Just Win, Baby.

Few times in history has a regular-season football game had so much hype. If not for a certain quarterback from Mississippi, the Packers and Vikings would’ve squared off as part of just another divisional showdown. Brett Favre faced his former teammates on Monday Night Football, and the result was all too familiar, with Favre leading his team to victory.

Much of the drama surrounding regular season football matchups is of a generic and mundane flavor. Did Peyton Manning really view the Colts game with the Dolphins last Monday night as a showdown against the “wildcat” offense? Do the Steelers really consider themselves to be rivals with the laughable Browns? The answer to both of these questions, is no.

The fourth installment of MNF had real drama that was obviously hyped up to the max. Not only did you have an icon facing his former team for the first time, you also had a real sense of lingering resentment between the franchise quarterback and the team he called his own for fifteen years. Favre admitted after the game that before kickoff he was as nervous as he had ever been for any game. The concept of nerves for a three-time MVP and Super Bowl champion tells you all you need to know about what the game meant to those involved.

Favre didn’t have a Drew Brees type performance, but he had an efficient one. Favre completed 24 of 31 passes for 271 yards (to 7 different receivers). Favre added to his impressive tally with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. He did it without a strong performance from all-world running back Adrian Peterson, who had just 55 yards on 12 carries, including a fumble that was ripped from his arms and returned for a touchdown.

The why, how, or what didn’t matter nearly as much as the result: a win for Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings.

Fans will always remember the first time Favre lined up against the men in the yellow and green jerseys. Favre will remember the game for one thing: the victory.

The Vikings may not win the Super Bowl this season, but as we’ve all been privy to the last two weeks, anything is possible with number 4 at the helm.