One our loyal commenters, sae, has become somewhat of our local Favre hater.  Well, we all can’t stand the guy, but he really likes to smash the dude.  You may have heard that Favre is looking to retire, again. So we let our buddy have an open forum here at S&Fs to reflect on the career of Brett Favre.

I’ve been doing a lot of Favre bashing since he took his circus sideshow to New Jersey. I thought I’d try to do a little research on him to see if some of it is well founded or not.

I’ll break it down into 4 eras. The pre-MVP era, the MVP era, the still effective era, and the “Why don’t you just hang it up?” era starting when he first began waffling on retirement.

I’ll use a W-L-T method of scoring. A win if he was clutch in a big game, a loss if he did more ill than good, and a tie if it was a wash and he didn’t seem to have much effect. I’ll just look at playoff games, big rivalries (such as Dallas in the 90’s), and games with major playoff implications.

Let’s begin our journey…

Part 1: The Pre-MVP years

1991: Atlanta Falcons

Threw 4 passes, 2 were picked off and two were caught by no one. Not much to say here

Summary of 1991: Incomplete

1992: Green Bay Packers (64.1%, 3227yds, 18TD, 13INT, 85.3 QB rating)

Week 3: Majkowski gets hurt. Favre comes in to lead the team to victory over the 5-11 Bengals (W 24-23), despite fumbling 4 times (losing 2). He does throw 2 TDs, and manages to hit only his own receivers for the first (and last?) time in his career. Wash 0-0-1

Week 17: Redskins roll out the red carpet, lose their final two games. If Green Bay wins at Minnesota (11-5), they make the playoffs. Favre goes out and throws for 187 yards and 3 INTs with no TDs. Packers lose 7-27 and stay home for the playoffs. Not clutch 0-1-1

Summary of 1992: No Big Game Brett here.

1993: Green Bay Packers (60.9%, 3303yds, 19TD, 24INT, 72.2 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 3-5

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 6-2

Week 18: Lost season finale against Detroit (L 20-30) when division was on the line (1TD, 4INT). Not clutch 0-2-1

Wild Card round: Avenged loss to Detroit by beating them (W 28-24) in the first round of playoffs with 3TDs and 1INT. Clutch 1-2-1

Divisional round: At Dallas (L 17-27), 2TDs, 2INTs, 1 fumble lost. This will be a recurring theme against Dallas… Not clutch 1-3-1

Summary of 1993: Big Game Brett has yet to make a consistent appearance.

1994: Green Bay Packers (62.4%, 3882yds, 33TD, 14INT, 90.7 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 4-5

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 5-2

Week 15: Packers at 6-7, home against the Bears (W 40-3). Favre throws 3TDs and 1INT. Must win for playoffs? Check. Big rival? Check. Clutch 2-3-1

Weeks 16-17: vs. 7-9 Atlanta (W 21-17) and at 6-10 Tampa Bay (W 34-19), they’re not very good so I’ll treat them as one game. Favre goes for 5TDs and 2INTs in the two games. I’ll give him one Clutch 3-3-1

Wild Card round: vs. Detroit (W 16-12) again in the playoffs, no TDs or INTs. Wash 3-3-2

Divisional round: At Dallas again (L 9-35). No TDs and 1 INT. Not clutch 3-4-2

Summary of 1994:

• 4 of the 5 NFC Central teams in the playoffs? That’s just nutty.
• Favre did make Packer fans happy by destroying the Bears (a combined 73-9: 4 TDs, 1 INT)
• Big Game Brett? Played well to win last 3 games of season with 8 TD, 3 INT (only one team with winning record though). But did not impress in the playoffs.

