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NFL News, Opinion, Top PostsBrett Favre, homecoming king
EDDIE LEE
NFLPosts.com Editor
In a showdown between Packer gunslingers, the former and current QBs who also happened to be master and apprentice, it was age and wisdom that were served once again in an old-fashioned shootout at Lambeau.
Despite the build-up, the crushing pressure and the 4-ring circus that accompanied his return to Green Bay for the first time after 16 seasons as a Packer, Brett Favre got the vengeful victory he’d never admit to and, likely, in the manner he would have dreamed about.
Favre completed 17-of-28 passes for 244 yards and 4 TDs in leading the Vikings to a 38-26 win, his second over his former team in 27 days.
Moreover, he had to answer that 4th-quarter gut check that came when the Packers closed to within five and delivered an assassin-cold TD drive that put the win on ice.
“I was part of some pretty good games here as a Packer but this is pretty high up on that list,” Favre said when asked to rank the game. That’s about as much enmity as he allowed.
Aaron Rodgers, with the unenviable task of being compared to a first-ballot hall of famer and the holder of every major career passing record the rest of the time, had the unbearable task of another live comparison Sunday, with a lesser team to lead.
And like it was four weeks ago in Minnesota, Rodgers (26-of-41, 287 yards and 3 TDs) got the flashier stats and the L.
Rodgers is a very good QB in a bad situation. His offensive line is in shambles and he’s not helping them by waiting for the perfect opportunity to release the ball. The Packer line has now given up 31 sacks in 7 games, 4 of which didn’t involve NFL dregs St. Louis, Detroit and Cleveland. That’s a lot of 3rd- and 4th-and-longs.
While Favre seemingly feeds off big-game pressure, this much hype and stress had to wear on Rodgers, the man handpicked by management to supplant Favre after one retirement waffle too many.
On Thursday, Minnesota Ave. was temporarily renamed Aaron Rodgers Dr. by the mayor. Are there any other second-year starters getting the street sign treatment?
Rodgers, after receiving the loudest pre-game ovation, got off to another molasses-slow start.
At the half, he was 5-of-11 for 38 yards and had been sacked 4 times. His team trailed 17-3.
The game, despite a rousing second-half Packer rally, was effectively lost there.
Favre, in the meantime, shook off the cascading boos – intermingled with a few cheers, and outside of a fumbled shotgun exchange — which was snapped too early by C John Sullivan, was nearly flawless once again.
In two games against Green Bay, Favre finished 41-of-69, for 515 yards, 7 TDs and 0 turnovers.
Here’s the essential Favre. In the 3rd quarter, with the Vikings facing a 3rd-and-17 from their own 30, Favre gunned a throw over the middle, interceptions be damned, to Bernard Berrian one yard past the sticks for a first down.
Most QBs take the short out and hope the receiver can make up the difference in yardage.
The next play? A heave under pressure to Percy Harvin, covered by Charles Woodson short and safety Nick Collins deep. Harvin leaps to make the catch, a third Packer comes in to take out the other two stooges and Harvin, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, spins and trots into the end zone. Not many take that 51-yard shot either.
But with Adrian Peterson, Harvin and a vicious defensive line riding shotgun, Favre also had the easier path to near perfection.
When the Packers closed to 31-26, a flip to Peterson turned into a 44-yard gain and brought the ball to the Green Bay 15. A TD flip to Jeff Duggan put the win on ice.
After the opening FG, off the fumbled snap, Harvin returned the ensuing kick 77 yards to set up Peterson’s TD score on 4th and goal.
Peterson finished with 97 yards on 25 carries and Harvin led the Vikes with 5 receptions for 84 yards, on top of his 175 kickoff return yards.
The New Purple People Eaters got to Rodgers for 6 sacks, with Jared Allen leading the posse with 3. Allen collected 7.5 of Minnesota’s 14 sacks in the two-game set against Green Bay. The Packers never got Favre.
If there was any added satisfaction to be gained from the win, Favre, like last time, wasn’t letting anyone in on that secret.
“Although I wasn’t expecting a standing ovation, I know what I’ve done and what I stand for,” Favre said. “It had nothing to do with trying to prove myself to anyone.”
“I’m glad it’s over. I’m glad we won. I’m not going to sit here and throw any daggers.”
But now he can. If he wanted to.
More importantly for the 7-1 Vikings, they have a 2 1/2-game lead on the 4-3 Packers, with the tiebreaker in their back pocket. They also have a bye to decompress this week.
Packer fan might grumble that even the schedule favors Favre.
“We came into this game really approaching it like a late playoff game,” Vikings TE Visanthe Shiacoe said. “During the week you could tell everybody really wanted to take the focus and really buckle down. It’s a great win to go into the bye week. Now we have a little bit to think about — some good things to think about — and prepare for the Lions.”
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