I had mixed emotions watching the NFC game. Because on the one hand, I wanted the Packers to win to further vindicate the decision of their elderly quarterback, 38-year-old Brett Favre, to play this season. Especially since virtually every sports writer said his best days were way behind him, and that there was no way he could help his team improve on last year’s 8-8 regular season record.
Therefore, despite their loss on Sunday, which, unfortunately, he aided in part by throwing a critical 4th-quarter interception, Favre should derive considerable consolation from the fact that he led the Packers to a remarkable 13-3 record this year.
[NFL Championship Sunday, January 24, 2008]
This quote confirms the uncanny similarities between the 2008 NFC League Championship Game and yesterday’s, which, interestingly enough, was played two years to the exact day. The most notable similarity of course is that, against all odds, Brett Favre figured prominently in both.
This year’s game was between the (Hurricane Katrina-inspired) New Orleans Saints and Favre’s new team, the Minnesota Vikings. But, given how improbable it was that he was playing in 2008, that he was even in yesterday’s game was in itself truly remarkable.
Yet the now 40-year-old Favre was not only on the field; he was easily the most dominant player. Alas, in the end, this second miracle season turned out to be more Groundhog Day than a day of triumph.
For, just as it was in 2008, Favre was on the cusp of leading his team to the Super Bowl when he threw another 4th-Quarter interception.
That led to overtime, when the Saints, after winning the coin toss, marched the ball down the field to position their field-goal kicker to take them to the Promised Land with a 40-yard chip.
This 31 to 28 victory paves the way for their first appearance in the Super Bowl in franchise history.
So, just as it was in 2008, Favre ended this storybook season, which really should be his last, with an interception that cost his team the League Championship. And even though the Vikings had a respectable 12-4 record this year, I doubt Favre will derive any consolation from this at all.
So here’s to his retirement … and for real this time Brett! But, hey, thanks for the memories man…
Meanwhile, in a rather ho-hum AFC League Championship Game, the seasoned Indianapolis Colts defeated the upstart New York Jets 30 to 17 to earn their second Super Bowl berth in three years, having won Super Bowl XLI in 2007.
Super Bowl XLIV will be played in Miami on February 7.
The Colts are favored to win. But I’m betting on the Saints not only to beat the 5-point spread but to actually win in an upset reminiscent of the 1969 Jets’ win over the then Baltimore Colts. Though, frankly, I can’t imagine anyone, except die-hard Colts fans, not praying for the Saints to provide this miraculous outcome for the Katrina-ravaged people of New Orleans.
This should be a very exciting game….
Related commentaries:
NFL League Championship Sunday
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