Final tally on the pre-MVP years : 3-4-2

Part 2: The MVP years

1995: Green Bay Packers (63%, 4413yds, 38TD, 13INT, 99.5 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 4-2
Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 7-3

Week 5 @ Dallas (L 24-34): 1TD, 1INT, 51% completions, 2 rushing TDs. D gave up 34, but going to call this a Wash 0-0-1
Week 17 vs. Pittsburgh (W 24-19) to seal the division: 2TDs, 0INTs, 72% completion. Pittsburgh had the division sewn up weeks earlier so likely didn’t play many starters. Wash 0-0-2

Wild Card round: Smoked Atlanta (W 37-20), 3TDs and 0INTs. Clutch 1-0-2
Divisional round: Great game at SF (W 27-17), 2TDs, 0INTs, and 75% completion. Clutch 2-0-2
Conference championship: Back to Dallas (L 27-38). 3TDs, 2INTs, and 54% completion. Defense did give up 38, but still… Not clutch 2-1-2

Summary of 1995: Pretty good year for Brett, but still not man enough to take out Dallas. Oh, and he won his first NFL MVP award.

1996: Green Bay Packers (59.9%, 3899yds, 39TD, 13INT, 95.8 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 4-3
Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 9-0

Packers rolled through the regular season, so I’m only going to review the playoffs.

Divisional round: vs. SF (W 35-14). Unseasonably warm, rainy, and muddy at Lambeau. 1TD, 75yds, 73.3% completion. Crappy weather, but Desmond had a huge game. Favre was pretty much a spectator. Wash 2-1-3
Conference championship: vs. Carolina (W 30-13). Carolina steals the chance for a rematch with Dallas in GB (for once). 2TD, 1INT, 1 fumble lost, 65.5% completion. 201 yards rushing and Favre digging an early hole with 2 turnovers that led to 10 points. I could be nice and make it a wash, but this guy is supposedly the MVP. Not clutch 2-2-3
Super Bowl XXXI: vs. NE (W 35-21). 2TD, 51.9% completion, and 246 yards, 1TD run. 3 sacks by Reggie, 4 INTs by the D. Favre had a good game, but the defense and Desmond ruled this game (99 yard kickoff return to put it out of reach). First SB victory for GB since 1967. Clutch 3-2-3
Summary of 1996: Favre’s 2^nd MVP and only Super Bowl victory (sorry to ruin the suspense).

1997: Green Bay Packers (59.3%, 3867yds, 35TD, 16INT, 92.6 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 7-1
Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 6-2

Good thing I’m only looking at key games. Favre had a bad game against 3-13 Indy in a high-scoring loss. Also, a very subpar game in a loss to 6-9-1 Philly.

Anyway, GB pretty much ran away with the division again, so on to the playoffs.

Divisional round: vs. TB (W 21-7). 1TD, 2INT, 53.6% completion. Defense held the mighty Trent Dilfer to 11-30, 200yds and 2INTs. Favre didn’t do much against the TB D. Not clutch 3-3-3
Conference championship: @SF (W 23-10). 1TD, 59.3% completion. The Packer D carries Favre again…SF with 33 yards rushing and 2 TOs. But since Favre didn’t do anything negative: Wash 3-3-4
Super Bowl XXXII: vs. Denver (L 31-24). 3TD, 1INT, 1 fumble lost, 59.5% completion. I’m going to be harsh here: while Favre had a decent game, he didn’t make the plays when it mattered at the end of the game. Maybe he needed Desmond. Not clutch 3-4-4

Summary of 1997: Favre’s 3^rd and final MVP (again sorry to ruin the suspense). Couldn’t come up with the goods in his final SB.

Final tally on the MVP years : 3-4-4

I have no idea what season the photo is from, but I got a kick out of seeing Majkowski.

Now, let’s put the Super Bowls behind us and venture forth.

Part 3: The Still Effective Era

1998 Green Bay Packers (63%, 4212yds, 31TD, 23INT, 87.8 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 1-2

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 10-3

Not a lot of clutch situations for most of the season, but some highlights:

• 5TDs, 3INTs against 4-12 Carolina (W 37-30)
• 0TD, 3INTs at home against a 15-1 Minnesota team (L 24-37)
• 2TD, 3INTs at 5-11 Detroit (L 20-27)
• 3TDs, 3INTs at home against 12-4 SF (W 36-22)
• 1TD, 2INTs at Chicago after playoff spot already secured (W 16-13)

Those aren’t quite clutch situations, which is good because I’d call him 0-3-2 after that mess.

