A Fan’s Account Of Favre Bowl II at Lambeau Field

As a one-time devoted Green Bay Packers fan, as well as an openly hopeless Brett Favre enthusiast, this writer got the best of both worlds this Sunday.

Tailgating with Packers and Vikings fans in a stranger’s backyard, taking trips to a self-made bathroom, I discovered what it is to be both a true Packers/Vikings fan, some humility and that defending your favorite player for the past four years has its perks in the end.

I also learned several other things on November 1st. I learned to not use “the bucket,” the “number two” disposal device, that makes women of all sizes cringe, and makes men second guess the number of brats they’ll be embedding into their fat walls.

I also learned about ketchup, and how it “never belongs on a brat.” I was told to go back to “Detroit,” or whatever that means.

But despite the unlikely culture shock a Florida resident receives from going back to his stomping grounds, the even bigger surprise was seeing the outcome of the game, and somehow even more enlightening-the unfriendly “welcome back”

You could hear the boos from inside the bathroom, even with 120 other men avoiding eye contact and trying to get “their business” done. Even with Vikings fans laughing at other Packers fans, amidst a 24-3 third quarter lead.

Even when the game seemed to be out of reach, ever single time the former Packers legend took the field, he was treated as if he had never played for the green and gold before in his life.

He was, whether we like to admit it or not, truly an outsider.

In talking to many fans and listening in on conversations, it became quite apparent that people weren’t just peeved with Favre. They didn’t just dislike him.

They hated him.

And quite honestly, they hated you if you wanted anything to do with him, too.

From the first Vikings turnover, where Favre attempted an audible and the center flicked the ball past him (leading to their first fumble), to chants of “Favre sucks” randomly emitting from section 126, it had finally dawned on me that sometimes, at least for Favre, you really can never go home.

But the true Packers fans stuck around, even after the bitter loss, and congratulated Favre on his likely final appearance at Lambeau Field as a player.

Even if their form of congratulations was in a “boo,” you could still tell the haters from the folks that were merely saddened and disappointed they had lost their veteran quarterback for good.

After three hours of tailgating, defending Favre, and watching the legend himself pick apart the Packers’ shaky defense, I came two two conclusions:

Green Bay is beyond just moving on from Brett Favre. The fans and the community have erased him from their collective memories, and are in the process of burning any physical evidence of his existence away for good.

But after seeing the jubilant Favre walk off the field truly happy as a winner, I also realized that it just didn’t matter.

If you were at that game, Packers fan or Vikings fan alike, you knew you were witnessing greatness yet again, and regardless of which team you were cheering for, you’d have to try pretty damn hard to keep from smiling when Favre exited the field, arms raised over his head.

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Favre Returns to Lambeau In Triumphant Fashion

To my surprise, Brett Favre returned to Lambeau Field on Sunday to an overwhelming amount of boos. You heard a few claps here and there, but it sounded more like a WWE event than it did an NFL game.

Needless to say, Favre was the villain. And after laughing off the boos, and even a few middle fingers, the villain won.

The Packers are now 0-2 against their rivals in purple this season due in large part to the man who brought their franchise back to the top in the mid-90s.

None of this should be put on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers. Simply put, he’s been great and has proven he’s got a great future in this league. It’s the rest of his team that needs to start pulling its weight. Especially against more formidable opponents.

It still seems the Packers defense has a ton of holes in it. It has looked good against weak opponents and horrible against good ones.

The Vikings now have a powerful grip on the NFC North and unless they collapse like Favre’s Jets did last season, an easy road to the postseason lies ahead.

Favre definitely deserves kudos from the entire NFL. Even the die-hard Packer fans. He came into Green Bay under enormous pressure, threw four touchdowns and led his team to a huge victory. All at the age of 40.

Simply unbelievable, and there’s no other way to put it.

Going into the season I was a Brett Favre critic. I thought he acted like a diva with the whole Packers situation. I still think he did.

Bu I stand corrected regarding his ability. I saw him being just another average quarterback in the NFL. Another Chad Pennington or Matt Hasselbeck.

I was way off.

As good as Favre has been, you can’t forget the fact that Minnesota was already one of the better teams in the NFC before the quarterback addition. They went to the playoffs last season.

I’m not ready to climb aboard the Favre bandwagon just yet, but I’m definitely checking out the brochure.

