The Vikings couldn’t have imagined an any better finish to the game. Brett Favre threw a bullet into the end zone to a reserve wide receiver who normally doesn’t see much action during the final seconds of the game for an ending that was classic Favre.
With two seconds to play Greg Lewis made a leaping catch to score a touchdown of 32 yards. Favre, who had been flattened on the play, watched while on his stomach as Minnesota stunned San Francisco on Sunday 27-24 to remain unbeaten.
Favre, in the first true home game he has played in with the Vikings, overcame a series of bad throws along with more hard hits done to his body that is nearly 40 years old to find his winning touch once more.
Favre said, it’s hard to remember all of them. This game is a pretty special one. Favre has 42 comebacks now in his career, coming back from deficits or ties in the fourth quarter.
It was confirmed by official review that the feet of Lewis had been inbounds. The sellout crowd of the Vikings went crazy.
Nate Clements, 49ers cornerback said, I have gone through some tough losses. Add this one to the list. We need to just keep chopping away.
Adrian Peterson of the Vikings rushed for 85 yards in 19 carries.
During the second half, there were three punts out of the first of the five series along with the first interception by Favre and one turnover due to downs. Minnesota (3-0) had three timeouts remaining and forced a punt. With 89 seconds left to play they received the ball on their 20 yard line.
Favre said, I didn’t say too much. I was thinking that we had blown our opportunities.
Not quite all.
With 12 seconds remaining, the last play unfolded. Favre stepped out in the pocket, then he slid by design over to his right in order to buy some time for the receivers to get into position. Instead of just throwing the ball up in desperation for grabs, Favre figured by getting up close on the line that he would be able to fire more of a line drive pass that would be harder to defend against.
Lewis watched Favre’s eyes and then broke the opposite way to find some room inside the end zone over close to the right corner. According to Favre he didn’t see who it was.
Lewis caught his very first Favre pass. On the drive Favre completed six passes. Lewis says he’s looking forward to his next one.
Lewis said, the Adrian, offensive line, and receivers, we were all fired up. Brett fell in too. He was fired up. He said, we will get this done. That’s the attitude we took out to the field.
This is precisely why Minnesota wanted Favre so desperately.
When Jared Allen, Vikings defensive end, was asked about he was thinking about when their offense was setting up on their last possession he said, just be Brett. One more time.
Favre went 24 out of 45 for a total of 201 yards passing along with two touchdowns. It was the most passes Favre has thrown in one game since he was with Green Bay in November 11, 2007 when the Packers defeated the Vikings. In that game he went 33 out of 46 for a total of 351 yard passing along with three touchdowns. Green Bay is up next to face Favre and the Vikings.
The Packers defense is definitely eager to apply pressure to one of their old teammates. The 49ers (2-1) applied plenty of blows to Favre. When Favre was asked about his health he said his neck, shoulders, left knee and and right foot all had aches.
Favre however was spry enough to be able to throw a pass inside his end zone, then sprint upfield and pass Bernard Berrian zig zagging across to block Patrick Willis, 49ers linebacker, on the catch and run 36 yard play.
The game wore Favre out, raising more questions about whether or not he will be able to finish the entire season. The Vikings, for now, will take his touch in the clutch.
Brad Childress, Vikings coach said, he has been in many, many of those situations before. It never hurts having a veteran like that on the field.
Until the very end of the game, Favre got outplayed by 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill, a former third stringer for Minnesota. Hill connected on two touchdown passes with Vernon Davis, tight end. The second touchdown was a pass of 20 yards over three defenders. It gave San Francisco the lead 24-20 mid fourth quarter.
The 49ers had two sacks on Favre and applied lots of pressure. Hill and Davis combined on seven pass completions for a total of 96 yards. San Francisco survived losing Frank Gore, their star running back, due to an injured ankle. They rallied and were on the verge of getting a win on the road.
The players were quite naturally devastated. However their coach Mike Singletary would hear nothing of it.
Singletary yelled at his team, there is no reason to be looking down at the floor. You didn’t steal something or do anything wrong. We will get better. We will get there. In the playoffs we will be seeing them again. Hold your heads up.