Week 14: @TB (L 22-24). GB is 8-4 and needs a couple of wins to secure a playoff spot after appearing in the previous two Super Bowls. Favre throws 2TDs and 0INTs, however he loses 1 (out of 6!) fumble. Not clutch 0-1-0

Week 15: vs. Chicago (W 26-20). Chicago sucked (4-12) in 1998, but these games are always tough. Favre throws 2TDs and 2INTs. With the two picks I’m going to call it a Wash 0-1-1.

Week 16: vs. 8-8 Tennessee (W 30-22). This one will virtually guarantee a playoff birth. Favre throws 3TDs and has 0 turnovers. Clutch 1-1-1

Wildcard round: @ SF (L 27-30). While GB was able to beat SF at home during the season, they weren’t as lucky on the road in the playoffs. Favre has 2TDs, but 2INTs and only 57.1% completions. Not clutch 1-2-1

Summary of 1998: What a soft schedule, did nothing to prepare them for the playoffs. Four 3INT games.

1999 Green Bay Packers (57.3%, 4091yds, 22TD, 23INT, 74.7 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 2-3

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 6-5

This season the playoff run ends, Detroit and Dallas beat out GB for the tie breakers. Packers lost to Chicago in week 9 in the Walter Payton’s ghost game, the weekend after Payton passed away. They had a short FG blocked late that would’ve won the game, and the Bears like to say it was with help from Payton. (whatever)

Week 14: vs. 8-8 Carolina (L 31-33). Packers at 7-5, some wins would be nice to secure the playoffs. Favre 2TDs, 1INT. Decent game but Packers lose a squeaker. Wash 1-2-2

Week 15: @ 10-6 Minnesota (L 20-24). Packers at 7-6, opportunities are running short. Favre pretty much sucks at Minnesota and this game is not different. 0TDs, 2INTs, 1 fumble lost. Not clutch 1-3-2

Week 16: @ 11-5 Tampa Bay (L 10-29). Packers now 7-7, do or die time. Favre 1TD, 2INTs, 52% completions. Not clutch 1-4-2

Week 17: vs. 6-10 Arizona. (W 49-24). I remember this game. Packers had a very slim chance to make playoffs and just in case it came down to point differential (I believe), GB unleashed the offense. Carolina was doing the same thing in their last game. Favre with 2TDs and 1INT. Turned out it didn’t matter and neither GB nor Carolina made the playoffs. Clutch 2-4-2

Summary of 1999: Cracks starting to show in Favre’s game. Three 3 turnover games and one reaking 6 turnover game at home against Seattle. Plus 57.3% completion for the year is not good.

2000 Green Bay Packers (58.3%, 3812yds, 20TD, 16INT, 78 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 6-4

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 3-3

Another season missing the playoffs. This is a tough year to find the clutch games, GB finished strong but needed 10-6 and tie breakers to make the playoff field. I’m going to pick a couple early key games, then the stretch run.

Week 6: @ 9-7 Detroit (L 24-31). 2TD, 3INT, 2 fumbles lost. This would’ve been the 10th win and enough conference wins to clinch a playoff spot. Not clutch 2-5-2

Week 11: @ 10-6 TB (L 15-20). 0TD, 0INT, 56% completion, 117 yards. This would’ve given GB a playoff spot straight up. Not clutch 2-6-2

Now the stretch run.

