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Vikings' postseason run in Favre's uncertain hands

Last updated: 01/11/10 1:48am

So, I was wrong about Brett Favre.

Grossly, painfully wrong.

I thought the aging gunslinger would drag an otherwise innocent Vikings team into the bowels of disappointment — exactly where he left the New York Jets last season.
Instead, the stubbly veteran turned in the best season of his career and, if Peyton Manning hadn’t become a supernova around week 10, Favre would have been a shoo-in MVP.

And, thanks to the wonders of Internet anonymity, people with names like LazerNinja69 excoriated me for my wrongness on DailyLobo.com. (My favorite: “This is just a little college-student angst after reading too many liberal portrayals of the evil white man.”)

But despite Favre’s resurgence, despite the emergence of Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin, and despite that, by most accounts, Adrian Peterson is still alive, I still don’t believe in this experiment.

It’s all but impossible to predict the length of a playoff run in the NFL — just ask Tom Brady. However, Favre’s late-game, all-or-nothing heroics don’t bode well for the men in purple.

In short, Favre puts his teams in a Favre-sized hole: A parade of
3rd-and-13s that only he can salvage. When he comes through, like against the 49ers this year, he’s transcendent, briefly making his drooling devotees seem sane. But when he doesn’t, like against Pittsburg and Carolina, no amount of hand-wringing from Brad Childress can save the Vikes.

And that’s where the seams burst for this messianic Minnesota team. Back in the summertime, the Vikings were Peterson’s team, and Favre was billed as an addition that would simply stabilize the play under center, opening up more big-play opportunities for Purple Jesus.

Except that’s not how it shook out. Peterson’s numbers are down across the board from last season, with 49 fewer attempts and almost 400 fewer yards. Furthermore, the team’s identity crisis didn’t reach critical mass until the Vikes started losing, and then started losing to teams like Chicago.

It’s a fact Packers fans and Jets fans know all too well: When you get Favre, he doesn’t play for your team; you become Favre’s team. And, accordingly, the Minnesota Favres will live and die by his legendary crunch-time courage.

Of course, the man is a living legend, and the myth of Favre is built on January miracles. But going into these playoffs, the Vikings need to accept one thing: All of their lofty dreams are in the hands of a 40-year-old journeyman who has left two franchises with few friends to show for it.

It might end with a trip to Disneyland, or it might end with Childress in the unemployment line. But, no matter what, this season belongs to Favre, with all the brilliance and frustration that entails.

Published January 11, 2010 in Sports

28 comments



Jordan

January 11, 2010 at 7:22 AM
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Pathetic


craig

January 11, 2010 at 10:01 AM
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You mean this would be different from Joe Montanna’s team or Nameth’s or Bradshaws or manning’s…etc, etc,…I dont think so. Also, do not be mistaken…the vikes loss to Chicago was the fault of one man ultimately…Adrian Peterson. Farve left more friends in GB and NYC than what you think as evidenced by the line of players wanting to shake his hand…even after he beat them…Twice! Sheeesh!


Damian

January 11, 2010 at 10:25 AM
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Oh yah? BS!

You better believe in Favre or get left in the cold, especially when he has the weapons surrounding him. He has 22 TDs and just 2 picks at home. Undefeated at home…and SF came out as a pretty strong team this year. He is usually out by the 4th quarter because we are destroying our opponents by then.

Read more …

With our offensive weapons like the offensive rookie of the year, Percy. One of…if not the…premier running backs, Peterson not to mention the tandem skills of Taylor. The absolute rising star Sidney Rice, and our supposed top recieving acquisition Berrian. There is much to learn by our opponents.

If you don’t think so just look at the other teams that are in the playoffs, most of which we beat handily…Green Bay (twice) Baltimore, Cincinnati, and we did lose to Arizona in an off week.

Dallas and the pretty boy Cowboys better put their fur coats on before getting up here…its a lot colder and we wouldn’t want those sissies getting frostbite.


