... thanks in large part to our Quarterback. GB Game 4 Stats. One announcer says: “He’s never been about numbers which is probably why he has them all”. Beating a division arch rival at their place – great. Getting a record as the player with the most touchdown passes – ever – good too.Near the end of the game as Minnesota is valiantly trying to score, I find myself concerned the Packers Defense has given up 16 points. Then the final ticks come off the game clock allowing me to reflect on the fact they only gave up 16 points. Not bad for the modern day “treat receivers like china dolls” NFL rule book. All in all, the D gives up only one TD while collecting 4 sacks and a fumble.
Of course the way Brett Favre ran the offense is getting the limelight. He completes passes to ten different receivers, nine of them more than once, and twice for touchdowns. The 1st of those TD throws sets a new quarterback record and the 2nd becomes the first in a hopefully long line of additions to whatever final tally Favre achieves.
With the record comes the bar talk speculation of what it means in terms of greatness. At the highest level of individual achievement in team sports, the discussions are really more about what flavor you like best. Since I’m a Wisconsin Homer, I am proud to defend the primacy of # 4 against his nearest passing rival and I can’t state it better than a news jockey from downtown Marino land.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Just because Marino played only 10 regular-season games outdoors in cold-weather cities in the late part of the schedule doesn't mean he belongs anywhere less than in the pantheon of great quarterbacks. But, if you're going to stand these two men up against each other on what could be an historic Sunday, why not note that Favre played 44 games outdoors in cold-weather cities and that 44 of his 420 touchdowns came under less-than-desirable-playing conditions?So yeah, you can program a robot to accurately guide a football to a predetermined spot, but I prefer a scruffy old coot being knocked on his ass and still able to lead a slant route into a 33 yard pay dirt strike. --- AP Photo/Paul Battaglia.
So what? Wouldn't Marino have thrown as many touchdowns if he had played, on average, twice at Lambeau Field every December, or go to Soldier Field in Chicago when the wind whistling off Lake Michigan numbs your nose in about two minutes? Perhaps. Perhaps not. The reality is he didn't have to, and Favre did. Rather than diminish the importance of Marino's 420 regular-season TD passes, we need to further elevate Favre's 420.
