Most of the Packers fans tried their hardest to make Brett Favre feel unwelcome in his return to Lambeau Field on Sunday -- booing him from the moment he emerged from the tunnel in pregame warmups until the final snap. All Favre did in response was play exactly like he always has at Lambeau.The 40-year-old was spectacular in his first game back in Green Bay, leading the Vikings to a 38-26 win that puts Minnesota in complete control of the NFC North.
"It was emotional," a slightly choked-up Favre said to Fox's Pam Oliver once the game ended. "I had a lot of years here, a lot of great years. It was pretty special."
Favre completed 17-of-28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns -- including two in the fourth quarter as Green Bay feverishly attempted to rally from a 21-point deficit.
"We played a great game, they played a great game," Favre said. "Obviously I'm glad we won the game. I know what I did here and what I left behind."
Favre's successor in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers, put on a show of his own. Rodgers completed 26-of-41 passes for 287 yards. He also had three second-half touchdowns to pull Green Bay out of a 24-3 hole and bring the Packers as close as four points.
After Rodgers hit Spencer Havner to cut the Minnesota lead to 24-20, though, Favre countered with a 2-yard TD pass to Jeff Dugan to reopen an 11-point cushion. A Rodgers-to-Greg Jennings connection cut that deficit down to 31-26, but Favre again responded and found Bernard Berrian for a 16-yard score with just 3:48 left to bury the Packers.
"I hate losing to whoever's the quarterback for them," Rodgers said.
Any questions about how the Green Bay fans would receive Favre were answered vociferously. Favre received a chorus of boos when he ran onto the field in the pregame, and the fans kept those boos going -- almost non-stop -- through Minnesota's first two offensive possessions.
The fans unrest no doubt grew as Favre picked their Packers apart -- and hampered Green Bay's own postseason hopes.
"Packer fans cheer for the Packers first," Favre said. "I know that. But I hope that everyone in the stadium watching tonight said, 'I sure hate those jokers on the other side, but he does play the way he's always played.'"
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
11-01-2009 @ 7:46PM
Gail Marcantonio said...
Loved the GB/Viking game, didn't much like the fans booing Bret Favre - really poor sportsmanship. I'm not from either state, so had no real vested interest in the game. When the fans started booing, I immediately started rooting for the Vikings. Favre is a total class act.
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11-01-2009 @ 8:13PM
ravenshadow666x said...
Gail Marcantonio
The main reason why the fans of Green Bay boo Favre is not limited to the fact he is on a rival team. But when he was told he had to be 2nd string if he wanted to play for the Packers, he pulled all his charities in Green Bay when he left for the Jets. That is why the fans don't like him.
11-01-2009 @ 9:17PM
nce818 said...
yet another STUPID Packer fan that has the dacts mixed up...he offered to compete for his job and they told him he couldn he flew into GB and was todl NO...he was NEVER given the option to be backup
11-01-2009 @ 9:40PM
eminem said...
What is your definition of Class act ?
Addicted to pain killers ?
Cheating on Wife ?
In my opinion he is classless the way he acts on the field and off. He rubs every successful play into the opposing teams face, laughing and running around. (act like youve been there.)
He also screwed Green Bay they way he threatened to retire year after year, he forced the hand and those fans deserved way better.
11-01-2009 @ 11:31PM
nce818 said...
OK Emimen....you are a moron.....that says it all. You don't know a thing about Favre, so crawl under your rock
11-04-2009 @ 10:13AM
htc6600 said...
Right Gail, the Packers fans hate Favre because he stopped giving to charity. Do you have any idea how lame you sound?
11-01-2009 @ 8:05PM
SirPaul said...
Brett you are a god Odin would be proud of.
You had to face your old team (14 years with the Green Bay Packers) at their home field today - but
this time you had to face them as a Viking.
You wanted to stay with Green Bay - but they said adios.....we got someone younger and better.
So off went Brent to study and learn and turn 40....then come he back and beat those bastards. He threw for 4 touchdowns against them. Bet that felt good. But not to Arron Rogers, the new Green Bay Quarerback who was busy getting up off the grass after the Vikes knocked him down AGAIN.
