Favre Sticks it to the Packers in Green Bay by Lloyd Vance

In Brett Favre’s much anticipated return to Green Bay, for the second time in less than a month the Vikings beatdown the Packers for a very “Sweet” Victory for No. 4

Who says you can’t go home?  Well…Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre not only returned back to Green Bay, he kicked in the door with authority as the Vikings led by No. 4 dominated the Packers 38-26.  Some will say that the Vikings would not have won if not for emerging rookie WR/KR Percy Harvin (5 catches for 84 yards and 1 TD plus five kick returns for 175 yards), but the day and game clearly belong to Favre.

After enduring a week of being called a “Waffler”, “Flip-Flopper”, “Drama Queen” and “Traitor” by many of his former fans from his home of 16 years, Favre stepped on the field and put aside a booing crowd to “Stick It” to his old team.  To the surprise of no one, including Favre, when the former Packers’ legend hit the field wearing Vikings’ purple, the majority of the Packers faithful let him have it.  However in the end, it was Favre and his Vikings teammates who left the field with much bigger smiles than the inconsistent Green Bay team for the second time in less than a month.  Favre threw a season-high four touchdown passes and was never even touched in the pocket (zero sacks) as he piled up superb passing numbers 17-28, 244 yards, 4 TDs, and 0 INTs.

Favre leaning on All-World running back Adrian Peterson (25 carries for 97 yards and one touchdown) early, later exploded as he guided the Vikings to an early 24-3 record.  To the Packers credit they fought back getting the score within 10 points, but the Vikings defense – why doesn’t anyone ever talk about them – shut them down and forced 6 sacks of quarterback Aaron Rodgers (26-41, 63.4%, 287 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 INTs plus 52 rushing yards).

After the game, Favre hugged several members of the Packers team and staff including former favorite receivers Donald Drivers and Greg Jennings.  The future Pro Football Hall of Famer left the field surrounded by media everywhere and pumped his fist to a mix of cheers and boos from the stands as he went up the Lambeau tunnel in triumph.  Favre said after the game, “I’m not going to sit here and throw any daggers…We played about as good as we can play. We can play better, but that’s what it was going to take to beat that football team. That’s the satisfying thing.”  Favre added, “I’ve never been one to rub it in anyone’s face…The guys I’ve played with as a Packer, I’ve got a lot of respect for, as I do (for) this organization and these fans.”

So with Favre-a-palooza over for the second time in less than 1 month, let’s take an inventory of what happened.  Favre in two “big” wins over the Packers  — scores of 30-23 in Week 4 and 38-26 in Week 8 —  finished with passing numbers 41-59, 515 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs, no sacks allowed and a passer rating well over 130.  And of course like he always seems to do every week, Favre set a record of most completions in one venue (passed John Elway’s record) and tied Dan Marino’s NFL record of 21 career games with at least four TD passes.  The Packers on the other hand have a 10-13 record since sending their former franchise quarterback to exile in the Meadowlands in 2008 while playing for the New York Jets.  Packers veteran CB Charles Woodson even labeled the current Packers as a “non-Big Game” team.

Brett Favre is now 90-28 in his career as a starter at Lambeau Field in the regular season and 98-31 in 129 starts at the site including playoffs (8-3 record in playoffs).  Favre stated at his postgame press conference, “What I’ve done here (Green Bay) speaks for itself.” 

For those unable to interpret Favre’s last comments, I will translate them for you.  “Hey Packers GM Ted Thompson and the rest of you Haters…How do you like me now, What!!”

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award -winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)