I'm not making any predictions for round two of Favre vs. former team in his old haunts of Green Bay. But my son will. When prompted, my eight year old came up with a prediction of Vikings 42 and Packers 33. Granted, I was asking him how many touchdowns each team would tally. Take that for what it's worth.

I'm tired of the overdone stories on how fans will respond to his return to Lambeau. It doesn't have a bearing on the game. No amount of fan noise is going to rattle him, even if it's his former home crowd. Besides, they've booed him plenty before. I expect Fave is going to be focused and doing his job.

Then there are the questions of who is under more pressure, Favre or Aaron Rodgers. They are both proven professionals. I don't expect either is going to succomb to pressure. Although, I would say Rodgers is less scrutinized. Fox isn't going to have a camera on him for every second of that game like they plan to do with Favre. Knowing how much the media has pried up until now, it would be just another day at the office.

What I'll be watching is the Packer's offensive line. Can Rodgers continue to sling it downfield despite horrible protection? I figure he's going to break at some point. And their two top lineman are likely out for this game.

Second, the Vikings have been facing stiff competition and holding their own in recent weeks. The Steelers loss was nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, it fuels the desires to come into this game before the bye week and get their business done. The division lead is at stake.

The Packers, on the other hand, drubbed two lowly teams in the past few weeks. They are still making mistakes and not capitalizing in the red zone. They have to show the ability to come on strong early and close out in order to win this one. Until they prove they can, they're are the underdogs.

This should be Adrian Peterson's time to shine. It was Favre last time and the old man just flung the ball around 51 times in the Pittsburg defeat. With everyone wanting to see him on his back and the Packers need to get pressure on him after what he did last time, it's time to shift focus to the running game. If Favre keeps it under 25 throws, the Vikings should win.

Of course, I said of the Steeler game they needed to dominate the time of possession to win. They did and outgained the Super Bowl champs on offense and still lost because of two late turnovers that were returned for TDs. If just one of those doesn't go back to the house, the Vikings were still in it to win. I guess that was one game where they couldn't convert in the red zone against one of the top defenses in the league. I don't expect the Packers D to give them the same kind of fits.


R-E-S-P-E-C-T
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/31/favre-all-i-ask-for-is-respect/

R-E-S-P-E-C-T Part ll
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/31/mccarthy-nothing-but-respect-for...
 

I don't think the Vikings hang their heads after this one. They've proven they're Super Bowl worthy with the effort given on Sunday. For more, check out the PFT recap here:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/26/week-seven-morning-aftermath-ste...


 

Favre vs. the Steel Curtain should make for great television. Too bad the game won't be telecast in Green Bay. I'll have to find a bar that's showing the game, because I want to see this one live.

What we have here is Favre's toughest challenge to date. He proved he could beat the Ravens last Sunday. But I don't think they are the toughest matchup, but a good tune-up for Pittsburgh.

Favre's offensive line will have to keep him upright and protected and they have been doing that well of late. That doesn't mean some team with a great defensive line like the Steelers won't find a weakness to exploit. I don't think they'll rattle Favre as much as they would like and will get no more than one INT.

What I expect is a defense that will continue to make the future hall of famer prove he can win with his arm. Adrian Peterson will be the focal point of a defense that is one of the best against the running game. The Steelers have their x-factor back in the line-up with Troy Palumalu. He may still be a bit dinged up and that may make things a tad easier for number four.

What's going to be more interesting to watch is Minnesota's defense. They have to prove what happened against Baltimore will not repeat itself against a pass-happy offense led by Ben Rothlesburger. The Steelers have been spotty in the running game and Rashaard Mendenhall will be out to prove he's worthy of being the starting back.

If the Vikings can keep the Steelers off the field for more than half the game, they should be able to win this game. But, this is a road game against a very tough team. I know Favre will be up to the challenge. I envision him being in a two-game stretch just like last year when he led the Jets to victories over the Titans and Patriots. Baltimore was his Titans win this year. I expect him to pull off a dazzling performance against the Steelers who are his Pats of '09.

What happens after this weekend's game is anyone's guess. Favre does not likely want a repeat of last year. He is out to prove he can sustain himself through a full year plus the playoffs. He's not likely to have arm issues again. Many are expecting the wheels to come off. But, coach Brad Childress has addressed the fatigue factor by putting the veteran on a pitch count of sorts, limiting his play in practice and having Tavaris Jackson back him up in games they are leading.

With that, I expect a three game stretch of greatness punctuated with a big win over the Packers at Lambeau. He won't rest until he and the Vikings have a strangle hold over first place in their division. I wouldn't be surprised if he sat out the last game or two of the year. That will be something big to watch, if he can put his team in a position to rest him for the playoffs.

