2011 NFL Predictions: 5 Reasons Vikings Will Be Better Without Favre

Over the past two seasons, now retired quarterback Brett Favre took the Minnesota Vikings on quite a journey.

In 2009 he had a MVP-caliber season throwing for 33 touchdowns, 4,202 yards, seven interceptions and posted a 107.7 passer rating. The Vikings were a Favre interception away from the Super Bowl too.

Then in 2010...all hell broke loose. Favre had to be dragged back to Minnesota by teammates who flew down to Mississippi to beg the quarterback to return in 2010. 

Favre returned and posted one of his worst seasons of his career in 2010: 19 interceptions, 11 touchdown passes, 2,509 passing yards and a career low 69.9 passer rating.

The legendary quarterback has stated he's retired for good (who's to say that he really is?). But either way, he will not be a Minnesota Viking in 2011. 

The Vikings and Favre will be better off because of that. Here are five reasons why.

5. Less Media Scrutiny

While it’s great for fans to see their favorite team receive extra media coverage outside just just local outlets, it has to serve as a distraction—especially when all you are question about is the status and situation of the team’s starting quarterback.

There will be many questions about Donovan McNabb under center in Minnesota this year. But they won’t be as numerous as the ones about Favre. 

Favre is a bigger name than McNabb and also had a consecutive start streak unrivaled in NFL history (297 consecutive games).   

McNabb cannot compete with that, but if the Vikings surprise and start off hot, the media will crawl back as McNabb’s revival would make for a great storyline.

But at that point, things would be in the right direction for this team and media attention doesn’t hurt when things are going right. On the other hand, everything that could go wrong last year seemingly did, and extra media attention during the down days always makes things worse. 

4. Fewer Interceptions (Hopefully)

Favre threw 19 interceptions in 13 games (1.46 interceptions per game) in 2010. While 2009 was an anomaly for Favre (seven interceptions in 16 games—his lowest interception total since the two interceptions in two games as a Falcons rookie in 1991). 

The man replacing him in 2011 did throw 15 interceptions in 13 games (1.15 interceptions per game in 2010). When he’s played all 16 games, he’s never thrown more than 13 interceptions (he threw 13 in 2000, which was his second NFL season).

In McNabb’s career he’s thrown 115 interceptions in 161 games (.71 interceptions per game) while Favre owns the NFL record (336), which boils down to 1.11 interceptions a game (303 NFL games played). 

Favre always had a reckless abandonment about him when it came to throwing the ball up for his receivers, but McNabb’s track record proves he’s more conservative than Favre when it comes to taking care of the football.

McNabb will have his fare share of interceptions in 2011 as he works to get on the same page with this weak corps of wide receivers, but there shouldn’t be nearly as many relative to Favre.

3. More Mobile Quarterback

Brett Favre was the most immobile starting quarterback in the NFL last season. At 41 years old, he was the oldest starting quarterback under center too.

Favre was sacked 22 times in 13 games last season. Many of those sacks were due to an injury-ravaged offensive line without much talent; but many were because Favre was immobile. 

With a healthy Steve Hutchinson at left guard, Jon Sullivan at center and Bryant McKinnie completely out of the picture at left tackle, the offensive line should be improved in 2011. 

There will also be a more mobile quarterback under center.

Donovan McNabb was an extremely mobile quarterback in his early years, but he has lost some that with age. Even so, he’s still more mobile than Favre and can create more time for receivers.

2. More Unified Team and Locker Room

With Brett Favre as quarterback the past two seasons, to say that he caused a stir in the locker room is an understatement.

Upon his arrival in 2009, after the Vikings had already finished training camp, many players felt that Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson should be their quarterback, whereas Favre was an outsider.

And in 2010, a group of veterans had to fly down to Mississippi and convince Favre that he should play in 2010. They had to convince him that he had more left in the tank and that the team needed him. 

Favre wasn’t necessarily committed to this team in 2010 for his own reasons, but based upon much that was said through the media, Favre may have felt guilted into playing in 2010. 

Whether or not any players said anything about it in the locker room, as a player, that would have to rub you the wrong way. You want a guy who wants to be there and who’s 100 percent committed (and for the right reasons).

In 2011, Donovan McNabb will quarterback the Vikings. And as a veteran, the 34-year old quarterback is in Mankato for training camp. 

With McNabb participating in the full offseason program with his teammates, it makes sense that the locker room will be fully behind McNabb fully, and unity will be improved. 

It’s a lot easier to win games when everyone’s got everyone’s back. There should be no reason for that not to be the case in 2011.    

1. Better Talent Under Center

Brett Favre will be in Canton, Ohio in the Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible, but that doesn't mean he's always the best option to go under center.

In 2010 Favre looked old. Really old. 

It wasn't fun watching the player who had shown so much passion and joy throughout his career get physically hammered play after play. Nor was it fun to watch him miss receivers and throw interception after interception.

It didn't help that No. 1 receiever Sidney Rice missed much of the season, but the talent that Favre had in 2009 just wasn't there in 2010.

Maybe he didn't have the motivation to prove everyone wrong as he did in 2009, as many of the concerns in 2010 were concerns of analysts and experts in 2009. Maybe he just got too old.  Whatever it was, it served as a sign that the Favre of old had come and gone.

In 2011 Donovan McNabb will the Minnesota Vikings' guy. And they'll have more talent under center vesus 2010.