Coming into Sunday’s contest against the Packers, I was as unsure as anyone how the fans in Green Bay would receive their former MVP QB. If pressed, I would have suggested a lukewarm reception from the hometown fans, obvious cheers from the folks who were Vikings fans and happened to find their way into the stadium, resulting in an overall decent welcome. That wasn’t the case, as the boos certainly outweighed the applause as 
Favre proved yet again on Sunday that he still has what it takes to win football games, regardless of the opponent, and I’m not entirely sure why football fans, his fellow players, and analysts across the country can’t take it at face value. To me, “face value” is this: you have an individual with a skill set (in this case it’s the ability to throw a football, but it could be someone who can manage an auto assembly plant, write news articles or photograph breathtaking landscapes) for which there remained a demand. Sure, his late announcements and occasional uncertain deliveries of his intents left his teams in a small amount of peril, yet if they believed they could do better on the open market or via the draft, they should have gone that route no matter what messages this employee had been giving them. In any case, this is just one fan who continues to be quite pleased that my favorite football team had a need and found an employee who could fill it.
Favre’s performance on Sunday was all that any Vikings supporter could have hoped for. And that really sums up the 1st half of the season as well. At 7-1 and going into their bye week, there really wasn’t much else that could have been expected of this team. Next week I’ll provide more in-depth analysis of the 1st half of the year, but I like where this team is sitting.
Seeing Favre throw 4 scores,
There were a few things that could have been improved against Green Bay. The 2nd half didn’t need to be as close or dramatic as it was. Some more sure-handed tackling, a couple more 1st downs, or a FG instead of a turnover on downs following a 4th and 1 in the 2nd quarter would have sucked some of the uneasiness out of the Vikings faithful. Then again, maybe the entire package we got on Sunday was ok, too.
Random Ramblings
Jon Gruden uses lots of hyperbole as part of his Monday Night Football broadcasts…I thought having Ahman Green back returning kicks was an odd choice. He just doesn’t seem to have the explosion necessary, at this point in his career, to play that position…I like Cris Collinsworth more all the time. His sharp, quick analysis can offer insight to even the most seasoned football fans…the “Protecting the Quarterback” segment seems a bit corny…people seem quite surprised that Michael Vick hasn’t been affective running the wildcat. Count me among those who are not…I appreciated Terry Bradshaw’s FOX pregame interview with Favre. I, like he, don’t throw around the phrase “great player” often and reserve it only for those that truly are among…well…the greatest…I am pulling for Tim Tebow and hope he finds a position to make an impact in the NFL…LaDainian Tomlinson has fallen below 425 yards receiving only twice in his career (with 370 and 367 in ’05 and ’01, respectively). Coming into Sunday’s game he had totaled 32…Jamal Lewis announcing his retirement after the season is a bit surprising; I think many fans forget that he’s really not that old at only 30 years of age…when I heard that Fahu Tahi was inactive I thought there was a slight chance
E-mail Bag
Josh,
I haven't written ina while (which I'm sure is amazing to you), but I have beenreading each week. Over the past few years I have been less optimistic about the state of the Vikings than you. But, in reading your article this week, I have to say that you hit the nail right on the head. Your points were direct and totally correct!
Executionand talent are two key qualities that makegood teams great.
Thisyear’sMinnesota Vikings team has the talent but two things holdus back: discipline and occasionally a totallack of execution at some point in each game. The two things we have going for us are at least one good leader (Brett Favre) and resiliency. That is why we are 6-1. We have the bounce back that most teams don't have when something devastating happens. With all that said, the Vikings really should be ready to take this thing to another level by beating the Packers soundly on Sunday.If Brad Childress can get this thing fine-tuned and healthy he may just be directing a monster. Remember folks: Two big plays that get stopped at the point where the ball was lost and we could easily be 7-0. Josh, I still enjoy reading your article every week. Please keep up the good work!
David O
San Antonio, TX
Josh,
Certainly missing shots at INTs and penalties are costly, but on some of your other points, I feel the sting of the loss is affecting your judgment. Let the dust settle some more.
Picking up a fumbled football to run with it is not an incorrect idea.Anyone who disagrees should be asked to recall that the Steelers picked up Favre's fumble and scored immediately, which quite possiblychanged the outcome of the football game. The real problem was that the Vikings only tried to pick up the football which Roethlisberger lost. As Yoda once said, “There is no try; do.”
I also strongly disagree with all of the goal-line stand critics. The game stats show that Favre had more yards passing than any other QB in the NFL last Sunday. \That is because the Steelers were more intent on stopping Adrian Peterson than anything else (and most of them were better at it than William Gay). On that goal-line stand, Peterson had two shots from the one yard line, and he did not get in. If Kleinsasser catches Favre's pass on third down or the run had been attempted again with Peterson fumbling and the Steelers taking it back to the house, the view of giving Peterson the football more often would feel just a tad different, would it not?The pass was working more often than the run for a reason, and selecting a pass play was done with a good likelihood of success.Peterson had already scored running, and that was the thing Pittsburgh was focused on.The Vikings actually tried runningtwice down there,and running hadfailed to score.Ignoring that part is just selective memory.
If the official does not flag
Time to chalk it up to experience and get ready for a little trip to Lambeau…
Gary M.
Well…certainly two different takes on last week’s column, huh? I appreciate them both equally; whether you agree or disagree with me I’m happy to hear from you. Feel free to contact me at joshtheviking2@hotmail.com or look me up at www.wearevikingsfans.com. We’ll still be bringing you “After the Dust Settles” during the bye week with some mid-season analysis so be sure to check back.
Until next time, it’s been a pleasure…
