Can ESPN announcers act any more like huge Favre homers?

God this is strange being on the other side.

What's not to love? He led them on a TD drive in the very first series!

I can tell already I am going to need to turn the sound off and listen to Wayne that MNF game these announcers will be lucky to talk about the Packers for 10 seconds just like they have said a few words about the Texans.

I'm so glad we have Aaron Rodgers.

I like the comment the announcer made with respect to: Darrell Bevell:

"Bevell had a whole lot of contact with Favre during both of his retirements."


Uh, wouldn't that be an example of tampering during the first retirement?

Harvin should have caught that pass in the corrner of end zone. As a reciever you gottat have the attitude that the ball is mine, Viking recievers aren't very good as far as I can see.

Vikings are still the Vikings. Their D looked pretty weak on that TD drive just now.

On the queen's previous drive, Favre sure did have a rocket over the middle. It was tipped, but that thing had some sauce on it for sure.

You think? I thought it was about 4 inches too far. He probably could have made a little bit more effort and the DB did possibly get away with a little hand fighting (or the WR and DB were both doing it). I think the announcers made it out to be more of a perfect pass than it was. It was good, but not perfect.

That offensive line isn't as good as I thought it was either.

Other than Peterson, The Vikes O looks a little unsettled. Holding, illegal formation. Favre's doing ok, keep to the short passes to Chester Taylor, AP for now.

Looks like the Vikings managed to outscore the Texans 17-7 in the first half. Not quite as impressive as a 38-10 beatdown of the defending NFC champs, but a nice little half for them. :golfclap:

Make that 17-10.

Taylor just took one of those short passes 30+ to the house. Glad we have that on tape to see how he got so clear.

This is going to be a great division this year. The Bears,Vikings and Packers all have looked good this preseason. I think Brett looks good and I fully expect him to have a good year. The Vikings have a very good O with Peterson ,Rice, Berrian and now Harvin. Add a very good TE and a good line.

The team that comes out of this divison will be a Super Bowl Contender.

Very weird situation to see Favre in purple. Nothing very exciting from the Vikings. They may be third in the Division. The Packer D is going to come from all angles when they play Minny and they'll be playing with a vengeance. The O will carve that Minny D up.

I thought Favre looked pretty good

Yep he looked ok for being on the team for 12 days. As long as they stick to the game plan of Peterson first second and third, add in a little Taylor, and a veteran qb to read blitzes on 3rd downs, they'll win plenty of games. I see the Pack and them fighting for the division. As it should be. Pack 11-5. Vikes 10-6.

I was wondering about Minnesota's OLine, as well. Favre was sacked twice in the half, and it isn't like Houston is one of the top sacking defenses, either (27th in sacks, last year) and they haven't been carving it up with sacks this preseason, either. Actually, the Texans only had 3 sacks in the preseason, coming into tonight.

Not at all impressed with Vikes after that half. Other than the first play the run game wasn't exciting, receivers gave them nothing and, for all the praise he was receiving, Harven looked fairly ordinary. O-line didn't keep Farve upright and he hasn't looked like I remember him looking. Overall that half gave me more confidence as a Packers fan.

He did nothing to hurt them. I think he only threw two passes past 10 yards and both were fairly close to being intercepted (one was tipped). He had a couple nice throws to the TE. He didn't do anything Sagevaris couldn't do.

Right now, based soley on preseason (which is probably a bad barometer), I'd put the NFC power rankings at:

1. Packers
2. Bears
3. Vikings
4. Lions


I just think the Bears improved much more with Cutler than the Vikings have with Favre. Although the Vikings were a better team to start out with, so it's probably pretty close.

I dont think he looked bad, but I don't think he looked good either.

He still moves pretty well for an old man.

I wouls say no one facet of the Queen's game looks stellar. "Starcap" one and two get more hype than desreved. Allen is getting handled.

Out of all of them Chester Taylor impresses me most and Houston's TE too.

I'm not impressed. Favre did absolutely nothing downfield. All the good plays the Vike offense had were handoffs or dump passes. The Texans D looks like a 20+ ranked defense. They couldn't tackle, got decent but not good pressure, and their d-backs covered acceptably, but couldn't close on the ball or hold onto int's (Favre should have had at least 2). The Vikes had way too many penalties. It looked to me like a middle of the road QB with a strong arm, good RB's, average O-line. The Texans are going to have a disappointing season ahead of them. I agree with the NFC North ranking of: 1. Pack 2. Bears 3. Vikes 4. Detroit, that Jeremy stated.

