by By Rick Alonzo ralonzo@pioneerpress.com , St. Paul Pioneer Press

Halfway through the Vikings' season, Favre is encouraged by the way he's feeling. When he signed with the Vikings , he said he had no way of knowing whether he would be able to make it through a full season.

But now the Vikings are comfortably ahead in the NFC North Division, and he's on pace to have one of his best seasons statistically.

"I feel pretty good, mentally and physically," Favre said. "It's hard for me to say what I thought I would feel like. But I know that if you had asked what would our record be at this point, 7-1 I think is definitely very acceptable. The way we've won some games has been awesome. But yet it's funny how when you look back at however these eight games have turned out or what you might have expected, you can always say, you know we could have done this, we could have done that.

"It seems like the better you do, the expectations even get higher. I'm very pleased with where we are. But I think we can, as I'm saying we, the expectations will continue to get higher. Not only from internally but from everyone else. I consider that a good thing."

Favre has thrown 16 touchdown passes and only three interceptions, and his quarterback rating of 106.0 ranks No. 2 in the NFL, just a tad behind Drew Brees' 106.1.

If recent history is any indication, there's reason to believe Favre will play well against Detroit on Sunday at the Metrodome.

In the past, the bye week has given Favre time to rest and regroup.

Since 2003, the year Favre turned 34, he has led his teams to a 5-1 record in games following the bye, and four times he had a quarterback rating greater than 100. In those six games, Favre threw 14 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.

Favre has fought age this year. He has been listed on the injury report with a range of issues, from foot/ankle/knee to hip problems.

This offseason, he had surgery to repair a partially torn biceps tendon on his throwing arm, and he revealed after he signed with the Vikings that he had a rotator cuff tear that had calcified.

Favre said Wednesday a groin injury he suffered the week leading up to the game at Green Bay Nov. 1 isn't a big concern.

"I think I'll be fine," said Favre, who was listed as limited during Wednesday's practice. "I've always said you have to have muscles to pull them. Either that's a sign of old age or I'm developing muscles for the first time in my career. It was a concern for the game. I made it through. With a week's rest, I think I'll be fine.

"But I'm not going to make it a bigger issue than it is. It's kind of a new thing for me. To play 18 some-odd years and not having anything like that, that probably worried me more than anything, but I think I'll be fine."

Favre said coach Brad Childress saw him tweak the groin before the game. Favre talked with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as well, letting him know he wasn't feeling well. And Favre approached backup QB Tarvaris Jackson, just to let him know he would try to play but that Jackson might have had to take over.

"I said, 'Hey, just be ready,' " Favre said. "I said I'm going to play. If I feel like I just can't do it ... Now, there's been other times in my career where I've thought I don't know if I can play with a broken thumb, but I'm going to try at least first. I was just concerned. I didn't want to have to go every drive or leave the huddle and say I've got to play a little bit cautious this way or I hope I can get this handoff out there. And it bothered me through the game, but not as much as I thought it might."

Favre passed for 244 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions at Green Bay, completing the sweep against his former team.

The bye week was valuable for Favre, who remained in Minnesota to hunt and spend time helping his daughter Breleigh with her homework.

Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell spent nine years with Favre in Green Bay, and he knows Favre appreciates the rest during a bye week.

"You get a little perspective getting away and get a little fresh," Longwell said. "When you're getting older in age, at that position, the fresher you can be the better. He's a pro, he knows how to prepare and keep his body ready to go week to week, and he's been doing it for a long time."

Childress said he hasn't noticed a rejuvenated Favre coming off the bye.

"Same hat, same shorts, same T-shirt," Childress said. "I don't have that X-ray. I can't look in there that deeply."

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