Tuesday Moring Running Back Week Eight: Return of the Lambeau Legend

It was a sight we thought we’d never see. It felt like hell had frozen over and Santa Claus had suddenly converted to satanism.

There was Brett Favre, the man responsible for the reversal of fortune of the Green Bay Packer franchise, running on to the field in the putrid purple of the hated Minnesota Vikings.

Surprisingly, he was met with a chorus of boos.

On one hand I can understand that. I would feel jilted too if I ever saw David Ortiz come back to Boston in a Yankee uniform.

However, this man did make the Packers a force to be reckoned with again after so many appalling years under such luminaries as Anthony Dilweg and Don Majkowski.

But as always, sports fans are entitled to feel what they wish about whoever they want.

So amid a smattering of boos and cheers, Favre was intent to prove he still could competently quarterback a team at his advanced age.

When it was over, Favre had thrown for 244 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-26 victory.

Even when it appeared the Packers would rally in the third quarter, Favre never let his guard down and was able to count on the reliable footwork of Percy Harvin, who is quickly becoming a candidate for rookie of the year.

So in essence, while Green Bay fans have the right to feel betrayed, they have to admit that their one time hero still can adequately run an offense.

Now, heading into the bye week at 7-1, the Vikings stand atop the NFC as the team to beat.

Elsewhere in week eight action.

• You’ve got to feel bad for the Giants. It isn’t often that a team goes from first to third place in the course of a day.

• I don’t think there’s a more dynamic wideout in the NFL right now than DeSean Jackson. His big touchdown catch literally knocked the wind out of the Giants sails.

• Sooner of later you knew the Broncos were gong to crumble for at least one game. The Ravens desperately needed a victory to keep pace with the Bengals and they not only won, they made a statement.

• Maybe Rex Ryan was half right when he said he felt like the Jets outplayed the Dolphins. It certainly appeared that way on offense. But on special teams, Ted Ginn, Jr. obliterated the Jets in taking two kicks to the house. That my friends was the difference.

• Even though Peyton Manning was out of sync with his passes, Joseph Addai proved that not only can he throw, but he can do it left-handed. An equally sloppy 49er defense helped the Colts escape defeat.

• Vince Young may have given the Titans a shot of confidence in leading them to a win, but it was Chris Johnson who was the difference maker as he rushed for a franchise record 228 yards.

• Tony Romo proved that he isn’t afraid to use all of his targets by connecting with three of his receivers for touchdowns to beat the Seahawks. The win also moved Dallas into a tie for first with the Eagles in the NFC East.

• On most Sundays, the Panthers have trouble holding onto the ball, as Jake Delhomme currently leads the NFL in interceptions. But this Sunday, a savvy Panther defense forced Kurt Warner into throwing five interceptions of his own in a surprising win over Arizona.

• Even though Owen Daniels is done for the year, the Texans learned that they can exploit a power running game for the rest of the season. Backup RB Ryan Moats stepped in for Steve Slaton and scored a team record three rushing touchdowns in one game.

• The Chargers used the reliable LaDainian Tomlinson and the tenacious defense of Shawne Merriman to defeat the Raiders for the the 13th straight time.

• Isn’t it interesting that more and more reports about Tom Cable being an abusive person are now coming out of the woodwork. While I personally think his former lovers are beating a dead horse into the ground, I find it odd that they waited this long to come forward.

• So much for Derek Anderson being the guy to snap the Browns out of their funk.

• Sometimes I think Rodney Harrison likes to hear himself talk. He suggested Eric Mangini cut Derek Anderson to send a message to his team. Uh, Rodney, a lot more people need to be fired or released before the Browns can ever think about turning it around.

• All you need to know about the Rams/Lions game, a game I affectionately called the Toilet Bowl, is that the Rams James Butler intercepted a pass and forgot to take it out of the end zone. Congratulations to Steve Spagnuolo on his first NFL coaching victory, I think.

• The Falcons gave it a good effort against the Saints last night, but maybe they could have won if Michael Jenkins didn’t drop an easy pass in the red zone in the third quarter.

• Next week we got a couple of key divisional showdowns with the Dolphins at the Patriots and the Giants at the Eagles. See you next Tuesday for the analysis.

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Tuesday Morning Runnng Back Week Four: Brett Favre Sparkles in MNF Spotlight

It was an image we’d thought we thought we’d never see in our lifetimes.

The man that is considered by many from Kenosa to Green Bay as the man who returned football to prominence in Cheeseland, was now playing against them.

Better yet, he was under center for a hated rival.

Hence, the drama was understood, and the atmosphere electric, as Brett Favre went out went out to prove he still has it to both the world and his former team.

He did just that.

It was as if he stepped into a time machine, his passes were on target, his arm was strong, and he trusted the speed of his receivers to go get the ball.

When it was over, the Vikings had a 30-23 win, and Favre threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions, with a passer rating of 135.3 that would make Drew Brees blush.

Favre’s almost perfect night on a national stage even managed to steal some limelight away from his own teammate. Jared Allen recorded 4.5 sacks, the most ever by a defensive player on Monday Night Football.

But it was clearly No. 4′s night, as he proved you can teach an old dog new tricks.

How does he do it?

It must be the Wranglers.

Elsewhere in week four action:

• I always love to see players who get the message when they’re benched that there is no margin for error. Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall turned his punishment into a positive as he rushed for 165 yards and two touchdown in their win over San Diego.
• Ravens WR Mark Clayton is the clear goat of the week as he dropped a easy touchdown that allowed the Patriots to get away with a win. 
• Mark Sanchez finally got his welcome to the NFL moment as he was sacked four times and the offensive turned the ball over four times in a sloppy game for the Jets.
• It’s amazing that Drew Brees has not thrown a touchdown pass in two weeks but yet the Saints are still 4-0 for the first time since 1993.
• Memo to Tony Romo, with the game on the line and one second left, it isn’t a good idea to throw the ball in Champ Bailey’s direction.
• I know their secondary is depleted, but any good defensive team that allows themselves to be picked apart by an average QB like David Garrard deserves to lose. It’s a shame the Titans can’t find any answers.
• Maybe Chad Henne will be the Matt Cassell of 2009, but then again he was sacked six times and helped out by his running game.
• The Bills have now lost eight consecutive games in their division, and have also been outscored 65-17. It’s time to bring out the paper bags Bills fans.
• It was nice to see that the Redskins rebounded for a victory after a putrid start in which they allowed two sacks and lost a fumble.
• The slow exhaling you hear is that of every Giants fan after they learned Eli Manning was only going to be out day-to-day.
• So much for the Lions carrying any momentum into week four as they allowed 48 points to the Bears.
• If you have a 4th-and-11 in overtime with a minute and four seconds left at your opponents’ 41, why wouldn’t you go for it? Thankfully, Marvin Lewis came to his senses and it all worked out for the better.
• The Texans only gave up 165 yards of total offense on Sunday, the lowest total in their history. But then again, it was the Raiders,.
• You saw a vintage Peyton Manning on Sunday as he led the Colts to touchdowns on their first five drives, and tied Fran Tarkenton for third on the all time TD passing list in a win over the Seahawks.
• Mike Singletary’s positive approach and motivational pep talks have certainly inspired the 49er’s, as they now occupy first place in the NFC West.
• I’ll leave you with this parting thought, The Saints and Broncos are both 4-0 and the Bengals and 49er’s are both 3-1. Are we living in a bizarre world or what?

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