To all the Green Bay Packer Fans who booed Brett when he came on to Lambau Field, how do you feel now, you dumb children of
the mountains.
How many of you are left handed. How's your sister.
Go Vikings - The Norse Horse will ride across the sky tonight. I hope he brings the Yankees on a victory lap.
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11-01-2009 @ 8:10PM
John said...
I'm going to repeat what I wrote on Bruce Ciskie's article. The game has been won. Brett Favre proved he is still one of the best qb in the league. Some will be happy that Brett had his vindication, others will only hate him more.
But what must now happen to end this divisiveness between fans is for Ted Thompson to gracefully exit Packer Land. It is now incombant upon him to heal this divisiveness by resingning as the General Manager of the Packers and let new leadership move the organization forward.
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11-01-2009 @ 8:16PM
hsiunnu said...
Perfectly said, John. When arguably the greatest QB to ever play the game wants his job back, he might not be entitled to it, but he's at least entitled to the minimum of respect to let him fight for it. Thompson was too busy "showing everyone who's boss." Now it's time for the people of Green Bay--who technically own the team--to show THOMPSON who's HIS boss.
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11-01-2009 @ 10:27PM
TymeonTime4u said...
I agree with all you have said here, the man (Brett) just wanted to play football, that ASS Teddy wanted to flex his I'm the BOSS EGO, I am so happy for Brett, Ass's like him (teddy )and the big shot NFL Ex's and most of the owner's will finally Kill the Game of Football as it once was.
11-01-2009 @ 10:41PM
dhefu said...
Green Bay Fans who boo Brett Favre are without class, I was a GB Packer fan for over 30 years and am completely disgusted by how he was treated by the Packers organization. I am very happy for him and his success and I am finished with the Packers. He has done more for the GB Packers than any player currently on the team or anyone else currently in the organization.
11-01-2009 @ 8:28PM
elpgolfer said...
so ravenshadow666x, you all in Green Bay still think Favre is second string? and he gets dumped by the Packer organization, which is a business, and he goes to the Jets and you still wanted him to leave his charities intact? get Rogers to take over his spot. after all he is your first string QB now. and a mighy fine one...ha ha ha ha
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11-02-2009 @ 12:32AM
BOB said...
Where are you getting this? He was Dumped by the Packers? He retired! He retired! No one forced him. He has been deciding whether or not to Play. Since The end of the 2002 Season. Hence the Sears Commercial.
11-01-2009 @ 8:39PM
ajhutter said...
Brett Favre,hate him or love him is the greatest QB to ever play the the game. He a class act and last of the old QB and play his game no matter what team he on. He a sure hall of famer.
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11-01-2009 @ 8:43PM
jmssas1992 said...
The fans is GB loved Favre for years, my wife who knows nothing about football rooted for Brett today since Lambeau fans were booing him. I lived in Wisconsin for 9 yrs grew to amire and root for Favre for his love of the game. Anyone that has played sports understands Brett's emotions today, THANK YOU TED for pushing Brett out of GB and giving his legacy another chapter. I do feel for Rodgers as he will not be able to fill Bretts shoes from the turf since TEDs team cannot protect him.
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11-01-2009 @ 10:48PM
duaneasal said...
BRAVO. WELL SAID.
11-01-2009 @ 8:45PM
Wilma Thompson said...
nothing
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11-02-2009 @ 7:00AM
mix1453 said...
That's just what the Packers are worth without
Brett.
Start eating your cheeseheads...it's going to be a long cold winter.
Moosie
11-01-2009 @ 8:51PM
PEP PEPMILLER said...
WOW Green Bay, The Pack, The history, The record cold games watched in The field, Farve, all the great memories, And now all the CLASSLESS FANS.
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11-01-2009 @ 8:55PM
Jeremy said...
To all those who cheered for or made nice signs for Brett, Thank You!! For the rest of you with NO class, get a life, I guess you just forgot about all the things Mr. Farve did for you!!
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