by Alex Marvez

The scene was all too familiar to the Green Bay Packers. But what once gave the franchise reason to celebrate had never hurt more.

Nothing could stop Brett Favre from once again exacting revenge on his former team. Not the deafening noise generated by an overwhelmingly anti-Favre crowd. And certainly not a defense picked apart by a familiar face now playing for Green Bay's most hated rival.

For the second time in four weeks, Favre humiliated the team that cut ties with him in 2008 after 16 unforgettable seasons. He did it this Sunday by pacing Minnesota's 38-26 victory with four touchdown passes, including a 16-yard strike to wide receiver Bernard Berrian with 3:48 remaining that clinched the win.

At the start of his postgame news conference, Favre was asked where this victory ranked for him personally. The 40-year-old flashed a sheepish grin and jokingly responded, "Does someone want to answer this for me?"

"This is pretty high on the list," he said.

When it comes to clutch performances, this may actually top them all.

Sure, an argument can be made for several other moments in Favre's Hall of Fame career. There was the brilliant 2003 outing against Oakland shortly after his father's death. A Super Bowl XXXI-winning effort against New England in the mid-1990s. Even the nearly flawless three-touchdown game Favre had last month in his first ballyhooed victory against Green Bay in Minneapolis is worthy of consideration.

NFL Week 11

Week 11 action (all times ET)

MIA 24, CAR 17 -- Recap | Box
IND 17, BAL 15 -- Recap | Box
DAL 7, WSH 6 -- Recap | Box
GB 30, SF 24 -- Recap | Box
MIN 35, SEA 9 -- Recap | Box
NYG 34, ATL 31 (OT) -- Recap | Box
NO 38, TB 7 -- Recap | Box
JAX 18, BUF 15 -- Recap | Box
KC 27, PIT 24 (OT) -- Recap | Box
DET 38, CLE 37 -- Recap | Box
ARZ 21, STL 13 -- Recap | Box
SD 32, DEN 3 -- Recap | Box
NE 31, NYJ 14 -- Recap | Box
OAK 20, CIN 17 -- Recap | Box
PHI 24, CHI 20 -- Recap | Box
TEN-HOU, 8:30 p.m. (Mon.) -- Preview


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Yet it isn't an exaggeration to say that nobody in NFL history has ever returned to their old stomping grounds under such a blinding spotlight. The hype for the Favre Bowl was over the top. The story of Favre's bitter Packers divorce, retirement waffling and how his desire to continue playing led him to Minnesota was regurgitated by the media ad nauseam. He is the only player to ever have a television camera solely affixed on himself throughout an entire telecast.

Vikings left guard Steve Hutchinson said he remembers being nervous when returning to Seattle in 2006 for the first time to play against his former team. Hutchinson said those butterflies felt "like nothing" compared to what Favre was facing.

"This has got to be 100-fold greater for him," Hutchinson said. "The way the guy plays under pressure is unbelievable.

"There were 70,000 people who were just waiting for him to mess up and throw a pick in a crucial situation so they could have a glimpse of, 'I told you so.' He does what he always does and comes out as a professional. He prepares more than anyone I've ever seen."

Most Packers faithful tried their best to make sure Favre was uncomfortable from the time the Vikings team bus began nearing Lambeau Field. He noticed a "mix of cheers and a couple of fingers" while riding by. Those fans weren't telling Favre that he's No. 1.

"I wasn't expecting a standing ovation," Favre quipped.

Although it was awkward seeing him wear a white-and-purple uniform on the same field where he wore green and gold for so long, Favre never looked uncomfortable. During pregame warm-ups, Favre spoke with former Packers teammate Rob Davis and briefly exchanged pleasantries with Green Bay wideout Greg Jennings. Surrounded by two suit-wearing bodyguards, Favre even slapped hands with Vikings and Packers fans leaning over from the stands while heading into the locker room.

By then, Favre was resigned to how he would be treated. Three hours before kickoff, an airplane flew over the stadium towing a banner that read "Retire 4 Good!" Fans booed heartily as Favre was shown stepping off the Vikings team bus on the giant video scoreboard.

Brett Favre still has a lot of love for Donald Driver and many of his ex-teammates. (Jeffrey Phelps / Associated Press)

When he emerged from the opposing team's entrance during Minnesota's pregame introduction, the decibel level from a jeering Lambeau regular-season-record crowd of 71,213 was just as loud as when Favre was thriving in his Green Bay heyday. As Favre himself said, "Packers fans cheer the Packers first."

The Packers, though, gave them little to cheer about for the game's first 32 minutes. With the exception of a botched shotgun snap on Minnesota's second series, Favre was almost perfect en route to a 17-for-28, 244-yard showing that included no interceptions. Favre was this sharp despite having a sore groin he tweaked during a midweek practice and telling ESPN that he's on antibiotics because of illness.

The Packers generated 47 first-half yards — their lowest total since 1999 when current Packers head coach McCarthy was Favre's quarterbacks coach. Just like in last month's 30-23 Vikings victory, Green Bay initially couldn't slow Minnesota's pass rush or generate pressure on Favre. Special teams coverage was a mess. A 51-yard Favre touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin gave Minnesota what proved an insurmountable 24-3 lead early in the third quarter.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers showed he is a worthy replacement for Favre by almost leading a Green Bay comeback. Rodgers threw for 287 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. But he also was sacked six times and hit on plenty of other occasions. Favre then made sure Rodgers' legend wasn't going to grow at his expense with fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Berrian and tight end Jeff Dugan.

"I feel like he plays better sometimes when he's under pressure," Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie said of Favre. "He wanted to come back to his (old) home and show he's still able to play."

Favre tried his best to downplay the importance of Sunday's game beforehand. Hutchinson, though, said it was easy to tell that this wasn't just another Sunday.

"He gets antsy, nervous and edgy," Hutchinson said. "It's in a good way. He talks a lot more. Even on the plane yesterday, he's saying, 'If they're doing this, we're doing that.' It's a 45-minute plane ride and he's talking. Everybody knew how important this was to him."

Nobody knew that more than Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell. He, too, is a former Packers player who has remained close friends with Favre even after leaving Green Bay for Minnesota in 2006.

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When the game ended and Favre walked upon the field with his fists held high, Longwell was one of the first Vikings players to hug him. The two then embraced again while leaving the field after Favre made the rounds with his former teammates.

"Say what you want about Reggie (White) and the other guys, but Brett brought the Packers back to prominence," Longwell said. "He plays an infectious style of football that you gravitate to. He had every right to take a little extra special (celebration), especially with as loud as the fans booed him. You can take even more satisfaction at coming through under the most adverse circumstances."

Favre should be proud — especially after helping to put Minnesota (7-1) well ahead of Green Bay (4-3) in the NFC North race.

"I had mixed emotions coming in," Favre said. "I know how special the fans are here. It's what makes this such a special place to play. I want to lead Minnesota to a Super Bowl now, but this organization was very special."

So is the quarterback who added to his Lambeau legacy one last time.