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Minnesota Vikings Look Super in Lambeau

The sun is shining bright in Minnesota these days (figuratively speaking, not literally) as the Vikings proved their mettle Sunday in Green Bay, and put themselves firmly on the short list of Super Bowl contenders in the process.  

The Vikings continued to demonstrate that they can beat any team, any Sunday, on any field, with any number of players and weapons: The Brett Favre-led passing game methodically matriculating the ball down the field and into the end zone, or the defense holding the opposition to 47 total yards in a half, or another big play from Percy Harvin, just as the opposition is gaining momentum.

And Adrian Peterson is still there, who—despite the inconsistent run blocking he is receiving—remains the most sensational and feared player in football with the ball in his hands.  

Give Brad Childress credit for giving Peterson the ball four times inside the 10-yard line, allowing Adrian to will the ball into the end zone towards the end of the first quarter. It was also the right call to go for it on another fourth-and-one attempt, despite the fact they were stuffed due to that inconsistent run blocking.

Even though the run blocking has been a tad lackluster, and everyone wants a higher yards-per-carry average (which seems greedy since Peterson is averaging 4.8 ypc), their pass protection has been first-rate. Favre has been sacked only 10 times in the past six games, including a big fat zero times against Green Bay.  

The added time in the pocket has allowed Favre to find the talented foursome of Harvin, Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian, and Visanthe Shiancoe down the field. These developments have made it seem like the passing game improves with every drive.

Meanwhile, the Vikings defense got six sacks—all from their front four. Minnesota currently leads the NFL in sacks and Jared Allen is the NFL leader with 10.5.

They should probably send a gift basket to the Green Bay offensive line for those stats. 

The re-emergence of Pat Williams has been crucial to the defense’s recent success. The big man might’ve needed a couple of games to get into game shape, but he has had consecutive superb outings against Pittsburgh and Green Bay. He looked like a tidal wave during his sack Sunday, easily brushing past a weak attempted block from Ryan Grant, before engulfing Aaron Rodgers.

Throw in the fact that Ray Edwards had his best game of the season and that Kevin Williams is the lineman who gets doubled the most on this team these days, and the Vikings front four might be more intimidating than ever.

The secondary is still prone to taking drives, quarters, and halves off, though.

They deserve plenty of credit for their dominant game against Pittsburgh, and their impressive first halves against Green Bay and Baltimore; but they still deserve plenty of scrutiny for their lifeless play whenever the Vikings have a big lead.  

Maybe defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier should reconsider his play-calling in those situations.

Or maybe Benny Sapp could figure out how to take an angle; or Karl Paymah and Madieu Williams could work on wrapping up; or Asher Allen could find a happy medium between his cagey-veteran performance in Pittsburgh and his sloppy-rookie performance in Green Bay.  

Or Antoine Winfield can come back healthy and solve everything.

But, while the score might’ve been close at times and the Vikings might’ve made some irritating mistakes in the second half (looking at you, Brian Robison), Minnesota responded to every Green Bay score and comeback attempt with definitive statements.

And it was those responses, those statements, those touchdown drives in such a hostile environment, during a division game, that have the Vikings looking so super today.  

That and the fact the Vikings have the second-highest points-per-game in the NFL halfway through the season.

Yes, there are still questions and another half-season to play before the playoffs begin; and yes, the Vikings are a missed field goal and a miracle away from being 6-3. 

But their record isn’t 6-3; it is 7-1 as they head into the bye week, which will be followed by home games against Detroit and Seattle.

Anyone could look at this team before the season and see that the ingredients were there for an outstanding season, or disappointment.

So far, the Vikings haven’t disappointed.

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Favre Sticks It to the Packers in Green Bay

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Hostility No Surprise, but Favre Deserves Better

This was never anticipated, a disgruntled crowd that isn’t impatient greeting Brett Favre with heartwarming receptions when making a grand entrance by storming out the visitors’ tunnel. Today, animus natives of the Green Bay Packers fail anointing an unprecedented legend who procured loyalty.

Some feel betrayed, assessing an ultimate sense for rationalizing Favre’s impulsive transition. On a day, his popularity may have unraveled in an unwelcomed return to Lambeau Field, a hostile environment where weariness of un-retiring comebacks became battered and misleading, finally forcing general manager Ted Thompson to appoint an actual timetable for Favre to make up his damn mind.

In the midst of an everlasting saga, Thompson literally was bothered and emotionally pondered refusing to allow Favre to join archrivals the Minnesota Vikings.

