Super Bowl 2011: Brett Favre's Worst Nightmare

No one could have written the tragedy that was Brett Favre's final NFL season. No one, not even the biggest Favre hater could be so cruel, show so little heart, and so little mercy to send out one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks having one of the most miserable seasons of all time—both on, and off the field. It's hard to imagine, but this Sunday it's about to get even worse for #4. Here's Brett Favre's year from hell under review.

10. Brett Favre's Stat Line

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 28: Injured Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings stands on the field during thier game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 26, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ji

The 2009 Brett Favre was incredible. MVP-level type of incredible. With 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions it is understandable that Brett thought there was more left in the tank for the 2010-2011 season.

We all thought there was. We were wrong. 

Lackluster. 11 touchdowns, 19 interceptions. 2,509 yards after passing for 4,202 in 2009-2010. 

9. The Vikings Record

Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings covers his face with his hand during the game against the New York Giants at Ford Field on December 13, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The Giants defeated the Vikings 21-3. (Photo by

The Vikings finished 6-10. They ended the season last in the NFC North, didn't make the playoffs, and oh yeah—they finished behind the Detroit Lions.

This was not the way the script was supposed to end.

Jared Allen came to rescue Favre for one final season. Favre was supposed to catch lightning in a bottle one final time and lead the Vikings past the NFC championship game and into the super bowl, which of course he would win in an MVP-type performance. 

Not so much. 

The Vikings may not have been mathematically eliminated for the playoffs till late in the season (if they were in the AFC West they would have been in the hunt till the very end), but everyone knew by game 10 that it was over. 

8. Losing Twice To The Bears

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings is sacked by the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium on December 20, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

For most of Brett Favre's career, the Bears were the main nemesis. In 2010-2011 they defeated him in both games. Furthermore, they were the team to knock him out for good. 

7. Brett Favre's Final Game Was a Loss To The Lions

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 02: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings talks at a post game press conference after a 13-20 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 2, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

If Favre left the game after the 2010 NFC Championship game, he would have been able to say he went out swinging against a great, soon to be Super Bowl Champion, New Orleans Saints team.

Instead, he watched from the sidelines in 2011 as the Detroit Lions gave his team their tenth loss of the season.

The Lions.

6. Mike Vick's Success

Nick Laham/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings is assisted by medical staff against the Buffalo Bills defense at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo

This one may seem strange, but hear me out. In the same year that Brett Favre fell from the graces of many fans for his picture messaging scandal (more on that later), former public enemy number one, Michael Vick became the ultimate redemption story.

The man who was in prison for dogfighting enjoyed one of his best seasons with the Eagles and turned many fans' opinions of him right around.

The feel good story should have been the old man Favre leading his team to victory after victory, but instead all the positive press went to one of the most unlikely of characters. 

5. Consecutive Starts Streak Ends

Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 13: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings walks on the field during pre-game warm ups and will not dress for the game against the New York Giants on December 13, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Brett Favre is the ultimate iron man. Starting 297 straight football games, playing through injury, and sustaining starter level talent for that long of a career is truly remarkable. But why not 300?

It was one thing that Favre's streak had to end, but it becomes even more sad when he was so close to a round number. 300 screams, "Brett Favre: Iron Man", 297 screams "Brett Favre: Oh, he must have gotten injured, I told you he shouldn't have come back for another season!" 

The Favre final chapter was supposed to end with the streak still intact and a second super bowl ring on his finger with all of us wondering if he'd be back for one more year to keep the streak alive. In the painful real-life version, we know this retirement is final. 

Or at least we think so. For now...

4. Losses to Green Bay Packers

Jim Prisching/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 24: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts as Desmond Bishop #55 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates his interception for a touchdown at Lambeau Field on October 24, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jim Prisching/Ge

After a break-up, nobody wants to see their ex happier than they are. In 2009, Brett Favre beat his old team: twice—rubbing salt in the freshly opened Packers fans' wounds.

In 2010, there was revenge. The Packers beat the Vikings in both games, and quite handily the second meeting (31-3). Nothing says: "Yeah, we are over you Brett," like cheering on their developing superstar Aaron Rodgers.

Not only did Brett Favre exit the game at the bottom of the division, he had to see his old team move on perfectly happy with their new guy.

3. The Picture Message Scandal

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 23: Fans in the stands hold up a sign about quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings during the game between the Auburn Tigers and the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Ke

Kobe Bryant's rape trial ruined his image for a few months, but when he began to wow us again on the court, fans forgave him and he became more popular than ever with back to back championship rings. Tiger Woods fell from the media's graces after his divorce, but will most likely be forgiven if he begins winning again.

The Brett Favre's scandal is different. He has made himself a punch-line, forever. The scandal is humiliating, the jokes are plentiful, and there is no more games Favre can play to make us forget about it. 

Right or wrong, we tend to forgive our athletes if they win on the field. Favre can no longer gather any wins, and his scandal is one of those that you can joke about. Joking about dog-fighting, not funny. Joking about scandalous pictures of Brett Favre's manhood sent via text message, never not funny.

Comedians and late night hosts will be cashing their checks in on Favre-inspired jokes for years to come. 

2. The Super Bowl (Possible Outcome Number One)

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 28: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers walks to the stage during the Super Bowl XLV Pep Rally on January 28, 2011 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Imagine if the Pittsburgh Steelers win this Sunday and Big Ben is the hero. As I said in the last slide, it is amazing how forgiving sports fans can be if players succeed on the field. Winning a Super Bowl will do that just as well as anything else.

Big Ben's controversy at the beginning of the year, if completely true, makes Brett Favre's inappropriate picture messages seem like he was sending smiley faces—yet he can still be redeemed with a victory on Super Bowl Sunday. 

1. The Super Bowl (Worst Case Scenario)

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 15: Fans of the Green Bay Packers hold up a sign which reads 'I'd Rather Aaron Rodgers text me instead of Brett Favre after the Packers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 48-21 during their 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Georgia Dome

Imagine Aaron Rodgers winning the Super Bowl. Green Bay Packers fans chanting his name. Number 12 jerseys selling faster and faster, old number four Green Bay jerseys being tossed out and thrown out of closets all across Wisconsin.

This is the way the tragedy is meant to end. It's cruel, it's heartbreaking (for Favre), and fits in perfectly with the rest of the 2011 season. 

Rodgers has a long way to go to surpass Brett Favre in terms of overall greatness, but a Super Bowl ring next Sunday and suddenly he has just as many rings as the once-beloved Packer legend.

With a solid team around him and plenty of years ahead, Rodgers could win multiple rings and push Favre further and further out of the Packers fans memories. 

Brett Favre may be the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, but the outcome of Sunday's game could put a rotten cherry on top of one of the worst career-endings in sports history.