NFL Week Eight Review

 

Houston Texans RB Ryan Moats was one of Week Eight's Game Ball winners for his efforts in the Texans' 31-10 win over the Buffalo Bills.

 

With the 2009 season officially hitting the halfway mark, the league celebrated with a magnificent week of action in Week Eight. This was a great week in the NFL filled with upsets, big wins, and playoff picture-shaping moments. 

Despite six teams on bye (Bengals, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Patriots, Redskins, Steelers) and some blowouts that have been too plentiful this season—eight teams won by 12 points or more—there were compelling storylines everywhere that kept viewers glued to their seats. 

The NFL is clearly winning the battle for sports fans weekly and I am sure Week Eight will be a landslide too when the numbers are reported, especially with FOX having both the Eagles-Giants NFC showdown and then Favre’s return game to Green Bay.  During Week Seven, FOX’s doubleheader drew 28.4 million viewers for the most viewership since the Super Bowl. 

You cannot review the action from Week Eight without talking about the highly anticipated Lambeau Field return of former Packers legend and current Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. 

No. 4, playing for the hated Vikings, not only returned back to his home of 16 years, but he clearly showed his “former” fans and employers that he has plenty left in his right arm.  Favre and the Vikings dominated the Packers 38-26 in a game very similar to the Vikes’ Week Four win in Minnesota. 

The Vikings defense didn’t give Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (26-41, 63.4%, 287 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 INTs plus 52 rushing yards) any time in the pocket (six sacks) and Favre put up some big numbers with a little help from his friends. 

Emerging rookie WR/KR Percy Harvin had a big game producing five catches for 84 yards and one TD plus five kick returns for 175 yards.  And All-World running back Adrian Peterson (25 carries for 97 yards and one touchdown) was tough till the end, but the day clearly belonged to Favre.

After enduring a week of being called a “waffler,” “flip-flopper,” “drama queen,” and “traitor,” Favre stepped onto the field and put aside a booing crowd to “stick it” to his old team.  Favre threw a season-high four touchdown passes and was never even touched in the pocket (zero sacks) as he piled up superb passing numbers: 17-28, 244 yards, 4 TDs, and 0 INTs. 

And of course, like he seems to do every week, Favre set a record for most completions in one venue (passing John Elway’s record), and tied Dan Marino’s NFL record of 21 career games with at least four TD passes.  

After the game, Favre hugged several members of the Packers team and staff including former favorite receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.  The future Pro Football Hall of Famer left the field surrounded by media everywhere and pumped his fist to a mix of cheers and boos. 

Favre said after the game, “I’m not going to sit here and throw any daggers…We played about as good as we can play. We can play better, but that’s what it was going to take to beat that football team. That’s the satisfying thing.” 

Favre added, “I’ve never been one to rub it in anyone’s face…The guys I’ve played with as a Packer, I’ve got a lot of respect for, as I do (for) this organization and these fans.”

So with Favre-a-palooza over for the second time in less than a month, let’s take an inventory of what happened.  In two “big” wins over the Packers (scores of 30-23 in Week Four and 38-26 in Week Eight), Favre finished with noteworthy numbers (41-59, 515 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs, no sacks allowed and a passer rating well over 130). 

The Packers, on the other hand, have a 10-13 record since sending their former franchise quarterback to exile in the Meadowlands in 2008.  Favre stated at his post-game press conference, “What I’ve done here (Green Bay) speaks for itself.” 

For those unable to interpret Favre’s last comments, I will translate them for you: “Hey Packers GM Ted Thompson and the rest of you haters…How do you like me now?  What!!”

With everyone caught up in the Vikings-Packers matchup and all the drama that followed Favre’s revenge homecoming, there were some other serious stories this week that I felt were a little neglected.

 

The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints were both tested but still continued on their unbeaten ways—both 7-0 .

The Indianapolis Colts are the NFL’s No. 1 team (very quietly), but even they have to sweat one out here or there.  In their 16th straight win (franchise record), the Colts rallied from a 14-12 deficit to finally beat the scrappy Sa