Brett Favre Pays Green Bay A Visit!
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 10/28/2009
For first time in Brett Favre's career, this being his 19th NFL season, he was on a team that started the season 6-0. That all changed Sunday in the fourth quarter at Pittsburgh when the defending Super Bowl Champs handed the Vikings their first bitter taste of defeat, 27-17.
Favre has played a major role in the Vikings' fast start; however, Sunday he contributed greatly to a Vikings fourth-quarter meltdown to the Steelers. First, LaMarr Woodley returned Favre's fumble 77 yards for a touchdown, and then Keyaron Fox ran back an interception 82 yards for another score in the 27-17 win.
Two Steelers defensive goal-line stands helped turn the quarterback showdown of Favre vs. Ben Rothlisberger , who have combined to win three Super Bowls, into a defensive duel. And not many people can beat Pittsburgh when it comes to defense. Ball security is Vikings Head Coach Brad Chidress's number one edict. As I can painfully recall in last year's Super Bowl in February between the Cardinals and Steelers, the game turned on James Harrison's record 100-yard interception return.
Sunday's Vikings loss was no different - three times the Vikings had the Steelers on the ropes. The touchdown returns were bad enough, but the Steelers also made a goal-line stand in the third quarter, when they stopped the Vikings inside the one-yard line three times and kept the momentum and a 13-10 lead.
Favre must have been shaking his head at the opportunities the Vikings missed with three chances to win, particularly when he had led the Vikings to two last-second victories
this season against San Francisco and Baltimore with the game on the
line.
This week, the legend of Favre returns to Green Bay and Lambeau Field, where for 16 years he led the Green and Gold. "My career with Green Bay speaks for itself, and the games I played in Lambeau Field , it's a special place, and that won't change," Favre said. In fact, twice Favre led Green Bay to the Super Bowl in back-to-back years. In 1996 he led the Packers to their first Super Bowl title in 29 years, beating New England in Super Bowl XXXI .
A record 10 times Favre has been selected to the Pro Bowl; he is currently tied with Hall-of-Famer Johnny Unitas among quarterbacks for number one all-time. He has started 276 consecutive games counting playoffs - that's 298 straight. He's a three-time NFL MVP - he and Peyton Manning are tied for most all-time. He holds every significant NFL
career passing record, including most TD passes (476), completions, attempts, yards and wins (175).
The NFL is known for its unpredictability, but nothing compares with this week. Favre returning to Green Bay with the Vikings? Are you kidding me? These two organizations hate each other. Packer fans are always reminding Viking fans they have never won the Super Bowl, while the Packers have won 12 NFL titles, more than any other franchise.
On Monday Night Oct.5 th , the Vikings beat the Packers 30-23. Favre threw three touchdown passes in that win. It was the highest rated, most-watched sporting event in cable television history, and I saw it live and in person, as I will Sunday when Favre returns to the hollowed ground of Lambeau Field in Green Bay .
How will he be received? It will be a priceless sports event . This game is big, too. The Packers are 4-2; with a win, they send the Vikings a message that the NFC North will be a fight to the finish. It's gotta be big for me to do what I've never done before: pass up doing what I enjoy most, watching the best player in the NFL, Larry Fitzgerald, Jr., play with the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals .
How will Favre be received? How should this NFL legend he be received? Share your thoughts - send responses to Larry@Larry-Fitzgerald.com