It explains why it wasn’t urgent, getting rid of the prolific quarterback ending a long-lasting saga just to keep away the beloved superstar before trading the two-time MVP to the New York Jets, where he struggled in a horrific season and underperformed. Shortly after, Favre deliberated on whether he should retire or un-retire, but instead opted to return again.

Throughout, it has been puzzling guessing on a specific retirement date, but a date doesn’t matter. What matters is, he can persist on fulfilling zest or revenge if he firmly returned to confirm to the world that he could still has a powerful arm, specifically for executing a monstrous drive.   

For the most part, the epicenter of football seems to be Favre, whether it’s retiring, coming back, playing for his former team’s archenemies or seeking revenge against the long-time franchise he committed much of his livelihood to.

But if there’s hoopla referring to Favre, nonessential hype formulates and hijacks our minds inspiring us to watch the future Hall of Famer seek vengeance on his former executives and teammates.

Living in an age when sports is base on politics, much of the Favre debates are base on politics. For instance, there are fans in Cheesehead territory who still adores his audacity and enthusiasm to toss passes, still playing as if he’s a raw athlete barely establishing into a legitimate legend, while there are some who still holds grudges.     

On this particular day, Packers fans went berserk, badly booing an old-timer who has amused an entire state. To have much hostility against Favre is pathetic, when he stirred the Packers to playoff berths and two Super Bowls. True, they were held hostage, ready to move forward with Aaron Rodgers, who patiently waited in the wings to earn his dream job as the starting quarterback.

After he was promised the starting job, the Packers were strictly committed to Rodgers and shut the doors on Favre. Because I believe he came back for vengeance, he still deserved a better reception other than a bitter one he received. Although we all saw this coming, belittling, harassing and deriding their long-time leader was erroneous.

At least taking a brief moment to honor a veteran with much ego and selfishness was a common way to pay tribute to a veteran that installed a winning atmosphere. Instead, Cheesehead maniacs are acting as true Packers fans, and against anyone who signs to play for their archrivals.

But betraying Favre is a misconception, and weird to visualize when it seem he only departed yesterday, traveling to the Vikings. Brad Childress, the coach of the Vikings, was desperate enough accepting the embattled quarterback, to fix deficiencies that greatly were a complication hindering prosperity on their fragile offense.

A hostile crowd booed loudly, at Lambeau Field. When he arrived, touting out the tunnel they booed, when he warmed up they booed, when he entered to take his first snap they booed, and when called signals from the line of scrimmage, they booed.

He was badly insulted and wasn’t praised for signifying grace or dignity on a franchise that signified greatness and yearly rituals when football season approached. Even if his wishy-washy and selfish demeanor is perceived differently, still he deserved credit, but it will never happen as long as he’s a Viking.

Yes, his legacy will live on at Green Bay, but it might never be the same, an oddity difficult to keep from degenerated for signing with division rivals and enhancing their probability of dominating the division. His presence is the difference maker in their 7-1 record, including their perfect 2-0 in a two-game sweep putting them in good position of topping the Packers.

Just from the rebellious and out of class receptions, is proof that loyal fans are very distraught with the ex-Packer and believes he’s a traitor, refusing to stay true to an organization that strongly hates the Vikings.

Whether most angry fans are haters or critics just waiting to lambaste Favre, either way, that is, it could be a sign of envy of their legend departing to play for another season. But furious aren’t still over the remarks Favre made publicly weeks ago, when he admittedly pronounced the Vikings are the most talented team.

Yes, those remarks right there are enough to upset a large crowd committed to embracing the Cheeseheads. Sometimes, real football geniuses sit wondering if Thompson gave up on Favre prematurely turning to Rodgers. Or sometimes, real Packers fans may agree with Thompson’s decision.

By hearing the warm receptions when Rodgers arrived, gives us the assumption barbaric fans are content with the up-and-coming gunslinger, lasting in a quarterback duel in each meeting against Favre.

Even though he denies vengeance, two victories against his former team at 40 is making a statement. He hasn’t played efficient in a long time, unless you are wise enough to include two years ago when he could’ve retired on top after leading the Packers to the NFC Championship Game, but unfortunately came up short.

Let’s not fail realizing that we are entitled to make any chooses in our lives, meaning Favre is allowed to sign with any team. In the offseason, he singed with the Vikings, making a bold choice and ruined the way people recognize or evaluate him as a person base on his decisions. He’s not necessarily a villain for signing with the Vikings, but I will honestly say his legacy lives on.

