Are Brett Favre and The Vikings Super Bowl Good?

It’s a feel good story, at least in most of the sports world. (Fans in Green Bay are still none too happy.) The old man, Brett Favre, has the Minnesota Vikings at 3-0 and on top of the NFC North. Everyone in Minnesota is dreaming of Super Bowl Rings. The miraculous finish against the 49ers this week, another in the line of Favre miracles, has done nothing to diminish their faith, either. But should they really be this excited? Let’s take a look.

The first two victories came against the Browns, a team many high schools could beat, and the Lions, losers of 19 straight before yesterday. And they weren’t exactly impressive in either game, although they did pull away late in both for 14 point victories. Favre was quietly efficient in both games, but most of the action took place under ten yards. San Fransisco was a more formidable opponent, but it took (literally) a miracle to beat them. Favre did throw for three hundred yards, and at times appeared to be in command of the offense.

So how good are they? There are arguments to be made in both directions. Favre hasn’t seen a great deal of pressure, but has still been sacked nine times. He won’t see as much as he has in the past; sharing the backfield with the best running back in the NFL will do that. He has a very average receiving corps, but that has never been an issue for him before. He still has the iron will he always did, as evidenced by his play against the Forty Niners. And after all of his years in the league, no one can question his mental ability as a quarterback.

But in the end, we just don’t know. The bottom line is that the Vikings are 3-0, and got there by beating three teams they were supposed to beat. The Schedule from here out is brutal. There are two games against the Packers and Bears; the Bears are looking like a much better team than most had figured, and it’s a safe bet the Packers will be up for their games. Beyond the division, the schedule looks alot like a list of “who are the best teams in the NFL”… games against Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Arizona, Cincinnati, Carolina, and the Giants. They could be a playoff team… they could also very easily end up a 7-9 or 8-8 football team.

If there is one thing to be said, it’s this. If the Vikings reach the Super Bowl with these recievers, and more importantly that schedule, they will have earned it. Favre will have cemented his legacy not only as one of the best; if he wins a Championship here he will be able to lay claim to the title of the best ever. I wouldn’t count on it, though.