Week 13: @ 7-9 Carolina (L 14-31). GB at 5-6 coming in. 1TD, 3INTs. Not clutch 2-7-2

Week 14: @ 5-11 Chicago (W 28-6). 1 TD, 225yds. Wash 2-7-3

Week 15: vs 9-7 Detroit (W 26-13). 1TD, 1INT, 1 fumble lost, 41.7% completion. Wash 2-7-4

Week 16: @ 11-5 Minnesota (W 33-28). 3TD, no turnovers in Favre’s personal house of horrors. Clutch 3-7-4

Week 17: vs 10-6 TB (W 17-14). 0TD, 2INT, 46.6% completion. Yeah, they won but it was in spite of Favre. Not clutch 3-8-4

Summary of 2000: Two 3 turnover games and one 5 turnover game at Detroit. 58.3% completion…apparently alot of chucking and ducking going on.

2001 Green Bay Packers (61.6%, 3921yds, 32TD, 15INT, 94.1 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 4-1

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 8-3

12-4 record so not a lot of clutch opportunities. However, the Bears were 13-3, so let’s look at those games before the playoffs.

Week 9: @ 13-3 Chicago (W 20-12). 2TD, 1INT. Bears came in on a 6 game win streak. Clutch 4-8-4

Week 13: vs 13-3 Chicago (W 17-7). 1TD, 1INT, 55.6% completion, 207 yards. 9-2 Bears vs 8-3 Packers. This gave GB the division lead with the tie-breaker. Bears sucked on 3rd down, GB dominated time of possession, Favre did very little. Wash 4-8-5

Wildcard round: vs 12-4 SF (W 25-15). 2TD, 1INT, 75.9% completion. A couple late turnovers by SF helped decide this. Clutch 5-8-5

Divisional round: @ 14-2 St Louis (L 17-45). Wow, this was ugly! 2TD, 6INTs. 3 TAINTS and 1 near TAINT (down at the 4). Nothing good to say about this one. Not clutch 5-9-5

Summery of 2001: Favre appeared to return to his MVP form this season, but man did he blow in the playoffs. Took 8 years for someone to have as bad of a playoff game, and coincidentally it was also against a Kurt Warner team…I’m looking at you Jake Delhomme.

2002 Green Bay Packers (61.6%, 3921yds, 32TD, 15INT, 94.1 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 4-3

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 8-1

The NFC North was awful this season (Minn 6-10, Chi 4-12, Det 3-13), GB probably clinched the division in week 9. Hence, the only clutch opportunity is in the playoffs.

Wildcard round: vs. 9-6-1 Atlanta (L 7-27). 1TD, 2INT, 1 fumble lost, 46.6 completion. Not only was this a total gag job, this was GB’s first playoff loss at Lambeau. Just disgraceful. Not clutch 5-10-5

Summary of 2002: Pretty good season for the team and Favre, but the division was so awful that the team was too soft for playoff football.

2003 Green Bay Packers (65.4%, 3361yds, 32TD, 21INT, 90.4 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 3-4

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 7-2

Favre regresses a little but still has a decent season.

Week 13: @ 5-11 Detroit (L 14-22). GB comes in at 6-5. 2TD, 3INT, 1 fumble lost. Not clutch 5-11-5

Week 14: vs 7-9 Chicago (W 34-21). Now at 6-6, it’s time to make a push for the playoffs. 1TD, 1INT. Wash 5-11-6

Week 15: @ 4-12 San Diego (W 38-21). This soft late season schedule is nice, but Favre needs it to pad his numbers with me. 4TD, 1INT. Clutch 6-11-6

Week 16: @ 4-12 Oakland (W 41-7). There’s a lot of story with this game. Favre’s father died in a car accident the day before this Monday Night game, but Favre decides to play anyway. He puts up a game for the ages. 4TD, 73.3% completion, 399yds, no turnovers. The thing I remember is receivers saying they didn’t want to drop the ball and let him down…my thought was always, “Why don’t they think this every week?” I don’t think Favre was as liked as he leads us to believe. Anyway, Clutch 7-11-6

Week 17: vs 10-6 Denver (W 31-3). This one was to clinch the divison. 1TD, 1INT, 57.1% comlpetion, 116 yards. Against Jarious Jackson and Danny Kanell? Favre didn’t win this game, Denver lost it. Not clutch 7-12-6

