and stuck it to the franchise that cast him aside as the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers, 38-26, at Lambeau yesterday. Despite being jeered repeatedly by Packers fans who once cheered his every move, Favre completed 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.

"Packer fans cheer for the Packers first," Favre said. "I know that. But I hope that everyone in the stadium watching tonight said, 'I sure hate those jokers on the other side, but he does play the way he's always played.' "

High-stakes, emotional drama aside, this much is clear: The Vikings (7-1) took a firm hold on the NFC North standings.

Rookie receiver Percy Harvin caught five passes for 84 yards and a touchdown and had five returns for 175 yards for Minnesota.

The Vikings' defense roughed up Favre's successor, Aaron Rodgers, sacking him six times. But with the Packers (4-3) on the verge of getting routed, Rodgers rebounded with three second-half touchdowns.

A few of those crunching hits left Rodgers limping at times, but he said he'd be fine.

"I'll be OK in a couple of days," Rodgers said. "This one will hurt for a couple of days, though, physically and mentally."

But Rodgers — who threw for only 38 yards in the first half but finished with 287 and 3 TDs — wasn't hung up on outdueling Favre.

"I hate to lose to whoever's at quarterback for them," Rodgers said. "I hate losing to the Vikings."

Favre left the field surrounded by cameras, pumping his fist to a mix of cheers and boos as he jogged down the tunnel. He hugged cornerback Al Harris, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.

Despite the final score, it was an awkward homecoming for Favre, whose high-profile standoff with the front office split the loyalties of Packers fans last summer.

There weren't many signs of a split yesterday.

Fans booed Favre loudly on every snap during the Vikings' first few offensive possessions.