Once again, he led the Vikings to a large margin victory, sending the fans to the exits early disappointing to witness a 38-26 victory in a Sunday matinee. Notice Favre is more productive in the passing game if surrounded by an active supporting cast. A plethora of dangerous options offensively is huge for a veteran at Favre’s age, to whereas he isn’t force to implement a laborious task.

There’s no questions Adrian Peterson is a game-changing receiver and likely is the fastest man in the league. Maybe it’s in the cleats or shoes. Take a glance at his shoe collection. Maybe it makes him really explosive.

Meanwhile, in Favre’s emotional return, he dazzled and captivated us by completing 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Unlike last season, he’s careful with the football and avoids sacks, when he scrambles away from rushing defenders to finish on mind-blowing throws.

Face it, Favre’s Vikings is to powerful to stop in the NFC North, mustering consistent drives in his old stadium and shattered angry hearts. Critics and fans need to cut down on the hostility, and praise the savvy old timer for his work ethic and ability to dominant the game he’s truly passionate in.

Leading a franchise for 16 years signified longevity that isn’t replaceable. But now, he’s portrayed as a villain, wearing a purple helmet and jersey as No. 4 still remains the same, since an ugly departure in Green Bay where tailgate parties reside, where Lambeau leaps originated and where Favre will always be a legend, despite an unhappy town that should be courteous enough to praise him.

After leaving behind memorabilia it’s worth remembering a life-long legend eternally, instead of booing.

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Brett Favre Cult Culture: The Decline of America

The saddest sight at the Lambeau Field Favre-apalooza was the slightly chubby chick and her balding male counterpart holding up a sign proclaiming their undying love for Brett Favre.

Apparently the couple believed leaving the community of Packer fans for a declaration of undying love for one NFL football player would somehow connect them with the celebrity of the player.

One imagines the chubby chick would see herself as 10 pounds lighter in the mirror tomorrow if only Favre would acknowledge her love and devotion as displayed by her sign.

Perhaps her undying Favre love will somehow connect her to Favre’s $12 million Viking’s contract and Favre’s expressed wish tonight in a post-game press conference to win a Super Bowl for the Vikings.

We are a warring species. Even as we admire the truth of Plato: “Only the dead have seen the end of the war,” we contend we mount the cannons only because we have seen the future. And aren’t cannons always part of man’s future?
 
Professional and collegiate sports allow us to participate in pretend wars and hone our fierce instincts to protect all of that which we perceive as us. If our warring sports teams fail, few, if any, will die today in our phony war.

We wear certain team colors and chant mantras in support of certain teams as a way to declare war on those who would slap the milk from our thirsty lips.

When we cry “DEE-FENCE”, “DEE-FENCE”, it is in the nature of all hymns: We come to give praise to what we believe, disparage the enemy, and, give up all our prejudices and quirks as long as we can voice our cheers along with other community others in honor of this fake war between us and whoever is them.

In various stadia like Lambeau Field, our collective voices stamp us as us, and us as community, and us as part of whomever us is.

But then come men like Brett Favre, who says my us isn’t you. Favre’s community is a lot smaller than Packer Fan nation: his community is him and his wife and his kids. Favre was never a warrior for Packer Nation. He was a warrior for his nation.

Now he pretends to war for the Viking nation, but, in the end, he wars for the GreenBack nation; nothing less, but maybe something more if he gets a percentage ownership in a new Vikings stadium?

When popular talk show hosts wish failure for U.S. Presidents, when professional athletes remind you again, and again, and again “It’s a Business,” when two U.S. political parties spend more time raising money than debating policy just to stay in power, and when despots are given lifetime rule, we understand the Packer chubby-chick Favre fan is recognizing we can’t even come together as a community in the pretend war of sports.

One can excuse Favre. He has extended family to support financially and he has never pretended to be anything other than a guy who believes the world is about him.

Poor Chubby Chick. She hitches her star to a celebrity by virtue of a sign. The sign proclaims love for a celebrity Chubby Chick’s community now abhors.

Chubby Chick believes Favre might actually notice or even care about her sign. She hopes a quarterback who left the Packers after 16 years, played for the Jets another year, then signed with the Packers’ arch enemy the Vikings for $12 million annually, would give a crap what Chubby thought.

It’s likely Chubby Chick gave money to various Favre charities, defended Favre when he threw interceptions in a few playoff games, and believes Favre would actually care about who she is if he actually knew who she is. 

