So I'm listening to NFL radio, the afternoon blitz, and someone brings up the Packers. Everyone goes off about how the D is so bad, and they lost to Tennessee because of the D, blah blah blah... no one mentioned Favre's INT's. No one mentioned the terrible first drive, 3 and out. It's like Favre is untouchable to criticism by the media in general. The man is getting old, and yes, he throws INT's!! It's ok to state that fact as a possible reason that the pack was never in the game!! Even if Favre played perfectly, they may still have lost, but at least it would have been competitive. This 5 minute rant I heard about the Tennessee game, no one mentions Favre's numerous turnovers. Unbelievable!
Actually, I've thought that Favre hasn't gotten the respect that's due him in recent years. People keep talking about his diminishing skills, but I haven't seen that. He doesn't have the talent at WR that he had earlier in his career, so I think he has to force things a bit more. That and injuries have caused him to force things a bit which leads to more interceptions, but who makes a play when they need him? Brett Favre. Jevon Walker looks like he may turn into a really good WR, but he's no Sterling Sharp / Robert Brooks / Antonio Freeman yet. What about Bubba Franks? Talk about a bust. Yet, Favre threw 32 tds last year, 27 the year before that and 32 three years ago. That's 91 tds in three years for a 30 td avg. Peyton Manning threw 82 tds in the same time period. That's diminishing skills? Look at where he ranks when fantasy football cheat sheets because of these supposed diminishing skills. Personally, I haven't had him ranked any lower than 2nd among QBs in the past three years. Actually, I can't remember the last time I had him ranked lower than 2nd. Brett Favre can still play for me anytime.
Yes, Favre had three picks in the game. But why did he have three picks in the game? Because he was forced to throw 44 times and the offense was opened up in an attempt to "get it all back at once." He had to throw deep and throw often because we couldn't run the ball, nor could we stop Tennessee from scoring. If Green had run for 120 yards and the defense could have stopped one out of every three drives, there's no way Favre throws three picks. That Tennessee loss wasn't his fault... Not in the least. Just like last year's playoff loss to the Eagles. People blame Favre's pick at the end which, admittedly, was a bad throw. However...he never should have had to throw that ball! We stop a 4th and 26 play and the game is over. Favre is ripped on when a loss is truly his fault (like most games we play in St. Louis). But the Philly game and the Tennessee game were far from being his fault.
Ok, I'll give some credit to that, but many QB's throw 45 times a game with 0 INT's. I think he was at about 1 INT per 10 throws on Monday (including the overturned INT.) The INT's were gifts too, right into the hands of the defense. I think Favre is good, don't get me wrong, but isn't it ok to at least point out that his INT's didn't help the Packers cause? Especailly 2 INT's in 2 consecutive plays???
The INTs don't help, but sometimes QBs have to gamble when they're behind. Your point was that Favre is getting old and throwing INTs. My point is that Favre doesn't have great talent catching the ball. Therefore, the defense needs to make some stops, so that Ahman Green isn't taken out of the ballgame by the score. Favre shouldn't have been put in the position that he was put in.
He does have a great talent catching the ball, the other team! Look, I've been watching Packers games for a long time. I watch them twice a year when they play the Vikings, and whenever the Vikings play a national game, or have a bye week, the local networks run the Packer games. I have never before seen Favre throw as many up for grabs, lofy, to no one ducks as he has lately. Is he still good? Yeah, he's better than most QB's, but he is getting old, he is throwing more INT's, and turnovers never help, even if you're name is Favre. Another point I have, is that Ahman Green is takin out of the game because of the lack of an offensive line, not the score. It was only 7-0 when the Titans took Green out of the game. Maybe Favre shouldn't have been put in that position, but just because you are losing doesn't make it OK to throw INT's, in fact, when you're losing is the WORST time to throw INT's, don't you think? It's pretty hard to come from behind when you keep giving the other team the ball.
I gotta agree with Rube on this one (surprised?) Favre is a good QB, but announcers, reporters, and analysts absolutely drool over him. The fact is, he is guaranteed to make a handful of bad throws almost every game. The throws that he makes are not just bad, they are completely aweful. Remember last years game against Philly when he threw that game ending pic? He wasn't even looking where he was throwing! Favre should not be beyond criticism, but he tends to be. He is a good QB, and if we didn't have Culpepper I would gladly take Favre. But the fact remains...the guy takes gambles and makes some very poor decisions from time to time.
Brian Billick calls the five questionable throws a game "Favre-rian throws." He says the key to beating the Packers is to zone in on those throws and turn them into turnovers. You know what? He's right.
I'm not saying it's okay to throw interceptions when your losing. However, if your behind and throwing the ball, you have to accept that your at a greater risk to throw interceptions because the other team is concentrating on pass defense. You can only throw the ball away so many times before you have to try and make a play. I guess I don't agree that Favre totally excapes criticism. Lindy's mentioned his occasional "inexplicable throws" and the int against the Eagles. However, I'm going to quit trying to convince people that Favre isn't old and washed up. Your right! He should hang up his cleats tomorrow. Remember that when we have our fantasy football draft next year, so if I miss Peyton Manning, I can grab Favre.
