Who Is This Man and What Did He Do with Brett Favre?

The Minnesota Vikings have some explaining to do after a 30-23 win over the Packers in the biggest game of this young 2009 NFL season.

Their new signal-caller is wearing Brett Favre’s No. 4 jersey, but he’s not playing like the Favre known by many for his carefree, gun-slinging feats that can frustrate and invigorate at any moment.

The man behind center for the Vikings is patient and makes smart decisions under pressure. He doesn’t constantly seek the big play, he’s accurate, and he hasn’t lost a contest with late-game turnovers.

In this Monday Night showdown between NFC North rivals, Favre was nearly flawless throwing for 271 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He was 24-for-31, completing 77 percent of his passes and finishing with a 135.3 passer rating.

Could this really be the same Favre that led the NFL in interceptions last year while sputtering to a 1-4 finish in the last five games of the season?

Is this the same Favre that finished his storied career as a Packer with an interception in overtime to help seal Green Bay’s fate in the NFC Championship game in January 2008?

What happened to the danger-loving quarterback that threw one touchdown, three interceptions, and only completed 50 percent of his passes in his last game as a Jet, a 24-17 loss against Miami?

Favre is proof that one is never too old to learn, habits can be broken, and there’s no motivation quite like that of revenge.

Favre came into the game against the Vikings armed with an excellent running back, Adrian Peterson, and one of the best defensive lines in football. Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers was sacked eight times—four and a half sacks by All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen. While the Packers defense contained an always potentially explosive Peterson, it had no answer for Favre, whose poised play confirmed what many already knew: Favre was saving his best effort for his former team.

There’s little doubt the Green Bay Packers don’t miss the gunslinging, risk-taking quarterback who hadn’t met double-coverage he didn’t think he could beat. They don’t want to relive the recurring scenario of a driven quarterback trying to do too much.

Yet, the new, updated version of Brett Favre seems content to play his role and capitalize on the opportunities presented by the opposition’s defense rather than try to create his own highlights.

Favre is enjoying the luxuries provided by a game-breaking running back and a stellar defensive unit. He’s thrown eight touchdowns and only one interception in the first four games of the season. Although he was selected for the Pro Bowl last year, he threw an interception to match every touchdown he threw in 2008 (22 TDs, 22 INTs).

The NFL’s Iron Man will be 40 on Saturday, but one wonders if he will slow down any time soon. He’s performing on a top-notch level, he hasn’t missed a start in 18 seasons, and the Vikings are undefeated (4-0). The future Hall of Famer has been unpredictable in the twilight of his career and it would be foolish to crown the Vikings champions in October, but Favre has to be pleased with one of the best games of his career in a nationally televised grudge match against the team that jettisoned him.

With one down and one to go, Favre awaits an even bigger matchup, the Nov. 1 rematch against the Packers in his return to Green Bay’s Lambeau Field. The Packers are probably hoping that familiar surroundings bring out the “old” Favre, while the Vikings hope that the “new” Favre comes with a one-year guarantee.

Just another twist in the “Favrey” tale of No. 4.