Favre is coming off what I believe to be his best season ever, I even felt he deserved the league MVP award. It’s not too often 40 year old athletes have the best season of their career.

The bigger picture here is that all signs are pointing to Favre returning for one more year with the Vikings. While he hasn’t come out and said he will return, it’s even harder to believe now that he won’t.

If Favre does return, the expectations on him and the Vikings will be bigger than big. Anything less than a Super Bowl appearance will be a disappointment, and that still may not be enough. This team and city firmly believes a Super Bowl victory is closer than it’s ever been.  Whether or not they are able to improve on last season remains to be seen. The key is Favre, he needs to be there and to have another stellar season. It will be a tough test for a guy who will turn 41 in October.

Technorati Tags: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings, NFL

Arizona was able to win the game last night because they kept Adrain Peterson in check. Not many teams can do this but the Cardinals fast, aggressive defense kept the leagues best running back in check all game.

With the run threat stifled Arizona made Brett Favre beat them with his arm. When you force Brett to throw he’ll make mistakes. He made some last night and the Cardianls were able to capitalize.

The loss last night put the Vikings 2 games behind the Saints for the top spot in the NFC. It’s now looking like the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC will be played in New Orleans.

The win was huge for the Cardinals. Coupled with the loss by the 49ers, it puts Arizona 3 games up on San Fran and anyone who wants to catch them has to play mistake free football the rest of the way.

The game itself showed the Vikings maybe aren’t quite at the same level as the Saints. It also showed that Brett was playing the way he has been because of Peterson.

If the leagues MVP trophy is awarded to the player who has the biggest impact on the teams success, maybe people should be a little more focused on Peterson and not on the guy who is the benefactor of Adrians greatness.

Technorati Tags: Adrain Peterson, Arizona Cardinals, Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings, NFL

So far this season Favres arm has done more than hold out. Brett is on pace to have the best season of his career. On in which he hopes has one more Super Bowl win.

This time last year Favre was starting to show signs of wear. He and the Jets finished the season off horribly and people thought the end was here for Favre.

But Brett has proved all the doubters wrong. The Vikings are 10-1 and looking like the only team in the NFC to give New Orleans a run for their money.

Farve has had the luxury of having the best running back in the league lined up along side him. He’s never had a running game like the one the Vikings have this year. Don’t kid yourself folks, this is the reason Favre is having the success he’s having.

As the season head into the final month the Vikings are going to have to rely on that run game more. This can only be beneficial to Favre. Even if his arm is holding up great, it’s always nice to have the option to run if you need to. If teams can’t stop the run game they won’t be able to stop Favre or the Vikings.

Technorati Tags: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings, NFL

But if the Bears want Cutler to survive they may want to throw him a lifejacket or two. The receiving core he’s had to work with is sub par on a good day. Devin Hester may work out okay but he’s not going to be a number one receiver in this league.

They could probably use a little help with the offensive line too. They’re average but  you don’t see too many superstar quarterbacks behind average offensive lines.

So yea, I guess I can see where Favre is coming from on this. Maybe Brett sees a little of himself in the young gun slinger. Those 18 picks by Cutler this year definitely reminds me of a young Favre, that’s for sure.

Technorati Tags: Brett Favre, Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler, NFL

I checked out the people who were leading the balloting for the “all-star” game and everything was checking out fine. Drew Brees leads the voting, yea that makes sense. Peyton Manning is second, Adrian Peterson is third. So far so good. Brett Favre is fourth…..WTF?

It’s the same as last year when Favre got in. Favre may be having a good year but he’s nowhere near the best quarterback in the game anymore. You mean to tell me Favre has more votes than Brady?! Oh yea, it’s because they let the fans vote. That would explain why Larry Fitzgerald is fifth in voting, even though he’s not the best receiver so far this year.

Players with the most exposure get in, not the best players. So why even waste time with the Pro Bowl?. It’s a game that the fans set the lineups with their favorite players. It’s like when a little kid loves the home team because his dad does. So consequently the kid loves all the players on the team and thinks they’re all the best. So he gets online everyday and votes for those player multiple times.

If you want a real all-star game, let the coaches and players choose who gets in. Aren’t they the best judge of talent? I would say they probably watch a lot more game film that that little kid and his dad do.

Don’t get me wrong here. The fans are everything. I’m a fan. But I wouldn’t think my opinion of who the best players in the league are should hold more weight  than players and coaches.

Technorati Tags: Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, NFL, Peyton Manning

I think what suprised me the most was how well Minnesotas senconday stayed together when they needed to. I don’t think they played great but in the fourth quarter I thought they stepped it up. There were times Rodgers had some time to make a throw or he scrambled to give himself some more time, but he didn’t seem to be able to find an open receiver. The 52 rushing yards Rodgers picked up were a direct result of the coverage downfield being pretty good.

Minnesota did a great job too of responding when Green Bay was starting to get something going. Some teams would have buckled under that kind of pressure, being on the road and all the other factors that made that game so important. The Vikings were able to get back on track when they wavered a little bit, just like they did against Baltimore a few weeks ago. That’s the sign of a good football team for sure.

Green Bay needs to step back and take a look at where they’re at right now. I don’t discredit Minnesota but there were times where they just seemed to shoot themselves in the foot. The best it’s looking for them at this stage of the season is a wildcard spot. That’s gonna be tought when you look at what’s going on in the NFC East right now as well as the NFC South, especially if Atlanta can find a way to beat New Orleans tonight.

The Packers need to find an identiity. I really couldn’t figure out what their plan was yesterday offensively. They got into a rhythm at times but it didn’t last. Sometimes they seem like they want to establish a running game and then they give up on it right away. If they can’t get it figured out I don’t like their playoff chances. As for the Vikings, they look like they’re right up there with the Saints in the NFC. I’d bet on them to be in the Super Bowl representing the NFC. So far though my predictions don’t seem to hold too much weight.

Technorati Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, NFL

I think most important for the Vikings is to come out of the gate fast, they want to stiffle the crowd. This game is going to be emotional for Brett and I don’t think they want to fall behind, especially right away. If the Vikings can get a touchdown or two on Green Bay right away their defense can start teeing off on Rodgers. This will also add a little protection to their secondary, they’ll be without Antoine Winfield again. Minnesota likes the big play so I’d be looking for them to be attacking right off the bat. Percy Harvin could be a factor early in this game.

For the Packers it’s important to get that running game going right away, or at least try to get it going. Easier said than done for sure. They have to find away to punish Minnesota for the amount of pressure they bring. Finding a way to run the ball will force Minnesota to ease up on their pressure from their front 7 and maybe even start forcing them to put an eighth man in their. Baltimore was able to do a good job of it in the second half of their game against the Vikings, the only problem is Green Bay doesnt’ have a guy like Ray Rice. They need to allow Rodgers time in the pocket, if they can he’ll pick apart their secondary all night.

On defense the Packers want to make Favre beat them. Force pressure up the middle on him, make him make throws when he’s not ready. They’ve got to keep the pressure on and keep him running around out there. When he sits back in the pocket with all kinds of time he looks like good. When he starts having to run around and make quick decisions, he’s gonna make mistakes. Peterson’s gonna do his thing, but keeping him from breaking that big touchdown run is what’s important.

I’m looking for a big game from Green Bay. I’m getting the sense they’re going to want it more. Plus Minnesota won the first game between these two, but they had to hold off a late surge by the Packers to do it. It’s always tough to sweep a division opponent. For what it’s worth I think Green Bay comes out on top 31-24.

Technorati Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, NFL