The Student of the GameGoing Beyond the Stats

While it will not necessarily apply to all those who gaze upon this particular article, the public will be fed and mezmorized by the elements of the story pertaining to former Packer QB Brett Favre playing against his former team at the Metrodome in a Minnestoa Viking uniform for the first time in his last NFL game before he turns 40 years old and think that he was the hero of the game in the Vikings 30-23 division victory putting them at 4-0. But Favre himself was forced to show appreciation to the man who was the real factor, “[DE]Jared Allen is a beast . . . I’m glad we have ‘em”. Allen’s numbers showed him as the crushing asset he was against the Packer line who is currently riddled with injuries and youth as he collected 6 tackles with 4.5 sacks of the team’s 8 as wells as a forced fumble and a safety.
QB Aaron Rodgers, due to his status as the NFL’s ragdoll being the QB who’s been sacked more than any other in 2009, can’t hold the blame for protection problems that plagued him on the night with a career high 384 yards while throwning 26/37 for 70% with 2 TDs, a lost fumble, and an INT including a 62 TD strike to TE Jermichael Finley (6 catches, 128 yards, and 1 TD).

Favre’s performance, however, was still certainly worthy of some accolades as he played big during another Monday night game delivering 24/31 at 77% for 271 for 3TDs on a day where the Minnesota ground game was comparatively anemic as RB Adrian Peterson went 25 carries for 55 yards (2.2) and a TD with a lost fumble. While special teams also contributed to the Viking cause forcing the Packers to start all of the their second half drives inside the 20.

While it doesn’t fit in with all the revenge highlights the fans hoped for, it would be the battle at the line that would be the ultimate deciding factor within the match up.