The Red Zone Report

This guy isn't fading...

Yes, the Minnesota Vikings have dropped three of their last four, all on the road, and are staring a Wild Card match right in the face.

They were 10-1, Favre and the offense was clicking, and this team was thinking Super Bowl. But then, as so many Favre-haters had predicted, the previously unbeatable Favre began his “late-season fade”, and had his worst game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals.

That game prompted articles abound against Favre, suggesting it was “merely the beginning”, and that the end would be near.

Three weeks after the dismal performance in Arizona, it’d be hard to argue that the end may be near for the team, although logic and reason would dare you to look a little closer before assuming Favre his “once again” bringing his team down with him.

Just ask Trent Dilfer. Ask the guys in the Monday night booth. Ask anyone with some common sense and a good head on their shoulders.

The pass protection isn’t there. That awesome running game that Adrian Peterson was supposed to provide isn’t there.

And that playoff-level defense, well, without middle linebacker E.J. Henderson (lost for reason), it’s non-existent.

But those Favre-bashers out there aren’t worried about the specifics. All they want is the team’s record, the numbers, and the bad plays.

They’re not concerned with the lack of support by the rest of the offense, the poor pass protection, or the countless fumbles or drops from his offensive weapons.

Going into Monday night’s match-up with the Chicago Bears, Favre had a measly three touchdowns to four interceptions in his last three games, and owned a 1-2 record, with his only win coming at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.

He didn’t do much to prove his doubters wrong in the first half (nor did the rest of the Vikings), as he went just 5-9 for under 40 yards, as the Vikings were shut-out in the first half, and trailed the 5-9 Bears 16-0 at the break.

What followed, however, should show us all (especially the haters), that regardless of wins or losses, the legend of Brett Favre cannot and will not die in the cold weathers of Chicago, or the twilight of another NFL season.

Favre proceeded to throw for just under 270 yards, and led Minnesota to four scoring drives, including the game-tying touchdown pass to Sidney Rice on fourth-and-goal with 16 seconds remaining in the game.

But, of course, tying isn’t winning, and playing a remarkable second half isn’t quite as good as playing a flawless entire four quarters.

No, not quite.

But these moral victories need to be warranted when so many skeptics continue to push at the Jenga pieces that are Favre’s legend, and seemingly hope and pray for the future Hall of Famer to fall apart as the season goes on.

When asked if the cold weather had anything to do with it, Favre shrugged, saying he’d played in worse. It was cold, but that was a bogus excuse.

And then he made a comment about all the writer’s and analysts who suggest the “old man” can’t come through in cold games, referencing that he still couldn’t win the winter games, despite playing at a high level and having nothing to do with the final outcome in overtime.

Favre watched on with the rest of his offensive teammates after Adrian Peterson lost yet another fumble, and then as the Bears scored on the ensuing play.

Favre will be the first to admit the Vikings aren’t peaking, they have issues, and that they aren’t exactly going in the right direction.

But his play during the game and comments after should limit any writer’s fuel to pen up a column against Favre after this loss, as the legendary quarterback played at an elite level, despite not having the chance to come out on top.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of writers across the nation will eagerly jump at writing another article that damns Favre and these Minnesota Vikings after their third loss in the month of December.

And with the Vikings being in relative shambles, they’d have every reason to opt for that perspective. But if we’re being reasonable. If we’re being logical. If we’re really looking at everything, there’s no way we can continue to point the finger at Favre.

He was brought here to excite, deliver some clutch drivers and performances, and get this team to the playoffs (and beyond). So far, he’s done all of it, and on Monday night, he almost did even more.

But just because Favre can’t play defense and special teams, or will the ball to stay into his receiver’s (or Adrian Peterson’s) hands, that doesn’t mean he should continue to be the nation’s punching bag for why the Vikings are falling apart.