Of course, there are hundreds of Chubby Chicks wearing purple and hunkering down in the Metrodome for every Viking home game who believe the same thing now that Favre is playing for the Vikings.

The celebrity adulation of one player on a team isn’t anything new but has vaulted to extremes in the past decade. Brand it one manifestation of the continued dumbing down of America.

Some folks can’t select a favored player without the incessant hype machines of sports media, and others lack the intelligence to understand the games and the reasons the guy who scores the most points might not be the most valuable player on the team.

Favre wants to win a Super Bowl this year but anyone who believes he wants to win it for the Vikings, or the Vikings fans, or Favre fans, is naive. He wants to win it for him.

Favre is the ultimate celebrity for celebrity worshippers: he worships himself. He is of the new American culture, which idolizes self.

Football IS like war: lots of idiots on the sidelines and in the stands.

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Brett Favre Proves Revenge Is a Dish Best Served at Lambeau

In Brett Favre’s second comeback news conference, he stated playing for the Minnesota Vikings was not about revenge. Only Favre himself knows if the statement was true or not.

Still, the Vikings 30-23 win in Minnesota in week four made the rematch in Green Bay that much bigger. Minnesota had not swept the Packers since 2005, and Green Bay could show the home fans they made the right choice in Aaron Rodgers.

In Favre’s first return to Lambeau Field as a visitor, his numbers were outstanding. Favre completed 17-of-28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

Aaron Rodgers, Favre’s counterpart, played just as good as the future Hall-of-Famer. Rodgers completed 26 of 41 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns.

The current Packers quarterback had more passing yards than the former Packers quarterback primarily because Green Bay was playing from behind for the most part. Minnesota was able to build a 17-3 lead at the half.

To start the second half, the Vikings took the opening kickoff and marched down field to take a 24-3 lead. Just when it looked to be a Minnesota blowout, the Packers came storming back.

Rodgers led the Packers to 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to make the score 24-20 in favor of the Vikings heading in to the fourth quarter. The Green Bay comeback had all the momentum swinging to the home sideline.

That is when No. 4 did what he used to do for the Packers for so many years. Favre lead the Vikings down for a touchdown two minutes into the fourth quarter for a 31-20 lead.

Rodgers, not to be outdone, brought Green Bay right down the field three minutes later for a touchdown to cut the lead to 31-26 after a two-point conversion failed. The aging gunslinger put the final nail in his old team’s coffin with another touchdown with less than four minutes to go for the 38-26 win.

Looking closely at the numbers, there are several reasons why Minnesota won this football game. The first reason was pressure on the quarterback.

The Vikings were able to hit Rodgers 10 times, compared to just four hits the Packers managed on Favre. The biggest number was the number of sacks for both teams. The Vikings had six sacks, and the Packers were not able to sack Favre once.

Another reason for the Packers’ loss has to be the lack of a running game. Rodgers was the leading rusher for Green Bay, with 52 yards on five carries. The bulk of Rodgers’ yards coming on a scramble for 35 yards in the fourth quarter.

While Rodgers led his team in rushing, Favre only had to hand the ball to Adrian Peterson to gain yards on the ground. Peterson was able to rush for 97 yards on 25 carries to lead Minnesota in rushing.

The Packers have to find a running game to ease some of the pressure off Rodgers. The Packers quarterback is already the most-hit signal-caller in the league, and if he has to be the running back as well he will not last the whole season.

The final reason for this Packers loss is easy. The job at returning kicks by Percy Harvin for Minnesota. Harvin had five kick returns for 175 yards, and three of his returns set-up a touchdown for Vikings.

Harvin has been an x-factor all season long for the Vikings. He even had a 51-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter while Minnesota was building its first half lead.

With both games against the Packers out of the way, bigger questions loom on the horizon. The Vikings have a bye week after this game, but how will Favre fare for the rest of the season?

Does Brett still care about the rest of this season after beating his old team twice this season? Is the ultimate revenge Favre can give himself a Super Bowl championship?

At 7-1 and with the second best record in the NFC—until the Saints play Monday—the Vikings and Favre will be watched closely all season long. The defense has to play two whole haves and Favre’s health could be an issue. Still, how much Brett wants to rub it in the Packers’ nose could be his major motivation.

The second fallout of this whole scenario could be the job security of Packers GM Ted Thompson, the man many believe sent Favre out of town. With every Vikings win and every Green Bay loss, all eyes must turn to Thompson.