Connie

January 11, 2010 at 4:11 PM
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Incredible. Incredibly unknowledgeable. If you blame those losses on Favre you don’t know football. And by the way, he owes those other previous teams nothing. Being from Wisconsin, I know Favre gave the Pack everything, including identity. He owes them nothing. They owe him everything. You have absolutely nothing to diss him over. Professional sports needs many more Brett Favres. Class act!!!!


Bryan

January 11, 2010 at 8:11 PM
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Brett Favre is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Favre and Kurt Warner have proven that some of the old guys can still play at the highest level and be better than the young guys. Players like Favre and Warner are great men and amazing athletes who deserve the respect of all true football fans. Regardless of what any critics say, Favre is amazing and will always be loved in the hearts of true Packers, Vikings, and NFL fans.


Eric

January 12, 2010 at 8:15 AM
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FAVRE WILL FAIL. Period. The diva will show his true colors.


Damian

January 12, 2010 at 8:46 AM
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Vikes 34 Pretty Boys 28

Favre 20-26 and 3 TDs….period


Dan

January 12, 2010 at 9:46 AM
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Brett Favre knows how to win big games. It does not matter how old he is right now. Would the Vikings be 12-4 with a younger T-Jack?


Becky

January 12, 2010 at 9:46 AM
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Is this artile serious?!? You have got to be kidding me that this was actually wrote and published….LOL!!! Brett Favre is one of the best quarterback out there and has proven it time and time again. PERIOD!!!


Tim

January 12, 2010 at 11:45 AM
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Its always interesting to read articles written about a specific player that never watched the games they are refering to. The mention of the interceptions is a valid point, but everyone who brings that stat up always leaves the “other” stat out of the artical. Most WINS by a qb. This is the NFL, ultimatly your job is based on winning. Favre has never missed an NFL game in 18 years, and has more wins than any other player in the history of the NFL. And now he has the supporting cast that is similar to the GB team of the 90’s. Poor artical, horribly researched, pitifully summerized, and an East Coast writters type angle. You must think global warming is real too…….


J Carrillo

January 12, 2010 at 12:21 PM
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It might end a lot of different ways, but the ending won’t cost Childress his job, he got his contract renewed for a couple years more when they were 10-1, even if he hates favre now, he still owes his job to him, Tarvaris Jackson probably would’ve got him on the street, show some respect kid.


Pity the fool

January 12, 2010 at 1:20 PM
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Hey Tim, can you, at the very least, spell “artical” (article) correctly? If you’re going to criticize a writer, at least have a basic understanding of spelling and grammar.


Spider Savage

January 12, 2010 at 2:17 PM
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Damian us RIGHT ON. I am worried about the Cowboys coming to Town, but I sure am glad its in the metrodome. GO VIKES!!!!!


Really - this guy gets Paid for this?

January 12, 2010 at 2:29 PM
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Silly article. Football knowledge is pedestrian. This is the type that shouts asinine comments from the stands as everyone surrounding wants to slap some common sense across his mug.


Bart15

January 12, 2010 at 6:21 PM
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Really poor article.


Greg

January 12, 2010 at 9:10 PM
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Hey Pity, We’re not professional writers, nor do are comments need to be professional or gramatically correct.. point is, this article is some guy expressing his opinion, and it sucks. As well at the writer. He really shows his true colors “Green and Yellow” and last i checked they just lost in overtime. Either that or he’s a huge Favre hater but that doesn’t matter because he is also amusingly illogical.


Kurt

January 12, 2010 at 9:28 PM
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Journeyman- technically competent, but unable to excel. Hey that describes your writing!!


Aarron R

January 12, 2010 at 9:35 PM
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Greg a Diva is a celebrated female singer. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and by extension in theatre, cinema and popular music. Or I guess it could also describe a loser like you!


