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The Spectacle Blog
Nothing went right for Brett Favre and the Vikings yesterday afternoon. The opening drive went well enough, with Favre directing a 77-yard drive capped by a Ryan Longwell field goal. But it was all downhill from there.
A sign of the impending doom was visible early on when defensive tackle Kevin Williams ran out onto the field with his name misspelled on his jersey as “Willaims.” Williams is one of the Vikings’ longest-tenured players, and a five-time Pro Bowler. It’s not as though the equipment managers don’t know who he is.
More consequential mistakes happened on the field. Favre went without a touchdown in what — for now — would seem his final appearance against his former team. On the other side of the ball, the Vikings defense allowed Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to serve up his first 4-touchdown game, and a 140.1 passer rating (anything above 90 is considered good). Three of Rodgers’ touchdown passes went to Greg Jennings, formerly one of Favre’s favorite targets.
Now at 3-7, the Vikings’ playoff hopes are all but extinguished. The Bears and Packers sit atop the NFC North with matching 7-3 records, leaving Minnesota 4 games back with only 6 to play.
As rivals for 50 years, Minnesota and Green Bay have now played each other 100 times. Whatever each team’s fortunes in a given year, they almost always play each other close. That’s one reason why yesterday’s 31-3 score was such a surprise. If this was indeed Favre’s last game against the Green Bay Packers, he went out with a whimper, not a bang.
Next week, the Vikings head to DC to play the ailing Redskins, which could give them the boost they need. A victory over Washington might also afford a longer leash for head coach Brad Childress, who had to endure the crowd chanting “Fire Childress” in the fourth quarter. Rumors are swirling that he may be fired as soon as today, which would mark the second game in a row that a Packers opponent fires its head coach after playing them. The Dallas Cowboys fired Wade Phillips after his talent-laden team lost 45-7 at Lambeau Field.
There are also rumors that Favre may retire before the end of the season. His $1 million-per-game salary makes that unlikely; that kind of money can soothe a lot of indignities.
The Packers may not have Minnesota’s internal troubles, but their road to the playoffs is only slightly easier. This week they will take on a tough Atlanta Falcons team in the Georgia Dome. Matchups against the Patriots, Giants, and Bears remain on the schedule.
View all comments (10) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Ryan Young
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/11/22/brett-bowl-iv-packers-31-vikin
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Grzmlyk| 11.22.10 @ 1:01PM
Well, as a Bears fan, I can only hope Favre hangs on for a few more years.
Given the Bears' perspicacity when it comes to quarterbacks, I'm sure that, come 2015, Jerry Angelo will consider Favre to have proven himself enough to don the Bears' uniform.
That is, if they can't sign Betty White.
The Empiricist| 11.22.10 @ 1:05PM
I read ESPN too.
Wayne | 11.22.10 @ 1:07PM
Well since the Packers are 7-3 and the Vikings are 3-7, I would say the road for the Packers is a lot easier.
Expel "The Ruling Class"!| 11.22.10 @ 1:38PM
The Favre...er I mean Fox channel is driving me nuts. They have thus far televised every Vikings game since the season began. If they were a contender I could understand it, but they are not a contender. I am tired of turning on Fox every Sunday afternoon & seeing Brett Favre. He has passed Peyton Manning & Tom Brady as the most over-exposed player in the NFL & he is a shadow of what he used to be. Fox needs to give Favre & the Vikings a break. I'm sure there are alot of better games on, but Fox keeps shoving Favre & the Vikings up my nose each week. Wake up Fox! Anyone but Favre & the Vikings the rest of the season!
JmsA| 11.22.10 @ 3:24PM
Fox Football is obsessed with this glory seeking, over the hill prima donna. I went to a bar to watch this weekend's game, and no one, absolutely no one was watching the Vikings game. After all, they have a terrible record and no one cares. Packers management was extremely wise in letting go of Mr. Favre, who should go and sell more Wrangler jeans...or something.
Joe Nemeth| 11.22.10 @ 3:45PM
I resent that naming calling, JmsA
JmsA| 11.22.10 @ 10:39PM
I did not intend to offend, and I also referred to him as Mr. Favre, ok? That said, there's no hiding that his playing it coy and having to be courted and coddled back to training camp, certainly smacks of prima donna. Then there's also his trying to force the hand of the Packers to take him back after he changed his mind about retiring from that team, which by the way, has been quite ably led by Aaron Rodgers. Brett Favre is not leading anyone anywhere; just the Jets and the Vikings.
JmsA| 11.22.10 @ 10:47PM
Oops: Meant to write: just ask the Jets and Vikings.
matthew s harrison| 11.22.10 @ 5:06PM
Who gives a hang about brett farvre? Seriously-what is this guy still playing for? He is old by MLB standards-so NFL at his age is a joke.
Go home brett-your wife is ready to take 50% of your latest contract, and she wants to get on with her life!
Shoo, be gone. And you spectator guys/gals who still talk about this guy as if he is consequential to anything whatsoever-there are better things to do on monday-like make jokes about nuns getting prostate checks from TSA guys with 90 minutes of training!
Come on!
weddingdresses | 6.23.11 @ 5:44AM
The Favre...er I mean Fox channel is driving me nuts. They have thus far televised every Vikings game since the season began. If they were a contender I could understand it, but they are not a contender. I am tired of turning on Fox every Sunday afternoon & seeing Brett Favre. He has passed Peyton Manning & Tom Brady as the most over-exposed player in the NFL & he is a shadow of what he used to be. Fox needs to give Favre & the Vikings a break. I'm sure there are alot of better games on, but Fox keeps shoving Favre & the Vikings up my nose each week. Wake up Fox! Anyone but Favre & the Vikings the rest of the season!