‘Favre-u-lous' game leads to Vikings vs. Packers match

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 10/02/2009

When a head coach like Brad Childress leaves practice to pick up Brett Favre at the airport, it makes a statement. After Sunday's “Favre-u-lous” debut — what an impression in a debut home performance — now everybody knows why all spring and summer the Vikings stayed in hot pursuit of number four, the legend.

Favre has done this before: 40 times, in fact, he has snatched victory from an opponent. Many times I have seen Favre steal one like that from the Vikings when he was with the green-and-gold Green Bay Packers.

“It's hard to even recall all of them. This one was pretty special,” said Favre.” Indeed! In the Vikings vs. 49ers game, Favre drove the Vikings 80 yards in 89 seconds; every yard was on a pass from Favre. For the first time since 2005, when Daunte Culpepper was a Viking, a quarterback in purple threw for 301 yards; and the legend of Favre keeps growing.

Favre was 24 for 47 with two touchdowns and one interception. With two seconds left in the fourth quarter, Favre hit a streaking Greg Lewis with a 32-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to give the Vikings and incredible comeback 27-24 win over Mike Singletary's San Francisco 49ers.

In my many years of covering the Vikings, I have seen many Vikings vs. 49er games when the 49ers had Hall of Famers Joe Montana, and Steve Young at quarterback — those two guys snatched victory away from the Vikings many times some in the playoffs. I can still see Young in San Francisco on that miracle play breaking about five tackles in 1988 and diving into the end zone to beat the Vikings in the final seconds. When you have greatness at the quarterback position, you always have a chance to win.

Favre will soon be 40 years old and had never thrown Lewis a pass before, but when you have the knowledge of an offense, and on a given play you know where people are supposed to be, you can deliver the goods. Lewis made a terrific catch, a leaping grab while running across the back of the end zone. He secured the catch and got both feet down simultaneously. The 47 pass attempts by Favre were the most he's thrown in a game since November 11, 2007, when he beat the Vikings with the Packers.

The Vikings are 3-0 for the first time since 2003. Next Monday night, the 2-1 Green Bay Packers will match-up against the Vikings in Favre's first game against his former team.

This one will be one for the ages; Vikings vs. Packers games are always unusual, especially at the Dome. Half the fans are pulling for the Packers in what is supposed to be a home-field-advantage game. With Favre's history as a Packer (a three-time MVP and Super Bowl champion) and the importance of this division game and all the emotion and build-up for a Monday night game. On top of that, Farve playing against his replacement in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers, and all of his former teammates — I suggest you don't miss it.

This one will be like no Vikings-Packers game ever before. Why? Because of Brett Favre. This is must-see TV.

Fitz Notes & Quotes

So far, Brad Childress is batting 1,000. He wanted Favre, and he got Favre to replace Tavaris Jackson. The Vikings are one of seven 3-0 teams. If you don't believe the Vikings are better with Favre than Jackson at quarterback, you're a fool.

Childress went out on a limb to draft talented Percy Harvin from Florida even though Harvin had tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine. The Vikings' number-one draft pick, Harvin has been sensational: He has scored a touchdown in each game including Sunday's game-changing 101-yard kickoff return and four catches for 51 yards.

It was Childress who cut popular veteran Bobby Wade — after Wade agreed to cut his salary by $1.5 million — and signed Greg Lewis off the street. Yes, that Greg Lewis, the hero of last Sunday's game.

Can Childress beat the Packers? He's 1-5 against them in his fourth season with the Vikings.

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-re corder.com, or visit www.Larry- Fitzgerald.com.