Wildcard round: vs 10-6 Seattle (W 33-27 OT). 1TD, no turnovers. I believe this was the famous Hasselbeck “We want the ball and we’re going to score” overtime game. Al Harris with the interception return to win the game and shut Hasselbeck up. Wash 7-12-7

Divisional round: @ 12-4 Philadelphia (L 17-20). 2TD, 1INT, 53.6% completion, 180 yards. Ah, the famous 4th and 26 games that makes us Packer fans ill. Who lets McNabb complete a pass to convert 4th and 26? We do, yeah that’s right. Yeah, the defense blew it, but it shouldn’t have been this close. Not clutch 7-13-7

Summary of 2003: A nice run to finish the season, more picks than I’d like, and an epic fail by the defense when it mattered.

Final tally for this era before we move to the wheels falling off: 7-13-7

OK, I don’t remember exactly when it started, but sometime around 2004 Favre started waffling on retirement. This is when that Super Bowl victory became ancient history, and I started tiring of his act.

On to the conclusion of this series.

Part 4: The “Why Don’t You Just Hang It Up?” Era

2004 Green Bay Packers (64.1%, 4088yds, 30TD, 17INT, 92.4 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 0-3

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 10-3

Another 10-6 season and a trip to the playoffs.

Week 16: @ 8-8 Minnesota (W 34-31). GB and Minnesota are both 8-6, and Favre typically doesn’t fair well in the Metrodome. However, he puts up 3TD, 1INT, and 365 yards. Playoff ticket punched. Clutch 1-0-0

Wildcard round: vs 8-8 Minnesota (L 17-31). GB beats Minnesota 34-31 twice during the regular season, so naturally they’ll be just fine at home in the playoffs, right? 1TD, 4INT. Not clutch 1-1-0

Summary of 2004: Favre actually had a decent season other than three 3INT games during the season. The supposedly unbeatable Favre in the cold facade crumbles a little more.

2005 Green Bay Packers (61.3%, 3881yds, 20TD, 29INT, 70.9 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 1-8

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 3-4

Wow! 4-12, that’s quite the dropoff and Favre’s worst season. There are no clutch opportunities in a season like this. Two 4 turnover games and one 5INT game. I’m going to be nice, and only give one Not clutch 1-2-0

Summary of 2005: Blah…

2006 Green Bay Packers (56%, 3885yds, 18TD, 18INT, 72.7 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 1-6

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 7-2

An improvement for the team over last season, but the bar was very low. Another very poor season for Favre, this is when the “Why don’t you just retire?” talk really kicked in. Green Bay even got shut out twice…at Lambeau! This was hardly acceptable. I guess we can review the stretch run.

Week 14: @ 7-9 San Francisco (W 30-19). GB at 8-4, sadly still with a chance to make the playoffs at .500. 2TD, 0INT. Clutch 2-2-0

Week 15: vs 3-13 Detroit (W 17-9). 0TD, 3INT, 54.1% completion. Saved by 2INTs and a fumble by Kitna. Not clutch 2-3-0

Week 16: vs 6-10 Minnesota (W 9-7). 0TD, 2INT, 52% completion. 100 yards of offense for Minnesota and their only score came on a TAINT. Not clutch 2-4-0

Week 17: @ 13-3 Chicago (W 26-7). 1TD, 1INT, 50% completion. Two TAINTs for the GB defense, but at least Favre didn’t return the favor. Wash 2-4-1

Summary of 2006: Packers lose tie breaker to the Giants on strength of schedule (.422 to .383), can probably blame the Lions for that. Favre has nothing left in the tank…or does he?

2007 Green Bay Packers (66.5%, 4155yds, 28TD, 15INT, 95.7 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 3-1

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 10-2

Favre’s last season in the green and gold (OK, yellow). Let’s look at games against eventual playoff teams.