Sue Stancil

January 12, 2010 at 9:45 PM
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The Rodgers conspiracy theory: I just watched the Packers Cards replay on NFL.com. After watching the Rodgers fumble 15 times in slow mo and stop action, I am convinced he kicked the football in the air subconsciously. Why? To avoid having to play Favre again and lose for a third time.


jeff ircink

January 12, 2010 at 11:14 PM
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Displaced Packer fan the last two seasons. SKOL FAVRE & SKOL VIKINGS!

successful or failed experiment? every NFL’er should have the goal of winning the SB. based on that, if you don’t win it your season’s a failure. and if the Vikes don’t get there and win it, they’ll join 30 other teams whose seasons were failures.

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another thing, no matte what Favre does, he will always be a loser to anti-Favre-ites. Vikes get to the SB and lose = Favre’s a loser. get to the SB and win. Good, Favre can retire finally. loser. Vikes lose against Dallas OR in the NFC Championship game – Favre loser.

he can’t win with those people. plain and simple. it’s the one “win” he’ll never get.


Tom Brady

January 13, 2010 at 6:43 AM
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Great post Jeff, that exactly how all anti-favre-ers will end their arguments for the season. In their sad little minds they believe that no matter what happens they’ll win the argument in the end. What a bunch of babies. Babies here, and babies in life.


Damian

January 13, 2010 at 9:13 AM
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LMAO, nice Sue. Maybe Romo will do the same when #69 (skilled mullet with steps in the sides) is breathing down his neck


Derek Lofland

January 13, 2010 at 9:33 AM
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Do you watch football? A journeyman quarterback? Vinny Testaverde is a journeyman quarterback. Brett Favre is a first ballot Hall of Famer that played for the same organization for a Packer record 16-years. Journeyman quarterbacks do not have their numbers retired. He will.

As far as having few friends to show for his last two stops, the Jets did not work out for a variety of reasons, but when he played the Packers twice it looked like Driver, Kampman, Harris, Jennings and the other veterans thought very highly of Favre when they shook hands and embraced after the game. He left on bad terms with management, not the players.

Read more …

Peterson’s numbers are down accross the board. The most important stat in the NFL is touchdowns and he has 18 compared to the 10 he had last year. The good thing is he will be fresh for the playoffs now not having to have carried the ball 25 times a game all season.

Finally, your comment, “in short, Favre puts his teams in a Favre-sized hole: A parade of 3rd-and-13s that only he can salvage.” Honestly, you believe he tanks plays on 1st and 2nd down to make himself look like the hero on 3rd down. I can understand not liking a guy, but get real.


Nick

January 13, 2010 at 11:16 AM
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I have been a Vikings fan since 1968. [Yes, Im pretty darn old … lol.] I have watched them choke more than any other team out there. I felt that bringing Favre onto the team was a big mistake: I was wrong. Favre has brought the Vikings into the playoffs not just by his skills as a quarterback, but also by his leadership skills. Football is a team sport, and no one person on a team is responsible for that teams success or failure. Favre does have the ability to keep his cool and win games in the 4th quarter, which is something the Vikes have not had in the past. He shouldnt be idolized, but certainly he should be given the credit due to a excellent quarterback, regardless of his age or any shinanigans he has pulled in the past. For all of us Vikings fans, lets enjoy that we are in the playoffs and have the skillset on the team [not just Favre, but the entire squad] to make a realistic run for the Super Bowl. For those of you who arent Vikings fans, be ready for your team to lose to the Vikes! I know I will enjoy watching the playoffs this year and will enjoy watching the Vikes finally win a Super Bowl … in large part because of Favre.


GetReal

January 13, 2010 at 3:07 PM
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Damian, those “sissies” physically beat the big bad Philly team into submission – twice. It wasn’t “pretty”. Did the same to Nawleans. They’re real physical and on both ends of the line – not just one. Vikes might win, but there will be no “sissies” on the field. Your Vikes will need to be on their “top game” to win.

By the way, This article is cr*p – Farve is one of the great ones. He hasn’t done particularly well against Dallas…but on any given Sunday. Should be a good game.

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