Favre, whose Hall of Fame résumé has been built on winning some pressure-filled games, did it again Sunday, throwing four touchdown passes with no interceptions in a 38-26 victory over the Packers. In doing so Favre helped the Vikings complete a series sweep of the Packers and again proved to Green Bay General Manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy that he still had plenty of life left in that right arm that was no longer desired in these parts after 16 years.
Growing up in Minnesota, I learned at an early age that there are a few days in the year that get marked in red on your calendar. There's the opening of fishing season, the opening of deer hunting, the state high school hockey tournament...and the two annual games against the evil, blood-sucking Green Bay Packers. The Vikings could go 2-14, but as long as the two wins were against Green Bay, it would be considered a successful season.
This year there's been an added dimension to the Good vs. Evil rivalry. Brett Favre is now the Vikings starting quarterback. After 16 years of being the Devil Incarnate, he's led Minnesota to a 6-1 record. Better yet, two of those six wins have come at the expense of the Packers. It's taken almost half a season, but I thinking I'm getting used to seeing Favre in purple and gold...and I'm thinking he really should have been wearing those colors all along. After yesterday's 38-26 victory over the Evil Empire, all seems right with the world.
Making this season's two-fer even sweeter is the reality that most of my family are Packers fans. My father lives in southwestern Wisconsin and flies a Packers flag in his front yard...even though we lived in Minnesota until after I graduated from high school. No, Lambeau Field may not be the bowels of Hell...but you can certainly see it from there.
Man, was this was sweet or what??
To be honest, I've always admired Favre, who's throughout his career has played the game the way it's supposed to be played, with passion, joy, and enthusiasm, leaving everything on the field. Seeing that force at work in purple and gold is just that much sweeter. I can almost feel Vikings fans thinking Super Bowl, which has been verboten for far too long. After becoming the first team to lose four Super Bowls (and losing the 1999 NFC Championship game to Atlanta after going 15-1...thank you, Gary Anderson), Minnesota fans long ago learned to temper expectations. Still, I find myself wondering....could this finally be the year? Perhaps, but that seems a long ways off. Yesterday may not have been a Super Bowl, but it did cement 2009 as a successful season. Two wins over the evil, blood-sucking Packers? What more could an expatriate Minnesotan who still bleeds purple and gold want? OK, so a Super Bowl would be nice, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, 'kay??
After winning 97 games at Lambeau Field as the quarterback for the Evil Empire, it's Favre's one victory there in purple and gold that will always stand out for me. Sure, Minnesota could well finally win a Super Bowl, but even if they don't, they have two W's against Green Bay...and that makes for a VERY good season.
Man, this one was fun to watch, wasn't it??
