Tarvaris Jackson Might Have Done Himself a Favor

(Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Unless you have been under a rock that last week you now know that Brett Favre has come out of retirement (yet again) to sign with the NFC North winners from last season the Minnesota Vikings.  The Vikes, already this offseason, went out and signed free agent Sage Rosenfels from the Houston Texans.  Assumedly to sure up the quarterback spot to their liking and away from Tarvaris Jackson.

On Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at the Metrodome, No. 4 took the field for the first time in the NFC North for another team other than the Green Bay Packers. 

Cheered loudly by the same fans who used to boo him when he played for the Packers, Favre played two series and went 1-for-4 for an amazing four yards. He moved around ok and his passes had some zip, just no direction.  Unless the yardage lines play for the Vikings.  He hit them more than he hit his receivers.

Enter un-wanted and shunned Tarvaris Jackson into the game for the Vikings.

Jackson, who actually prompted some mild booing from the fans when he jogged to the huddle, because that meant Favre was done; and rightfully so, evaded a blitz on 3rd-and-8 in the second quarter and found Visanthe Shiancoe for a 13-yard score. In the third, Jackson hit Darius Reynaud on a post pattern for a 64-yard touchdown to put Minnesota in front 14-13.

"Whenever you play well, you always feel good," Jackson said. "Regardless of the situation or the circumstances, it felt good. It was a long week for me. It just shows that if you just stay focused, you'll be fine."

The spotlight and much of the flashbulbs from cameras I'm sure were pointed square on #4 and his return/beginning of his Vikings "career."  But Tarvaris Jackson stole the show on the QB front this night.

Amongst trade and release rumors, Jackson with his play on Saturday night, just may have done himself a favor.  If the Vikings are looking to release or trade him, surely his performance against the Chiefs was a good reminder he still can be an effective QB in this league. 

The only knock on Tarvaris Jackson is can he replicate that performance on a consistent basis?  This remains to be seen.

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