<div><p>MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Brett Favre kept his Super Bowl dream alive in emphatic fashion by throwing four touchdown passes to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a crushing 34-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys in their divisional playoff on Sunday.</p><p>Receiver Sidney Rice pulled in three of Favre's touchdown passes for the Vikings who will visit the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game next Sunday.</p><p>The 40-year-old Favre, the oldest starting quarterback in playoff history, threw for 234 yards to continue his outstanding season.</p><p>"This is what I came back for --- this is what the team expected -- to be in the playoff. We had to be confident and we had to play outstanding football. It was a great win for us, in all our phases," Favre told reporters.</p><p>The quarterback was expertly protected by his line against a Cowboys defense that went into the game in impressive form.</p><p>"Probably the most fatigued or tired I got today was celebrating," said Favre.</p><p>"I tip my hat to our guys, they were outstanding up front.</p><p>"When you are 40 years old, let's be honest, if you take a pounding, something is going to give. Our guys have been outstanding. I was concerned (about the Cowboys defense)," he said.</p><p>In the end, it was the Vikings' defensive line that was ruthless, sacking Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo six times.</p><p>The hits had an impact as Romo fumbled three times and threw an interception, his most turnovers in a game since the second week of the season.</p><p>"It's not rocket science, when the front four are pressurising you it makes it difficult," Romo said.</p><p>PERSONAL BEST</p><p>Favre, whose four touchdowns were a personal best in the playoffs, found Rice twice in the first half with expertly floated passes and the Vikings were 17-3 up at halftime.</p><p>Minnesota put the game beyond Dallas with a Rice catch on a 45-yard pass from Favre in the fourth before making the win even more emphatic through Visanthe Shiancoe on another looping throw from Favre.</p><p>The Cowboys did not help themselves with two missed field goals from kicker Shaun Suisham but it was the lack of protection for Romo that cost them.</p><p>"It had a lot to do with pressure, it seemed like Tony was running for his life a lot," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said.</p><p>For Favre, the match-up in the Louisiana Super Dome will be another emotional occasion in what is a remarkable comeback campaign.</p><p>Born in Mississippi, Favre was a Saints fan in his youth and the stadium was also the scene of his sole Super Bowl triumph at the end of the 1996 season.</p><p>Favre said he was glad with his decision to change his mind over retirement and insisted he was loving every minute.</p><p>"The enthusiasm and passion you see is real -- the guys feed off that and fans enjoy that because it is real and genuine.</p><p>"You can't fake that, you can try but people will see right through it."</p><p>(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Ed Osmond)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67146908&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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