Playing the “what-if” game, one has to wonder what will happen with Thompson if the Packers miss the playoffs and the Vikings make a deep playoff run, or win a championship. The heat will only increase with every step Minnesota takes to a playoff berth.

Thompson believes he has built a solid team, and Favre’s end-of-season “will he or won’t he” could no longer be tolerated. Thompson’s biggest fear has to be Favre having one more championship season left in him.

If Favre does win a championship, Thompson will not be alone in this and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy will be on the chopping block with him. Green Bay will have to choose a sacrificial lamb depending on how well the Vikings do this season.

On the other hand, Minnesota GM Rick Spielman and head coach Brad Childress look brilliant so far by taking a chance on Favre. Both will be safe as long as the Vikings make the playoffs and play for at least an NFC Championship.

Lost in all the Thompson versus Favre talk is Rodgers. Replacing a legend is hard, but replacing a legend who is still playing is even harder. Just ask Steve Young.

Rodgers will always be judged by what Favre did as a Packer. Every success the Vikings have only makes it harder for Rodgers to be completely accepted by Packers fans.

If Favre leads Minnesota to a title, even diehard Packers fans will always wonder what if Green Bay had kept No. 4 behind center. This team was so close in 2007 to a Super Bowl berth, another season missing the playoffs will only add more undue pressure on Rodgers.

Either way, Rodgers may not ever be as loved as Favre is in Green Bay. The only way to change those feelings is Brett not winning another Lombardi Trophy and Rodgers bringing one back to Green Bay himself.

Well, Rodgers had better make that two Lombardi Trophies. The NFL is always about one-upping the other guy. So far, Favre is up 3-0, two wins this season, and one NFL championship. 

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How Could You Boo the Lambeau Leaper?

How could Green Bay fans boo Brett Favre in HIS house?

Wasn’t it primarily Favre who transformed this franchise from loser to victor?

How could what sounded like the majority of fans boo him when he trotted on to the field?

After all, he’ll go into the Hall with Green Bay’s own colors. Will they boo him then?

On the way to the stadium, Favre also saw some one-fingered salutes, yet he spoke with a smile and a slight laugh when recounting that after the game.

That’s class.

Up until about two years ago, I had been a Favre fan when he wasn’t playing against my Niners.

I admired him for coming back from a painful stomach problem that resulted from an auto accident, dealing honestly and very publicly with a prescription pill problem, helping his wife battle through breast cancer, and playing an out-of-this-world game so soon after his beloved father died.

And then the retirement-unretirement melodrama, the tears, the Fox interview, all the media attention, etc., and that bitterness from those past defeats to Green Bay came to the surface of this 49ers Faithful.

I jumped on the anti-Favre bandwagon.

Regrettably.

Watching him this year, and losing on a last-second bullet from Favre in Minnesota, reminded me of of this guy’s uniqueness.

I don’t think he is the best quarterback ever. It is enough to say Favre is one of the best ever. Where fans and “experts” put him is where they put him.

Tonight he showed what a champion should play like, and he showed how a champion should respond to what were really lame media attempts that basically begged him to say something controversial about Green Bay.

Call it being smart or showing class, or both, Favre didn’t bite.

I also admired him for the emotion he showed when asked how it felt like to talk to his former teammates and coaches after the game. He choked up.

Penetrating my thick head was the realization that this guy just wants to play ball, just like I did when I was much younger. Since he is a world-class athlete, he can do it.

So he sheds some tears. Big deal. He’s real.

And no one can say the guy isn’t tough. In fact, I’ll say this: Favre is the most-durable  quarterback of all time in any league.

It’s Favre’s emotion—that deeply felt love for the game and knowing Father Time is ticking—that led to the retirement drama.

No longer a Favre detractor nor a Favre naysayer, I can see that all the negative written about Favre says more about us than it does about him.

Lastly, I hope he takes Minnesota to the Super Bowl and gets another Lombardi. If any NFL player ever deserved it more, I cannot think of one.

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Vikings-Packers: Brett Favre Throws Four TDs in Return to Lambeau

Brett Favre threw for four touchdowns in his return to Lambeau Field as the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers 38-26.

After a lopsided first half, the game developed into a battle of quarterbacks past and present as Favre went head-to-head with Aaron Rodgers.

Favre tied Dan Marino’s record of 21 games of four or more TDs, throwing for 244 yards on 17 of 28 passing and helping Minnesota improve to 7-1 on the season.

