Monday Night Football: Favre not a great quarterback; Pack will win

By Dan Shouse

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

ESPN has been running promos for tonight's game between the Packers and Vikings with John Gruden stating that Brett Favre is fresh off yet another "legendary" win, referring to last week's heroics against the 49ers.

Yes, it was a great win and yes, Favre made the play (although the catch by Greg Lewis was better than the pass by Favre). But the fact remains for every great play by Favre to win a game, there are bad plays that cost his team the game.

Look no further than the 2007 NFC Championship Game, when Favre's INT in overtime cost the Packers a chance to go to the Super Bowl. Then there was the 2001 playoff matchup against the Rams, a game in which Favre threw six, yes six, interceptions. I won't even bring up last year with the Jets, when after an 8-3 start, Favre still could not get New York into the postseason.

I realize that Favre has thrown more TDs and passed for more yards than any QB ever, and that he has won a Super Bowl. He is Hall of Famer and a legend, there is no agruement there. Having said that however, I would not put him on the Mount Rushmore of great NFL quarterbacks.

If you had to pick one QB to lead your team to the Promised Land, do you really want Favre to be that guy? The "gunslinger" mentality that Favre brings to the game is fun to watch, but it would scare me to death if he was the QB at the helm of my team in a big game.

Give Packers GM Ted Thompson credit. Not only did he not allow the Packers to be held hostage by Favre's inability to play or stay retired, he made a smart decision to hand the offense over to Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers gives the Pack the best chance to win today and in the future. Vikings fans can get excited for now. A perfect 3-0 start, and Favre has been solid (5 TDs, INT), but much like last season in New York things will eventually turn for the worse.

If the Vikings play it smart and just keep handing the ball off to stud running back Adrian Peterson tonight, then Minnesota could very well win.

I don't think this will happen.

Favre loves to be the man, and I don't think he came out of retirement again just to hand the ball off. This is why I am picking the Packers to come away with a win in the Metrodome. There are certain things in life that we can all count on - death, taxes, and Favre throwing a big pick. It may not happen this week, but sooner or later it will.

Prediction: Packers 24 Vikings 23

Pressure is on Romo, Cowboys defense

By Dan Shouse

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It certainly has not been a good week for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. After a dismal 3 INT performance last Sunday night against the Giants, Romo must now also deal with the added pressure of having Cowboy legend Tony Dorsett rip the QB publicly. Tonight's game between the Cowboys (1-1) and the Carolina Panthers (0-2) at the new Texas Stadium now looms large.

Dorsett's remarks that Romo has done nothing to warrant him being labeled a great QB may seem harsh, but they are also right on the money. Zero playoff wins does not make one a great quarterback. I have seen Tom Brady play, and you Tony Romo are no Tom Brady. Not even close.

It's not like Romo doesn't have the weapons to work with. Even without TO, Romo still has one of the best tight ends in the game in Jason Witten, and a capable WR in Roy Williams. Marion Barber (questionable heading into tonight) is banged up, but Felix Jones is ready to step in. It is time for Romo to step up and win an important games for a change. There are no excuses.

Having said that, it has not been all Romo's fault. The Cowboys defense has produced no turnovers and no sacks this season. What! Glad that is not the defense on my fantasy team. With guys like Demarcus Ware and Terence Newman, you would think there would be a least a few sacks and picks heading into tonight. There is just too much talent on the defense to think otherwise.

Good thing for the Cowboys is that the Panthers present the perfect opportunity for the defense to turn things around. Jake Delhomme (5 INTs already) is a turnover waiting to happen. Expect the Cowboys to take DeAngelo Williams and the Panther running game away, and put the game in Delhomme's hands. If Delhomme cannot get the ball to Steve Smith, then it will be a long night for the Panthers. Even though Jake looked better last week, that game came against a suspect Falcon defense.

Look for the Cowboys to get a least 2 picks, and for these turnovers to turn into points. The defense will make things easy for Romo this week. Romo should be good for 250 yards and 2 TD passes this week. The pressure will be off Romo and the rest of the Cowboys after this game, at least for a week anyway.

Dan's Prediction: Cowboys 27, Panthers 10