These guys won't shut the hell up. Not just about Favre, just in general. It's TV, not radio! People can see what's going on, no need to talk over every second.

I thought the Vikes O line was supposed to be good. Towards the run maybe, Favre seemed liked he got hit every other time he threw the ball.

Wow, can't believe Favre had such a cheap shot block on the Texans DB. That was close to being a career ending crackback block, ala Trent Green. Can't say I've seen that from Favre before.

how about the illegal crack back block by Brett? Dumbass.

Yea, Favre looks ok, but he is getting hit a lot. Vikings offense seems out of sync. harvin is good but making some rookie mistakes. Dropped a TD pass.

Recipe when we play them: Blitz!

He's certainly painting a brighter target on his chest for the regular season.

Thats a play that will get a DL to dive into the back of a QBs legs.

He just wants to fit in there, what better way than throwing out some cheapshots.

hey for an old man it was a pretty good block

It was pretty obvious Mario was rushing a little harder after that block, and he even let up on Brett when he could have smashed him legally a few plays before that.

That's the downside of lining your QB up out wide. I know he's a vet and he should know what's legal but those QB's aren't blocking all day and going over the nuances of what's a legal block and what's not. That doesn't excuse his action. It was wrong and illegal and thats a risk any team takes when they line an inexperienced blocker out on the edge.

It was kinda funny that Tirico was the only one to condemn Favre for that cheap block. Chucky's criticism was don't do it with your throwing shoulder, brutal!!!

Guess that "my rib is cracked" story was just a load of crap. You don't throw yourself into someone like that with a cracked rib.

I love your sig

I thought Favre played pretty well, although they didn't have him do much. The Vikings have a pretty good team but I still don't see them as a Super Bowl contender.

Sure, but someone who has been in the NFL for almost 20 years knows this, and it should be obvious that you dont dive at someones knees that are oblivious that you are coming at them. I know it happens in the trenches, especially with zone blocking, but with a crackback you even get a running start.

As much as I do not like it, I can see why they brought Favre in. What does Favre have on Grueden? He must have something...

For ratings and to sell tickets primarily. To possibly win more games probably comes in a close 2nd.

It's looking more and more like a ready made excuse just in case he stunk up the joint.

Man, i'm getting cynical.

...and because the other QB's they have totally suck.

I thought Favre played how he should with this offense, for the most part he didn't make the dumb throws and didn't take many chances. He did have that one dumb throw on that bomb that should have been picked. Then again, that pass to Harvin was vintage.

All in all, Favre looked like Favre, can look brilliant on one play, like a rookie on the next. If he can limit those dumb throws to one a game...

And on that block, I swear he has been doing that block on running plays for years. I'd have to look back at some footage. My memories of Favre blocking for the Packers were always him lunging at a guys knees while not even looking at the target.

What he did was illegal tonight, as he was lined up at WR. IMO the plays you are speaking of Favre was diving at their legs while they were running at eachother, a crackback block is dangerous and there is a reason it is illegal.

Ya, that is correct. A fine will be coming his way.

Thanks for starting the thread Aaron, what is your Twitter name so I can follow you

It's only pre-season, but CHI looks like a more complete team compared to MIN. Coach Major Dad really screwed the pooch on this one.

I thought Favre looked OK, but the Vikes looked good.

The key is going to be Percy Harvin I think. With Harvin, Peterson and Berrian they will be able to open up the field. And Rice looked fine as a possession type WR.

And look out for Loadholt at RT. THat has been a problem area for them.

And what can you say about Jared Allen? Except I will never understand why TT did not get him. This guy is non-stop from the first second of the game. And Madieu Williams looks healthy.

If Favre plays adequately, M. Williams stays healthy, and Harvin comes through, this is a team with virtually no weaknesses. At least I can't find any serious ones.

Don't underestimate them.

Couldn't agree more with the last comment - it would be a major mistake to underestimate that team. A real setup for frustration and disappointment.

I only saw highlights, so I can't comment on a lot that was said here - but from what I saw, I agree with Max too... Favre looked pretty good. With that offense, even if he is just 'ok', they could be very dangerous. I wouldn't take for granted that our new 3-4 will be able to overwhelm them at all - unless they fold, they should score on us. I'm just hoping that we also don't fold and that we can score even more easily on them.

Whatever that comment was about their passing game being mostly dump passes - I recall a team that did pretty well in '07 with dump passes.