After being sacked four times in the first half, Aaron Rodgers fought valiantly to bring the Packers back from a 21-point deficit, only to fall short in the end. 

Green Bay racked up just 47 yards of total offense in the opening 30 minutes—its lowest in a decade—but Rodgers dug deep after the interval, finishing with 287 yards through the air on 26 of 41 passing and 52 more on the ground. 

Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 25 touches and Percy Harvin caught five balls for 84 yards and a TD.

Favre made 275 consecutive starts for Green Bay over 16 seasons between 1992 and 2008, but he never received the kind of reception he did on Sunday afternoon.

Favre was greeted by a chorus of boos when he came out to warm up, a second round of jeers when he ran out onto the field—head down—at the start of the game, and once more when the Vikings’ offense entered the game three-and-a-half minutes into the first quarter.

He connected on his first two passes, a 3-yard completion to Harbin, and a third-down pass up the middle to Taylor that was good for 20.

After a pair of short runs for little gain, Favre missed Benard Berrian on 3rd-and-9 to bring the punt team onto the field. When he re-entered, Green Bay had put points on the board.

Green Bay took a 3-0 first quarter lead, but Minnesota hit back with a 1-yard touchdown run and 12-yard TD pass to establish a 14-3 advantage.

The Vikings took a 17-3 lead into halftime following a 41-yard field goal, and Favre threw for his second score early in the third quarter to make it 24-3.

Green Bay then scored 17 unanswered points of its own to make it a four-point game, but Minnesota hit back with a TD for an 11-point cushion.

Unfazed, the Packers put six more on the board in the fourth quarter, but Favre and the Vikings scored once more to put the game to bed.

The Packers took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 37-yard field goal by Crosby after the Vikings turned the ball over on the first play of their second possession.

Favre appeared to step up to the line to change his protection, but the center snapped the ball early, throwing it off Favre’s leg and onto the ground. 

Percy Harvin took the resulting kick-off 77 yards to the Green Bay 14, and Adrian Peterson took the ball to the house on 4th-and-goal from inside the one.

The Vikings would have had to settle for a field goal, but Jonathan Jolly was penalized for a headbutt immediately after the Packers had stopped Minnesota on third down at the nine-yard line.

Minnesota doubled their score in the second quarter on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Visanthe Shiancoe, topping off a seven-play, 51-yard drive after receiving the ball in great field position at midfield.

Green Bay caught a break on Minnesota’s following drive as a Packers’ penalty actually helped saved them from going behind even further.

Crosby later missed a 51-yard field goal for Green Bay with 5:38 remaining in the game, and Favre came back down the field for his 21st game of four or more touchdowns when he connected with Berrian on a 16-yard reception.

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

Sunday Morning Under the Helmet: What to Watch for in NFL Week Eight

Week Eight is the halfway point in the NFL regular season. It has been an eventful first half full of surprises, shockers, and disappointments.

In the first half, we saw Tom Brady struggle, but then rebound. We saw the Denver Broncos go 6-0 and the Tennessee Titans 0-6.

We saw Cedric Benson emerge as a top running back and Jake Delhomme forget how to play. The Detroit Lions won a game and the St. Louis Rams are making their push for 0-16.

Those are just a few of the things we saw in the first half. What’s in store for the second half? More importantly what will we see in Week Eight?  Take a look:

 

Matchup of the Week: Minnesota Vikings (6-1) at Green Bay Packers (4-2)

Today, Brett Favre makes his return to Lambeau Field where he played for 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

On that field he won games, shattered records and built a great legacy.

As a Packer he was loved, and looked up to. He was the definition of a fan favorite.

Now, just two years after his ugly divorce from the team, Favre will step foot onto the Frozen Tundra once again. But this time he’s wearing Viking purple and could maybe, just maybe, hear some boos.

In their Week Four matchup at the Metrodome, the Vikings beat Green Bay 30-23 in what was the most watched cable television program ever.

In that game, Favre threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns. His counterpart, Aaron Rodgers, tallied 384 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

The difference in that game was the performances by the offensive lines.

Favre rarely had pressure on him and had plenty of time to stand in the pocket and make smart decisions and good throws. Rodgers didn’t quite enjoy the same protection, as he was sacked eight times and hurried even more.

If the Packers have any chance to tie the season series they will have to protect Rodgers much better this time around.

