Vikings pillage Lambeau, Rodgers gets favred

Vikings leaders of the Pack

Brett Favre returns to Green Bay as a Viking. The storyline couldn't have been any better. The ending was sweet for Favre as the Vikings defeated the Packers 38-26. Quarterbacks Favre and Aaron Rodgers had exceptional games. Favre completed 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Rodgers completed 26 of 41 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns. The difference in the game was similar to the first as Rodgers was rushed the entire game and never found a rhythm. Rodgers was sacked six times by the Vikings, three by defensive end Jared Allen. After Allen's performance in the first match between the Packers and Vikings, the Packers should have had a game plan to stop him. Allen had 4.5 half sacks in the first meeting and was in Rodgers' face the entire game. What did the Packers do to fix this problem? Nothing. Rodgers was hit 10 times, to go with the six sacks and had troubles finding a rhythm the entire game. However, at times the Packers did show signs of coming back, and even closed to within four late in the third quarter, but were unable to complete its comeback. As a whole the Packers is the same old team we have been use to watching the entire season. It is unable to protect Rodgers and penalties continue to be the story of the season. The Packers tallied six penalties for 45 yards. No penalty was bigger than Packers' defensive tackle, Johnny Jolly who head butted a Vikings player to give the team a first down when it would have otherwise been kicking a field goal. The penalty gave momentum to the Vikings early and seemingly handled the Packers for the majority of the game. The Packers' defense didn't play great, but its performance was not bad as a whole. It held running back Adrian Peterson to less than 100 yards rushing and only allowed 244 passing yards, which is fewer passing yards than the so-called great Vikings' defense gave up. However, the Packers' defense was unable to make any key stops during the game. The statistics show the Packers defense did a job, but if you watched the game you will think differently. The Packers coverage was mediocre at best, giving the Vikings' receivers too much cushion. In the linebacker area the Packers did well. It was nothing great, but this is the part of the defense that has experienced the most change in the 3-4. The coverage was decent most of the day, but the downfall was a lack of pressure. The Packers never sacked Favre and only hit him four times the entire game, unacceptable for a defense that switched schemes to be efficient. It seemed to blitz less and was so worried about Favre beating it deep that it forgot what the 3-4 was about. The scheme was put in place to cause confusion and movement on defense, none of which the Packers did well against the Vikings. Rushing has been an issue for the Packers all season, as Ryan Grant rushed for more than 100 yards in only one game and has yet to prove why the Packers are paying him so much. Rodgers was the leading rusher for the Packers against the Vikings with 50 yards. Not the ideal leading rusher for a teams running attack. The Vikings came to Lambeau and proved it is the team in the NFC North to beat. Favre put the emotions behind him and showed the Packers he is still able to play. The upside for Packers' fans is Rodgers is the future. It is not his fault the team is losing against good teams. He has the arm and the knowledge to become a great quarterback and build his own legacy as a Packers' quarterback. For now Favre has a new team that is well put together and Rodgers has a team with a lot of potential.