• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print

After tonight's debacle, it must be said that Brett Favre won the battle with his old team.

Not Adrian Peterson, as most of the experts - including myself and my fellow colleagues here said would be the key to make sure not to happen.

Not even as much the Vikings' defensive line themselves, though they did own the Packers' front wall to the tune of eight sacks themselves.

It was Brett Favre being the reason for the Vikings' win.

Oh, sure, the offensive line protected him well. Zero sacks allowed.

But check out Brett Favre's quarterback rating: 135.2, coming from 24-31 for 271 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions.

On a regular day, Aaron Rodgers' 110.6 rating (26-37, 384 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT) would be enough to create victory (and happened to be better than any individual game Favre played in his second season as a Packers starter).

Not when he's living on his back with the football either in or fumbled out of his hand nearly one out of every five dropbacks.

This loss, though, wasn't Rodgers' fault.

It was Favre's brilliance. Give him credit.

Mind you, it is inherently unfair to say that this game is a litmus test on Ted Thompson and how he treated Favre in the 2008 off-season (and the years before).

General managers' litmus tests should never be decided on one player, regardless of how they may or may not have screwed up the status of a legend like Favre.

It should be decided on a whole team, including everything from Aaron Rodgers to Justin Harrell to Greg Jennings to a lack of replacements for guys like Mark Tauscher and Mike Wahle - a point well made by Bill Michaels.

Their' litmus tests are found in two numbers and a dash between them: the won-loss record.

With the development of Aaron Rodgers, there truly has not been any dropoff at the quarterback position, so don't go screaming "Ted Thompson, I told you so."

This wasn't Aaron Rodgers losing the game.

This time around, it was Brett Favre winning it.

Give him credit. He's earned it.