Favre’s return a success
Written by Rob Detjen Friday, 29 January 2010 08:00
It has been a couple of days since the Vikings lost to the Saints in the NFC Championship game. Many people will point the finger and blame the loss on Brett Favre and his interception at the end of regulation, and rightfully so. Favre does deserve his share of the blame in the loss, but without him the Vikes would have never been in the NFC Championship game to start with
It took almost two years of offseason drama to finally get Favre on the Vikings. Most people, including me, thought Favre was being brought in to be a compliment to Adrian Peterson. What happened though, none of us would have expected.
It started in the third week of the season against San Francisco. With only 12 seconds left and down 24-20, Favre proved to the rest of the league that he still had his Favre magic.
Favre then carried on the momentum to the next week for the matchup we were all looking forward to since the day Favre signed with the Vikings. On primetime Monday Night Football, Favre dismantled his former Packers team that made the whole state of Wisconsin blush. He finished the game 24 of 31 attempts, throwing 271 yards and three TD’s without a single interception.
As the season progressed so did Favre’s role in the offense. They moved away from a run first team to a passing team, which caused a little bit of drama later on between him and Brad Childress.
On Nov. 2, Favre put the final dagger into the hearts of every Packers fan. He went into Lambeau Field wearing purple and picked apart the Packers defense for the second time. Favre finished the game 17 for 28, throwing 244 yards and four TD’s, and once again, no picks.
Though the season may not have ended like Favre and Vikings fans dreamed of, he finished with arguably his best statistical season of his career. His passer rating of a 107.2 is the best of his 19-year career including the three seasons he won MVP, and his 33 TD’s are tied for the fourth most he has ever thrown. More importantly, his seven interceptions were by far his lowest since he became a starting NFL quarterback.
With Favre, the Vikings finished the season averaging almost 30 points per game, fifth in yards per game with 379.6, and eighth in passing yards per game with 259.8.
Many people in the Viking organization, and people who cover football in the media, think that this was the 40-year-old’s last game. If it indeed is, then he’s going out the same way he ended his career in Green Bay with a pick; but more importantly, he will finish as the leader in almost every statistical passing category in NFL history.
What’s even more amazing is he could still do it at the age of 40. Here’s to you, Favre. Once again you defied odds and proved to everyone why you will go down as one of the best quarterbacks to play the game.
P.S. If you do decide to retire, please stay retired.