Since that Week Four battle the Vikings are 2-1 and coming off a heart-breaking 27-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in last weekend’s game of the week .

The Packers are 2-0 since Week Four including last week’s 31-3 stomping of the sad Cleveland Browns.

But all that is in the past now and doesn’t matter anymore.

Forget 6-1 vs. 4-2, forget all the Favre mania.

This is a midseason matchup between two division rivals with a playoff atmosphere.

 

Keys to the game

-Brett Favre’s nerves

-Which O-line protects their QB better

-Can Minnesota’s defense slow down Aaron Rodgers?

-Ryan Grant vs. Adrian Peterson

Predicition: Vikings win 23-20 in OT

 

 

Small Names, Big Games

Here, we will take a look at three non-superstars who will post big numbers in Week Eight.

 

Spencer Havner (TE, Green Bay)

With Jermichael Finley listed as doubtful with a sprained knee, the Packers could call on Spencer Havner to play a significant role in their offense vs. the Vikings this afternoon.

Last week, Havner caught two passes for 59 yards including a 45-yard touchdown in the second quarter. On the season, he has four catches for 89 yards and that one touchdown.

Havner, a converted linebacker, goes against the Vikings this afternoon and could have his fair share of success.

The Vikings defense has struggled against tight ends this season. On four occasions an opposing tight end has either led his team or was tied for the lead in receptions against Minnesota.

Those performances include Vernon Davis’ 96 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches in Week Three and Finley’s six receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown back in week four.

If Minnesota continues to struggle against tight ends, Havner could put up career highs this afternoon.

 

David Garrard (QB, Jacksonville)

Jaguars quarterback David Garrard has been inconsistent this season, but his Week Eight matchup makes him a candidate for a big game.

Garrard goes against the 0-6 Tennessee Titans who rank last against the pass.

In Week Four against the Titans, Garrard threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-17 blowout win.

Expect similar numbers from Garrard today.

 

Zach Miller (TE, Oakland)

In his last three games against San Diego, Raiders tight end Zach Miller has combined for 19 catches for 255 yards and a score.

Miller goes against those Chargers this afternoon and could put up big numbers yet again.

In seven games this season Miller has 23 receptions for 369 yards and one touchdown including a 139 yard performance in week six vs. Philadelphia and 96 yards vs. those Chargers in the season opener.

Miller also leads all NFL tight ends with a 16-yard per catch average.

 

Oth ers To Watch: LeSean McCoy (RB, Philadelphia), Johnny Knox (WR, Chicago), Vince Young (QB, Tennessee)

 

Upset Alert!: Oakland (2-5) over San Diego (3-3)???

Last week San Diego trounced the Kansas City Chiefs 37-7 and the Raiders got shut out by the New York Jets 38-0.

So clearly the Raiders aren’t favored in this game.

However, they will win.

Despite the fact that San Diego has won 12 straight over the Raiders, Oakland has held a fourth-quarter lead in two of the last three matchups between these two teams including a 20-17 lead until 18 seconds remaining in week one.

It’s quite obvious, but the Raiders are going to need to have success on offense and start scoring some points if they plan to beat the Chargers today.

Oakland is averaging a 31st-ranked 8.9 points per game, a simply embarrassing statistic.

They’re also last in yards per game and average passing yards. In rushing yards they rank 26th.

To have that much needed success on offense the Raiders need to begin with rushing the ball. They’ve showed potential on the ground and they have a chance to break out against the Chargers defense which ranks 28th against the run.

JaMarcus Russell will also be a key factor on offense for the Raiders. Russell has struggled this season throwing for 891 yards, two touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has also fumbled five times.

Russell hit the ultimate low last week when he was benched in favor of Bruce Gradkowski after he turned the ball over three times in the first half.

It’s up to the Raiders defense to give their team a chance to win. Because of their lack of a passing attack and their clear offensive strength being the run game, Oakland’s defense needs to keep the game close so their offense doesn’t have to call on Russell too often.

The Raiders’ defense ranks 25th in points allowed per game, 12th against the pass and 30th against the run.

San Diego loves to throw the ball and are fourth in the league in passing so Oakland’s secondary better be at their best today.

Phillip Rivers will likely look to attack Chris Johnson’s side of the field with All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomougha on the other side.

 

Keys for OAK

-Keep the game close

-Run the ball, run the ball, run…

-Stop Phillip Rivers and Vincent Jackson

-Protect the football, no turnovers!

Predicition: Raiders win 27-25

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