So, this game against the Steelers is huge: 7-0 with a chance to go up three games in their division after the midway point in the season will be pivotal in the old man's last push for another Super Bowl.

If I had to guess on a score, it might depend on the weather. Pittsburgh has had some issues with the turf in recent years. But, I expect a game that will reach the high 20s. Vikings 27 Pittsburgh 24.


 

Vikings 30 Packers 23
It wasn't as close as the score looks, as Green Bay added some late scores in their desperation.


You would be fooled if you thought it was going to be Adrian Peterson's night. I know I was. Even after Brett Favre clutched the still beating hearts of the San Francisco 49ers with last week's last second heroics. Well, here he came again to put on a Monday night show to rival the night he had in 2003 against the Oakland Raiders after the passing of his father.

Favre put the pedal to the metal when he needed scores. He knew his heir in Green Bay was no slouch and would have been in this fight to the finish, if he only had an offensive line that could keep him standing upright. Aaron Rodgers was on his back eight times, turning the ball over on a fumble and on an interception, plus one safety after being demolished by DE Jared Allen for the 4th and a half time (sacks).

Meanwihle, Favre was like a mint condition, still in it's wrapper Christmas gift that no Packer could open. Peterson, on the other hand, was like the unwanted fruitcake that got kicked about. He was stuffed at the line of scrimmage and held to 55 yards rushing on 25 carries. It's like the Packer's game plan was to ignore the washed up old has-been they tossed away, daring him to beat them with his arm. And he did!

The announcers on ESPN, both in and out of the booth, were gushing over Favre's 'magical' performance. Not like that's being over used. But Favre did say after the game this felt a lot like the Monday night game he dedicated to his dad.

Completing three touchdown passes, Favre directed four of the first five drives the length of the field for touchdowns. If you thought he was going to cool off after his first half performance, you'd be as wrong as head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers for their game plan to beat him. He marched the team down the field for a TD right after intermission to make it 28-14.

By the way: Capers, who was hired in the offseason to revamp their shabby 4-3 defense with a 3-4, is now 0-7 against the old quarterback. Green Bay defenders looked dazed by the end of the game. Favre spun them into a tizzy, zipping all kinds of throws in and around the likes of Al Harris and Charles Woodson (who many believed would come away with at least a pick after collecting three INTs to start the season).

Favre would finish 24 of 31 for 271 yards with the three TDs and no INTs to give him a guady quarterback rating. Numbers too astronomical or inane to report here. To Favre, after the game, it was about going 4-0 on the young season. He was proud of his team, who had an early birthday surprise waiting in the lockerrom for the near 40-year-old... a rocking chair.

And thanks to the ESPN interviewer Michele Tafoya who reminded Favre he was old, as he was asked all the questions about revenge and how good it felt to beat his old team. He was coy, diplomatic, even funny, but he did not go there. He's thinking about the long haul and hoisting that Lombardi trophy when it's all said and done.


Who's the grumpy old man now, Frank Tarkenton?
Was that a fun game for ya, Mike McCarthy?

Additional notes:
Rodgers does hang on to the ball too long. Some of the sacks are on him because he wouldn't get rid of the ball. If he takes his shots like Favre does he'd hang a few more INTs on his stat line.

Do you think he might have been coached not to be like Favre in that respect? So the fault is with the coaching from the O-line to the QB and even the defense that couldn't figure out a supposed washed up has-been.

The better quarterback won. It's not about the stats like passer ratings. And yet, Rodgers turned the ball over three times (INT, fumble, safety) to Favre's big goose egg in that department.

And the score was close in the end because the Vikings took their foot off the gas. It was just prevent D until the clock ran out on the Pack. Don't give them credit for being in that game at the end. It could have been Vikings with the ball on the one with a chance to go up 35-14, if McCarthy doesn't challenge fumble that turned out to be a safety.


This has been an ongoing joke at PFT:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/07/favres-list-of-injuries-grows/
I suggested they add gangrene to the report, if the Packers could have managed on sack.

Also, Farve was named NFC offensive player of the week for his performance. Marks the 14th time in his career that he has done that.

 

What's everyone reporting before the Purple People Eaters munch on the Green Gang Monday night?

There's the subject of Favre?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/04/favre-to-packers-fans-you-just-h...

Favre is interviewed by John Gruden in Sunday conversation on ESPN and tells Packers fans to move on....

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4530828&categoryid=2459789

He's not wrong.


 

It took me some time, but finally got my second article at Bleacher Report online. Take a look:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/265247-favre-v-packers-and-the-revenge-factor...

Another interesting article about how former Packers feel about Favre playing fot the 'dastardly' Vikings:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/02/packers-legends-have-issues-with...