Week 2: @ 10-6 New York Giants (W 35-13). 3TD, 1INT. Nice game. Clutch 3-4-1

Week 3: vs 11-5 San Diego (W 31-24). 3TD, no turnovers, 369 yards. Another nice game. Clutch 4-4-1

Week 13: @ 13-3 Dallas (L 27-37). 0TD, 2INT, 35.7% completion, 56 yards (Favre got dinged in there somewhere and didn’t finish the game). Not clutch 4-5-1

Divisional round: vs 10-6 Seattle (W 42-20). 3TD, 0 turnovers. I was lucky enough to attend this game, perfect temperature and a lot of snow. Game started with two fumbles by Grant turned into 14 points for Seattle, we were not happy. Favre led 6 straight TD drives after that, this was really his last hurrah. Clutch 5-5-1.

Conference championship: vs. 10-6 New York Giants (L 20-23 in OT). 2TD, 2INT, 54.3% completion. I was happy I didn’t attend this game, well below zero with the windchill. The old man Favre couldn’t handle the cold like babyface Eli. Favre threw a 90 yard TD, but he threw a bad interception in OT that led to the game winning FG. Not clutch 5-6-1

Summary of 2007: Favre pulls one last very good season out of his derriere. But, he’d gotten too old to handle the frigid weather. I was able to attend what is likely Favre’s last career playoff victory. He follows that up by tearfully announcing his retirement. Naturally after GB spends two draft picks on QBs, Favre changes his mind. The whole thing gets really ugly, and Favre ends up being traded to the Jets for a bag of not-so-magic beans.

2008 New York Jets (65.7%, 3472yds, 22TD, 22INT, 81 QB rating)

Regular season record against 9-7 and better teams: 4-2

Regular season record against 8-8 and worse teams: 5-5

To be honest, I don’t care alot about this season. I actually rooted against the Jets more often than not. Let’s start after the Jets basically have the divison in the bag at 8-3.

Week 13: vs 8-8 Denver (L17-34). 0 TD, 1INT. ‘Nuf said. Not clutch 5-7-1

Week 14: @ 7-9 San Francisco (L 14-24). 0 TD, 1INT. This sounds familiar. Not clutch 5-8-1

Week 15: vs 7-9 Buffalo (W 31-27). 1TD, 2INT. Not a great game, but gets the W. Wash 5-8-2

Week 16: @ 4-12 Seattle (L 3-13). Ah, Brett’s old buddy Holmgren. 0TD, 2INT. Not clutch 5-9-2

Week 17: vs 11-5 Miami (L 17-24). I believe by the time this game was played on Sunday, the Jets couldn’t make the playoffs. Anyway, 1TD 3INT, 50% completion. Not clutch 5-10-2

Summary of 2008: Favre’s greatest accomplishment this season may have been choking in the finale against Miami which kept an 11-5(!) New England team out of the playoffs. Looks like Favre should’ve really hung up his spurs when he said he did, instead of tarnishing his legacy with the petty arguing with GB and folding late in the season for the Jets, which apparently was due to an injured throwing arm. And it’s not entirely his fault, Mangenius was too stupid to play a different QB. Almost forgot, Favre had a 6TD game against the vaunted Cardinal defense in week 4.

Final tally for the ‘washed up’ years: 5-10-2

Summary of Favre’s career: I’m sure you can poke holes in a lot of this, and certainly most of it is subjective. I could come up with a formula of some sort so an objective computer could spit out the numbers, but my formula would be subjective and it wouldn’t be any different. The final, final tally is 18-31-15. Yeah, Favre has lots of great numbers and most of the records, but he failed nearly twice as much as he succeeded when the pressure was on. He’ll still be a first ballot HOF-er and I’m fine with that, but John Madden and Tony Kornheiser really need to get a grip…

So, does Favre finally hang it up? He’s claiming he’s retiring again, but I doubt anyone believes him. Stay tuned, I don’t think Brett even knows what he is really going to do.

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