Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre embraces counterpart and former teammate Aaron Rodgers after Monday's game at the Metrodome. (Tom Olmscheid/Associated Press)Brett Favre made the most of his long-awaited date with the Green Bay Packers, throwing three touchdown passes in a 30-23 victory for the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night at the Metrodome.
Favre completed 24 of 31 passes for 271 yards in his first appearance against the Packers, the team he quarterbacked for the better part of his career.
"I felt right, but I guess I never thought I would be in that situation," he said.
Favre threw touchdown passes to Visianthe Shiancoe, Sidney Rice, and Bernard Berrian, with running back Adrian Peterson rushing for a score for Minnesota (4-0).
"I definitely wanted to get this win for Brett," Peterson said. "He downplayed it all week.
"But I just knew it meant a lot to him. I could see it in his eyes."
Favre has now beaten all 32 NFL teams — the first quarterback to accomplish the feat.
"My statement has been what I've done over my career," Favre said. "One game does not define my career good or bad.
"I know what I've done. I'm proud of what I've done.
"I know I can play. I wanted to do what it takes to win."
Favre spent 16 seasons and won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, but the sides parted bitterly in 2008 after Favre decided his recently announced retirement had been too hasty.
After the Packers informed him they were ready to move on with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, Favre spent a season of mixed blessings with the New York Jets, but the Jets didn't have Green Bay on the schedule.
Favre decided to come back again this summer after recovering from a biceps injury, with many believing the opportunity to play the Packers twice a year was too enticing. He will make his return to Green Bay's Lambeau Field on Nov. 1.
"I don't think there was any question what he could do when he came back," Packers cornerback Charles Woodson said. "But you know, we didn't do ourselves any justice."
"Below my expectations, definitely," Rodgers said.
Favre, who turns 40 next week, outplayed his young rival on Monday night.
Rodgers threw for a career-high 384 yards and two touchdowns, but committed two turnovers in the first half that the Vikings parlayed into 14 points.
"To have three possessions where you're in their territory and come away with zero points — two of them are directly related to mistakes by myself — that is disappointing," he said.
Defensive pressure played a huge role in that.
Favre had all kinds of time to throw and was never sacked, while Rodgers hit the turf on eight sacks and was harried on other occasions.
Minnesota defensive lineman Jared Allen was his biggest nemesis, causing a Rodgers fumble and tackling the pivot for a safety on one of his 4½ sacks.
Rodgers impressively drove the Packers into Minnesota territory on the first drive of the game but got stuck between two Vikings defensive linemen on a broken play, getting stripped of the ball by Allen.
Favre completed all five attempts and Peterson rushed seven times as the Vikings responded with a scoring drive.
Favre capped it off with a short play-action pass to tight end Shiancoe.
Rodgers did well on the next drive to avoid pressue and find Jermichael Finley with a lob.
The big tight end then eluded a tackle and rumbled to a 62-yard touchdown.
Rodgers drove the Packers into scoring position again in the second quarter, but Antoine Winfield of the Vikings came up with a diving interception.
Favre threaded the needle to cap off the ensuing 77-yard drive, finding Rice in the end zone for the touchdown. Favre responded to the score by exhorting the already pumped-up Metrodome crowd.
"He was great," Vikings head coach Brad Childress said.
The Packers offence fizzled on the next drive but they got a much-needed boost from their defence. Rookie linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. wrenched the ball out of Peterson's hands and took off down the sideline for a 42-yard touchdown.
Favre caught a break after a big 43-yard completion to Percy Harvin when an interception he threw in the end zone was nullified by a penalty. On the next play, Peterson waltzed through a huge hole from one yard out for a 21-14 lead.
Favre picks apart secondary
Green Bay (2-2) was unable to get a consistent pass rush on the Vikings, giving Favre time to pick apart the Packers secondary. The veteran quarterback had no problem locating a wide open Berrian in the third, the pair connecting on a 33-yard major.
"I didn't expect him to do that," Woodson said. "I thought we would play better.
"But obviously, we didn't. And, you know, give him a lot of credit."
Rodgers and the Packers drove 81 yards later in the quarter but were stopped just shy of the Minnesota goal-line. Rodgers scrambled on fourth down to find an open receiver, but Donald Lee dropped the low pass in the end zone.
The Vikings are the fifth team to make it through four games without a loss to start the season, joining Denver, Indianapolis, New Orleans and the New York Giants.
Rodgers never gave up, even after an Allen safety in the fourth made it 30-14. He threw a 33-yard scoring pass to Jordy Nelson and then set up Mason Crosby's 31-yard field goal.
Rice prevented a further comeback, recovering two onside kick attempts for Minnesota.
